Ok here it is. See if you can figure out what it most likely is.

1999 Vitara with a 2.0, 4x4 with AT. Has about 75,000 on it.

It ran great with no problems. Everything worked. Suddenly it just shuts off and will not start. It turns over just fine but all other electrical systems do not seem to work. No fuel pump activity, no spark, no idiot lights. Basic systems like the lights, wipers and fan seem fine. Just turns over and won't start.

Thought it was a bad engine ground but that was not it. Installed a new ground to engine and body with same results.

Thought it might be the ECM but we borrowed one from a friends Vitara and it made no difference.

We looked at all the fuses but they were ok.

Could it be an ignition switch issue? What do you all think? We are stumped. 

I don't know Vitaras, but my Dad had a Ford Ranger that was doing exactly what you discribe - ends up it was a "fuseable link" which is some little black box under the hood somewhere. Sorry this is so generic, but maybe it can send you in the right direction...


~J~

I had this happen in the tracker....

plugs got really bad...hence the problem...

Also are you getting a spark when it turns over?

Check the blaster

No fuel pump activity

-Do you hear a relay clicking under the dash when you turn on the ignition?
-Have you tried jumping the fuel pump(bypass relay, wiring, ECU) to see if it's working?

Yes I can hear the clicking from under the dash.  We have not hotwired the pump, I'll try that next.   Still why are all the idiot lights not working?  Why is there no spark?   

Yes I can hear the clicking from under the dash.  We have not hotwired the pump, I'll try that next.   Still why are all the idiot lights not working?  Why is there no spark?   

I missed the "no spark" part in your original post, it could be the ignition, you'll need to test it with another ignition from a junk yard, or you can meter it, I'm not sure if the 99's+ have the same wiring as the previous style, so you'll need a FSM to find out where the power should be at which positions.

I'm so glad my trail rig is going to have a simple diesel engine with no sensors, computers and other BS. 

ingition power maybe??? bad wires in the colum....   just burn it and claim the insurance...

I wish I could. It is my friends and he lives about 50 miles away. He bought a Zuk because I said how great they are.  He came to visit and never made it home because he broke down a few miles from my house. Now it sits in my garage and I can't get it to start.  I could be building my trail rig but instead I'm stuck trying to figure out the electronics on his.  :'(

Problem solved. Somewhat. At least it is running again now. After carefull investigation it was discovered that this Vitara had once been stolen. Found some wires up in under the dash that had been cut, stripped and twisted together. Seems they had come apart. We twisted them back up and she started right up. The weird thing is that the other cut ones go to important places, acording to the wire diagram, but are connected to nothing. It will take some more in depth circuit tracing to to get it the way it should be but for now it is drivable.  Thanks for the suggestions. They helped in the process of elimination.