Specs, fluids & service · 1981–1998
Suzuki SJ / Samurai specs, fluids and service intervals
The numbers you need in the garage, on one page: spec sheet, capacities and service intervals, wheels and tires, and the parts to order. Sourced from owners, specialists and the factory; tags marked confirm in manual haven't been checked against a factory source yet.
Spec sheet
| CODES | SJ410 · SJ413 · Samurai · JA51 · JB31/JB32 |
|---|---|
| BUILT | Iwata, Japan, 1981–98 · Santana (Spain), Maruti (India), Pakistan, Indonesia, Thailand, Colombia |
| US SALES | Late 1985 (1986 MY) – 1995 |
| CHASSIS | Ladder frame, leaf springs front & rear |
| WHEELBASE | 2,030 mm (79.9 in) · LWB 2,375 mm |
| TRACK | 1,300 / 1,310 mm (US Samurai) |
| ENGINE | G13A 1,324 cc SOHC I4 · 74 × 77 mm · 8.9:1 |
| OUTPUT | 64 hp @ 5,500 · 74 lb-ft @ 3,500 (1986 US) |
| GEARBOX | 5-speed manual · 3.652 / 1.947 / 1.423 / 1.000 / 0.795 |
| TRANSFER CASE | 2-speed · 2.268 low / 1.409 high |
| TIRES | P205/70R15 (1986 US) |
| CURB WEIGHT | 950 kg (2,094 lb) convertible |
By year
| YEARS | PLATFORM | ENGINE | OUTPUT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981–1984 | SJ410 / Jimny 1000 (SJ40) | F10A 970 cc I4 | 45 PS net (export) | Four-speed, drum brakes, narrow track; soft top, hardtop and long-wheelbase pickup. |
| 1984–1988 | SJ413 / Jimny 1300 (JA51) | G13A 1,324 cc I4 | 70 PS gross (JA51) | Five-speed, front discs, anti-roll bar, new dash and grille. |
| 1986–1989 US | Samurai (carbureted) | G13A 1,324 cc I4 | 64 hp / 74 lb-ft | Wide track from launch; '1988½' softer springs, thicker front anti-roll bar, 0.865 fifth gear. |
| 1990–1995 US | Samurai (TBI) | 1.3 I4, throttle-body injection | 66–68 hp (sources differ) | 2WD version 1991–93; rear seat deleted for 1994–95. |
| 1985–2004 | Santana SJ / Samurai (Spain) | F10A, G13 petrol; Peugeot XUD9 TD and Renault F8Q diesels | 63–64 PS (diesels) | Softer springs and plusher trim; Samurai chassis from 1990. |
| 1985–2018 | Maruti Gypsy (India) | F10A, then G13BA and G13BB | Up to 80 PS (Gypsy King MPFI) | Long wheelbase only; wide-track MG410W from 1993. |
Fluids, capacities & service intervals
Assume nothing has been done. These trucks are 30-plus years old, and most have been wheeled. US specs below come from AMSOIL's capacity lookups for 1988 and 1992 Samurais, and Liqui Moly's oil guide (Olyslager data) gives matching capacities for the 1988–98 Samurai; confirm them in the factory service manual, especially on Santana, Gypsy or swapped trucks.
