Putting this in the GV forum as there's more traffic here.

So the 2002 XL7's door remote seems to be dying.  I have two questions:

1. Can you replace the battery in these things?  Is it doable by me or am I needing to seek a professional?  If the later, any clues where to go?  Our "local" Suzuki dealership is 3 hours from here...

B. I still have one of the remotes from our '03 GV and it looks the same  but has different numbers on the back.  Can it be programmed to work with the '02?

dunno if your remote is exactly the same as mine but the battery is replaceable.  there's a slot on the edge where you can pry it open with a coin or small screwdriver

if the battery is a CR2032, pm me your address and I'll send you a couple for free

although, fyi both my oem remotes are a little flaky even with new batteries.  I'm planning to install a alarm unit in the spring so I can use aftermarket remotes with a longer range

Putting this in the GV forum as there's more traffic here.

I think they should combine the GV/XL7 forums, they are mostly the same vehicle and the XL7 forum is dead

Thanks, I found that slot and popped it open.  Now to hit up radio shack or somewhere and get a battery.

Yeah, ours have been..."different" too.  On the GV it seemed like the range got progressively shorter until it leveled off at maybe 10-20' or so.  Bugged the wife but I didn't complain as that means she has to be close to it to open the doors.  Better to prevent car thefts and the like.  Less chance of surprising her by jumping in it while she's still 100' away.
On the XL7 when we first got it last week the remote seemed to work fine but now it's practically dead.   Wondering if the battery went dead and then sitting unused for a few months let the battery rest just enough to make us think all was well when we first got it.  If it hadn't of worked the first thing I'd have said was, "fix this."

Does your owners manual have anything to say about programming remotes to a vehicle?  I've heard it can be done but not how.

I agree on the combining forums thing.  Seems like Nomaad and Black Knight are the only ones on there with any regularity.  I guess I will be too.
Heck, they can even justify it by pointing out that the XL7 is actually the Grand Vitara XL7.

I found a section in the manual for my 98 GV that said you could reprogram a remote for a particular vehicle, it had something to do with switching the ignition between acc and on 20 time and then pushing the remote button or something like that.  There were a bunch of them, 10 time for this, 15 times for that etc.

Hrmmm...the problem is I don't have an owners manual...yet.  The answer might simply be in there.

ahh, that could be a problem, only thing is I wouldn't guarentee that it would be the same since mine is the early GV model.  Anyway I'll try and put it up soon (at work atm and have training tonight) if someone doesn't beat me to it.

there is a procedure for programming the remote in the GV service manual, but I know it doesn't work on the 2001's like mine

are you still looking for a 2002 XL7 owner's manual?  see EBay item # 320067148087

is your battery a CR2032?  I have a bunch of them

I agree on the combining forums thing. Seems like Nomaad and Black Knight are the only ones on there with any regularity. I guess I will be too.
Heck, they can even justify it by pointing out that the XL7 is actually the Grand Vitara XL7.

the "Suzuki" forum applies to several related models so it makes even more sense

I picked up a set of 2032's for the '03 GV's remote and the '02 XL7's remote figuring I could program the '03's to the '02 if I ever get it working.

Even with the new battery the '02's remote doesn't work.  I'm thinking it has something wrong with the receiver in the vehicle.  If I recall correctly there were issues with these.  On the Yahoo Groups forum I've been told that they were replacing the old style receivers with '03+ programable receivers if Suzuki had to fix it.  I don't think mine ever got fixed.

Glad I got that warranty...

I had 2 alarm units replaced.  The 2nd one was replaced with the new "programmable one", butI don't know how it is better.

My new one has been giving me problems for the last 3 months now.  I am not happy about that.

Marc

for the aftermarket-minded there is a seller on EBay "Autoware302" that sells inexpensive keyless-entry systems and also sometimes full alarm systems, and he can provide a vehicle-specific wiring diagram.