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Comments
BTW, when FORD engines blow heads etc after >3 yrs/30,000 they junk the vehicle and give you a buy-back (a fraction of what the vehicle was worth before blowing the engine). This basically keeps you buying their mediocre stuff.
-mike
-change front and rear axle fluid
-change transfer case fluid
-change transmission fluid
-change power steering fluid
-rotate tires
-service cooling system
-replace fuel filter
-repack front wheel bearings
Had it all done at German Auto Haus in Burnt Hills, NY for $325 before tax.
PS-Also in the 30K is an oil change and air filter replacement but I didn't have it done because I recently had both done.
Hmm I guess I need to get the same as you except for the tire rotation (as I just put on new tires) I wonder if German Auto-haus would put in Red-line or Amsoil Synthetics for fluids if i brought it to them?
Thanks for the input. Are there any good off-road trails up there? I have a place over in Caroga Lake near Sacandaga and usually spend every weekend in the summer up there.
-mike
They have this new balancing machine GSP9700 (http://www.gsp9700.com/). It not only tells the mechanic where to put the weight. It also tells the mechanic where to rotate the tire on the rim do that imperfections iin the rim are cancelled out by imperfections in the tire. The tire balance results can be printed so you can get feedback on how they are doing. Check it out at the http://www.gsp9700.com/ web site. There is a locator function on the web site to find the nearest GSP9700 to you.
What a simple pleasure to go down the highway without vibrating (the truck, I mean)!
Every Thursday, 7:00-8:00pmPT/10:00-11:00pm ET
Your Community Leaders are paisan and arktrooper1
-mike
-mike
-mike
Does anyone else have similar experiences or mine is a bad apple? I had a Chevy before that which I traded at 93K miles, and I did not have half as much problems over its 7-year life as I do with this Trooper...
Do you think it is an indication that the truck will start to disintegrate from here on, or after all this fixes i can expect reasonably long and trouble-free service?
Overall the Troopers are known to go 200+K miles w/o problems so you have probably seen all the problems that you will encounter.
-mike
PS: Your Chevy was an abnormal one, most GM owners I know have had tons and tons of problems.
My husband is so frustrated that he feels like getting rid of the truck, but of course if we do, we'll be "upside down", and he will not settle for a used Civic as replacement. I guess I have to stick with it.
-mike
My husband is so frustrated that he feels like getting rid of the truck, but of course if we do, we'll be "upside down", and he will not settle for a used Civic as replacement. I guess I have to stick with it.
I am surprised that the dealer didn't let you know 7k miles ago, when you had the tire rotation, that your brakes were approaching "completely bad". Maybe the prior owner, the one that drove more than 15mi./day, somehow abused your vehicle (for example driving around with their foot resting on the brake).
I would try a honest brake shop (if you can find one) and see what their diagnosis is. If you really need the work, then I recommend that you use the genuine Isuzu parts regardless of who does the work.
-mike
Cost me for the pads $70/front,$50/rear plus $100 labor, total $220. Looks like I got overcharged a little.
I am just hoping that this will be all my problems with this thing.
Are your rear rotors doing better since they were apparently replaced under warranty? At what mileage was that done?
Locals advise that I need to put in a hotter thermostat (190 degrees?), so that the coolant will run warmer, thus giving the heater core more to work with.
I checked the antifreeze for level and mixture, indicates that I am okay to -45 degrees. Will get it flushed and filled during an oil change this week.
Can any of you comment on this? I'd like to do it myself, so advice on replacement of the thermostat would be most helpful.
BTW--is there a method to search the board for this topic? I have read thru many pages of messages, but wish there was a faster way.
-mike
Ah well, welcome to Minnesnowta. You will find there is nothing like subzero weather to expose every weakness of your vehicle...
And I agree with Mike, first try replacing the thermostat with a factory spec one.
I think it is still possible that the IM gasket is to blame for your problems, because a leaking IM gasket amounts to a massive vacuum leak. And depending on where the gasket has failed, I can envision different sets of problems depending on which sensors are most affected.
The first was a transmission gear engagement problem. Turns out a wiring harness was blocking the shifter linkage, they just moved it.
