Problems at >3000 RPM on motorway

Hi,

I just got myself a nice looking Jimny one month ago and the little bugger went smoothly until this Saturday when I took it for a ride on the motorway towards Bath. Sunny day, nice ride… all good until I pass Reading on the M4 and the car started to behave strangely.
Basically the problem is described by this little movie I found on Youtube:

Except in my case the turometer was really erratic, going all the way down to 0 and back, violently I would say. I had to take it slowly on the hard shoulder and I could also hear a noise from the direction of the right front wheel, under the bonnet. A strong "clank-clank". For a moment I though the wheel is hitting something.
Then the RPMs went back to normal and I tried to go ahead, waiting for the first exit. Again, the problem surfaced and this time the turometer did his now usual dance and, while I was again on the hard shoulder dropped to 0 and stayed there. I managed to keep it going by getting the car into 3rd, then 2nd... I went out of the motorway, heading home. I took it slowly, no more than 50MPH. Just once the problem happened again, by that time I was already approaching London.
Sorry for the long story but the problem is intermittent and strange. It also took a while to happen, maybe because before Reading I was going at 50-55MPH. When it happened the first time I had like 60MPH and maybe 3500RPM.
Yesterday I've took the car to a garage, they tried to read the faults and it showed NOTHING.
Now I'm puzzeled. I read here & there that the camshaft or crankshaft sensors may cause this issue and I'm thinking to take the risk and change them, then - fingers crossed - maybe it will solve the issue.
Did anybody experienced something similar around here? What was the solution?
And where should I go & search for these sensors? And what are the part numbers to search for? (My Jimny is dec 2000, 1.3 petrol)

Thank you.

Passing Reading - it was complaining that you were going past the home of BigJimny without stopping!

Sounds like the Camshaft sensor. If its a Dec 2000 model it should have the G13BB engine which only has a Camshaft sensor, but be aware that there are some very early M13AA engines around at this time which have both sensors.

1. Determine which engine you have - look at the engine - does it have a plastic curved cover at the front over the cam belt (G13BB) or does it have a flat top with a flat plastic cover on it (M13AA)

2. I can then tell you the part numbers - particularly easy if you email/PM me the VIN number

Martin

From your VIN Number (confidential bits blanked)

VIN: JSAFJB43V00000000 Setting Catalog to : SN413V-2
Engine Number: M13A-0000000 Color: Z2J(CYPRUS BLUE METALLIC)
Transmission Number: Sub-color: C10
Model Code: MRK500000
M: Van
R: SN Model Series
K: 4 Seater, Van
5C: Engine and Transmission, SN413V, 4WD, MT
C: JLX, W/AIR BAG Grade
B: Type 2 Model
02: E02 Specification

(So its an M13AA engine for future reference)

This gives:

CAMSHAFT SENSOR: 33220-76G11
CRANKSHAFT SENSOR: 33220-80G00

So you can just quote the numbers at your Suzuki dealer, or you can find suppliers offering equivalents. I would try phoning " www.ignitioncarparts.co.uk/ " (They don't list them on their website)

Martin

Thanks Martin, I will now try and find the parts! Thanks a lot for this.

UPDATE: Changed the sensors (two weeks ago), took Jimny out for a ride (yesterday) and after a few miles @3000RPM & 55MPH the engine indicator lighted up. Other than that everything is cool now.
But now I've got this engine indicator on. Question: anybody has any idea why is on, taken into account the history with the sensors? Should I worry about it or leave it until the next servicing (November)?

UPDATE: Changed the sensors (two weeks ago), took Jimny out for a ride (yesterday) and after a few miles @3000RPM & 55MPH the engine warning light came up. Other than that everything is cool now.
But now I've got this engine warning on. Question: anybody has any idea why this happen, taken into account the history with the sensors? Should I worry about it or leave it until the next servicing (November)?
I drove the car past two weeks since I changed the sensor without any problems, but never drove it on a motorway until yesterday.