| ITEM | SPEC / CAPACITY | INTERVAL | NOTES & PARTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 3.9 qt with filter · 10W-30 or 10W-40 depending on temperature | Every 10,000 km (about 6,000 mi) / 6 months, or 5,000 km / 4 months in severe use (Liqui Moly's Olyslager data for the 1990–98 Samurai) | AMSOIL lists WIX 51348 as the matching filter.RockAuto catalog — 1988 Suzuki Samurai · RockAuto ↗ |
| Timing belt & tensioner | G13A (1986–89) belt and tensioner | At purchase unless documented, then per manual confirm in manual | The G13A is a non-interference engine (Wikipedia), so a failure shouldn't bend valves, but it will strand you.Timing belt 1.3 · Trail Tough ↗Timing belt tensioner 1.3 · Trail Tough ↗ |
| Spark plugs, wires, cap & rotor | 1.3 8V plug wire set | At purchase | MotorTrend lists oil leaks at the distributor as a known trouble spot, so check the distributor O-ring while you're there.Spark plug wires, 1.3/1.6 8V · Trail Tough ↗RockAuto catalog — 1988 Suzuki Samurai · RockAuto ↗ |
| Air & fuel filters | Carbureted 1986–89; throttle-body injected 1990–95 | At purchase | A carburetor rebuild kit is available if the idle won't settle.RockAuto catalog — 1988 Suzuki Samurai · RockAuto ↗Carburetor rebuild kit · Trail Tough ↗ |
| Coolant | 5.3 qt · coolant type confirm in manual | Flush at purchase, then every 2 years | Check the radiator, hoses and the 1.3 water inlet pipe.Samurai 1.3 water inlet pipe · Trail Tough ↗RockAuto catalog — 1988 Suzuki Samurai · RockAuto ↗ |
| Manual transmission | 2.7 pt · 75W-90 GL-4 | Drain and fill at purchase | Drain and fill plugs differ between 1986–88 and 1988.5–95 trucks.Drain and fill plugs, 1986–88 transmission / transfer case · Trail Tough ↗ |
| Transfer case | 1.7 pt · GL-4 per AMSOIL; Trail Tough fills its rebuilt cases with non-synthetic 80W-90 GL-5 | Drain and fill at purchase | While it's drained, check the case mounts and the shift sheet.Transfer case fill and drain plugs, 1988.5–95 · Trail Tough ↗Transfer case vent · Trail Tough ↗ |
| Front differential & knuckles | 3.6 pt (1988) / 4.2 pt (1992) · 75W-90 or 80W-90 GL-5 | Drain and fill at purchase | Weeping knuckles mean seals and kingpin bearings are due.Front knuckle rebuild kit · Trail Tough ↗OEM pinion seal, front/rear · Trail Tough ↗ |
| Rear differential | 3.2 pt · GL-5 90 (1988) or 75W-90 (1992) | Drain and fill at purchase | With an automatic locker or spool, use the oil the locker maker specifies.OEM pinion seal, front/rear · Trail Tough ↗ |
| Brake fluid | DOT 3 | Flush at purchase, then every 2 years | 1986–89 trucks use their own master cylinder.Master cylinder, 1986–89 · Trail Tough ↗ |
| Power steering fluid (if fitted) | Dexron-III ATF (AMSOIL, 1988) | Check at purchase | Only applies if your truck has power steering.Swepco 715 power steering fluid · Trail Tough ↗ |
| U-joints, steering joint & spring bushings | Multipurpose grease at the grease nipples and propeller-shaft joints; Liqui Moly says check every 20,000 km / 12 months | At purchase, then every oil change | A seized steering joint and crumbling spring or body bushings are normal at this age.Japanese U-joint · Trail Tough ↗Samurai steering joint (OE 48230-80100) · Trail Tough ↗Urethane spring bushing kit, stock shackles · Trail Tough ↗ |
| Front locking hubs | Aisin manual hubs | Inspect at purchase | Lock and unlock both hubs. They must be locked for 4WD to work.Samurai Aisin locking hub · Trail Tough ↗Hub bolt kit · Trail Tough ↗ |
Capability
| Ground clearance | 205 mm (8.1 in) 1986 US brochure |
|---|---|
| Approach / departure | 43° / 38° 1986 US brochure |
| Turning circle | 5.1 m (16.7 ft) minimum turning radius |
| Curb weight | 950 kg (2,094 lb) convertible · 965 kg hardtop |
| GVWR | 1,330 kg (2,932 lb) |
| Fuel tank | 40 L (10.6 US gal) |
| Fuel economy | EPA 27 city / 29 hwy 1986 estimates quoted in Suzuki's brochure |
| 0–60 mph | 16.9 s MotorTrend test |
Wheels & tires
| Factory tire | P205/70R15 (1986 US brochure) |
|---|---|
| Bolt pattern | 5x139.7 (5x5.5") |
| Biggest tire · Stock | 215/75R15 |
| Biggest tire · 1.5–2 in | 235/75R15 (≈29 in) |
| Biggest tire · 4.5 in spring-over | 31 in |
Common Suzuki SJ / Samurai repairs
- Rebuild the front knuckles (kingpins, seals, wheel bearings)DIFFICULTY 3 / 5
- Reinforce cracked transfer case mountsDIFFICULTY 3 / 5
- Replace the transfer case shift sheet and sealsDIFFICULTY 2 / 5
- Rear wheel bearing and axle sealDIFFICULTY 3 / 5
- Timing belt and tensioner (G13A)DIFFICULTY 3 / 5
- Clutch replacementDIFFICULTY 3 / 5
- Brake master cylinder and front brake refreshDIFFICULTY 2 / 5
Always confirm torque figures, fluids and capacities against the factory service manual for your VIN. See the disclaimer; some parts links are affiliate links.