They also checked the steering problem I posted about a few days ago. They think it is a warn steering column coupling. It is causing a bump in the steering wheel when turning left and right on center. I have an appointment at a new Isuzu dealership (new to me) Monday. They better cover this under warranty, it is a factory part, and under the 3/36 basic warranty, but I hope I don't get the run around. On the flip side, my mechanic said this isn't the first time they had seen this in an "old" Trooper and it isn't a serious safety problem, yet. I have a '99 with 23,000 miles, hardly old! I hope it doesn't crop up again at 45,000 miles.
They checked out the computer for the error codes (none), then they checked for vacuum leakage at the Intake Manifold (none), drove it hooked up to the computer looking for ignition problems (none). So now it's documented for future coverage (after the warranty expires).
I decided to do the 60K service at 57K while I have a good dealer at hand. I had them save the fuel filter to cut apart and see what it looked like inside, the service manager called to tell me I had "water in the fuel filter". I'm guessing the only way water could have got in there, was watered down gas from the station? I live at sea level, constant 50 to 70 degree air temperature, I don't get it....any experiences or thoughts?
Yeah, i'm freezin' my @ss off here in MN, and the weatherman says it will get worse (like, 10 degrees for a high??!?) this weekend.
Where is the t-stat located, and how can I tell if it's stuck open? I called my old dealer in TX, and he advised sticking w an Isuzu original t-stat, no modification, so I will.
Paisan, the temp of air flowing from vents is lukewarm, and the temp gauge lingers in the lower end of the operating range.
SDC2, do you know of a good MN repair shop for Troopers? I'd like to try this myself, if anyone has done it before I'd love some advice.
Thanks!
-mike
A thermostat replacement is fairly easy as engine repairs go...'specially if you have access to a heated garage.
I have a service manual but it is for the 3.5L which is very similar, but I can't guarantee it is the same setup. Mike is correct about the general location of the 'stat.
This is exactly one year from last time...seems the onset of cold weather triggers the problem.
Oh well, it is the only thing that has gone wrong in 33,000 miles, so can't complain too much. Have an appointment at the dealer for Wednesday.
Well, normal or not, this condition developed in the last few weeks and I want it remedied. Since I need the truck, we are down to one vehicle right now, I am going to drive it until it becomes more noticable, and then bring it back. If they still claim it is normal my next step will be to talk to the service manager, I guess? I am saving the "hissy" fit for my trump card. :-)
-mike
With the hood up, you can hear a knock when you turn the wheel lightly left and right on center, when you turn it hard, it is not noticeable yet. That makes me believe it is play in the steering box gears (the mechanic pointed this out, I didn't even know what a steering box was until all of this).
It is very slight right now, with winter gloves on, I can hardly feel it, but still hear it. I am sort of waiting for it to get worse, but that scares me too, because more might get damaged.
Both times I had it looked at, the mechanic found "nothing" the first time, and I had to go out to parking lot after to point it out. I feel I didn't get the right attention because at this point they already had another car on the lift and were ready to move on. They sort of yeah, yeahed me, told me it was normal and to come back if it gets worse. Really frustrating after waiting for an hour to have it fixed.
Thanks for the input, I had not thought of the fact that they may have removed the steering rack while working on the engine, I am going to call the ex-dealer who did the work today.
BTW these guys sell Subarus so if anyone is looking for a quality dealership in the Philly area, I would be glad to provide the name and info.
I've already figured that Isuzu will not exist as a brand 2-5 years from now. The anecdotal accounts of disappearing Isuzu dealers seem to support that theory.
Thoughts?
Honda is supposedly dropping the Passport next year, which will mean less production for Isuzu SUV's in the US, maybe the Ascender will take off. Keep in mind that Isuzu is one of, if not the, world's largest truck manufacturer (SUV's are a sideline).
Without a big surge in the US sales, they may pull SUV's from here, but I doubt they will stop producing the Holden Jackaroo, Big Horn, and SUV's around the globe.
At the moment it is still being checked out... What is "random cylinder misfire" and what the implications can be?
Nothing to worry about, also can be a real pain to find the true culprit as well