i think i've fallen into the black hole.
i have an '89 kick (1.3L carb) with the check engine light on.
i have looked for the cancel switch on and off for months, but now that i need to smog the thing (california), i began the hunt in earnest.
now that i have the dash pretty well disassembled, it does not appear to be anywhere |removethispart|@ the steering column brace or near the drivers speaker area.
i've also pulled the instrment cluster out to see if there are wires on it that may be hanging out of it like i've seen in some photos. none.
is this just my model? '89 does seem like a "one off" in some ways and not covered well in my chiltons manual........
done lots of searching, here and elsewhere, with no sucess.
richard

Do you have any wires coming out of the instrument cluster. The cancel switch has three wires.
I think they are red, blue and yellow? They may have even been taken out of the cluster and the switch eliminated.

negative on the wires. there are only 2 plug locations on the cluster(and no modifications).
i was hoping otherwise when i pulled it out.
i did discover a way to make the check engine flash, as if "reading a code".----- under the hood near the fuse block is a 4 prong plug (only 3 wires) that is mentioned in ignition timing where you jump terminals to "keep the timing mark from jumping around".-------if i jump those terminals the ck eng lt will flash 3 times, pause, 3 times, longer pause, repeat...... i wonder what that means?

negative on the wires. there are only 2 plug locations on the cluster(and no modifications).
i was hoping otherwise when i pulled it out.
i did discover a way to make the check engine flash, as if "reading a code".----- under the hood near the fuse block is a 4 prong plug (only 3 wires) that is mentioned in ignition timing where you jump terminals to "keep the timing mark from jumping around".-------if i jump those terminals the ck eng lt will flash 3 times, pause, 3 times, longer pause, repeat...... i wonder what that means?

The 89 is different from other models. The terminal that you ground to get the CEL codes is usually a different one to that used to fix the ignition timing. Code 33 isn't one I've seen before but it may just be a warning that the ignition timing is fixed. On later models this is only flagged over something like 4000rpm.

the '89 kick does seem to be the odd child of the family.
i have only the chilton to guide me at this time (it has been "good enough" until now) and it says there is a switch to reset, and that the light will be triggered by mileage, and mabe i need to remove the rest of the dash to find it?
i have been trying to test sensors as i figure out where and what they are (O2 and some thermo. so far) and so far seem ok.
if the "code" i am able to generate is real- what is it? the only online site i've found that lists codes ignored this model.
is it just my luck to have a unique problem?
any suggestions entertained.
richard

I have a 95 16v and there is no switch on mine either I have looked it all over and can't find one!

pretty frustrating, huh, bigdog. i'm pretty sure i'm the first one to mess w/stuff under that dash, and it' not as described (at least-and really least- in chilton).
i have discovered that there is a fuse location on the fuse block marked "diag" on the cover.
i stuck a fuse in it and now i get the check engine light to flash w/key on- same code i saw bridging the terminals under the hood (4 pin w/3 term. nr battery/ main fuse block)- 33.
still don't know what it means, but i seem to remember something |removethispart|@ MFI 1.3's downloading this way.
suzuki must have been experimenting on their production line?
richard

From what I have read/heard, the Cali spec'd models do not have the CEL cancel switch.
If you don't have the red, white and blue wires hanging from the back of the instrument cluster, I would guess yours is a Cali model.

i've only seen reference to a usa model and a canadian model, but that was for locating "the switch", so i know how accurate that is.
i still haven't located codes for this- still 33.

i don't believe i'm having a problem with my "air flow sensor", but mabe i should start looking for that....

also- i've tried removing the battery ground to see if the ecm would reset that way-- no go.

update
i think i fixed it.
the throttle up diaphram valve system was not hooked up and now the check engine light works normally.
confession time here....... i had removed all smog stuff but the evap. canister when i put my weber on.
made the egr system work w/the weber, but the check engine light stayed on.
i had suzi tested, and it wouldn't pass- partially because of the light(i think i could have tuned it to pass) and it had to come on before start.
naturally(i think), i put stock stuff back on and couldn't make that light function 'till now.
now- when i stick the fuse in diag and turn on the ignition i get code 41.
i'm real excited 'cause it runs good and i will have it tested sometime next week.

1989 sidekick may be that weird breed, but there should be some better documentation |removethispart|@ how this stuff works.
by the way- there is no switch.
does anybody have a factory manual on this thing? surely troubleshooting this thing must be covered in it. i am interested.

i hope my experience can benefit others and will let you know how the test goes.
i'm sure i'll have some comments at that time.
oh- buy the way- does  anybody know what a "code 41" means?
that's what i get now.
thanks for the responses- i appreciate the empathy and suggestions on how to look at my problem.
richard

Code 41 is "ignition signal".  I don't know what that means you need to check......other than something ignition related....duh.

Code 41 is usually Ignition Fail Safe Signal not present. This is the signal that is used for limp mode if the main ignition signal/ECU fails.

update-
suzi the psychic passed smog testing ok (which is done both at idle and |removethispart|@2500 rpm) so whatever that "code 41" is, it doesn't effect emissions too much.
as much as i hate to do it, i'm gonna make her run better again, so i'll have to do this again in two years.

these is the main things i have learned about the '89 1.3L carb. sidekick check engine light:
1. there may be no odometer tripped check engine light
2. there may be no "cancel switch"
3. code may be read at under dash fuse box, or by bridging 4 pin connector(supposedly used when setting ignition timing) near the battery and main fuse block
4. there may be difficulty understanding the meaning of the code

i hope this can be useful information.
richard