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Isuzu Trooper

11964 messages,  Last post on May 02, 2013 at 7:16 AM

You are in the Isuzu Trooper Forum.

What is this discussion about? Isuzu Trooper, SUV

Messages Page 1034 of 1198

#10323 of 11964 Re: Catastrophic Engine failure ! 1999 with 41K [boxtrooper] by go-to-ak

Nov 17, 2004 (8:22 pm)

Replying to: boxtrooper (Nov 08, 2004 2:28 pm)
Hello again- Got the ($ 600) dealer teardown completed. The technicians said the head gasket was good still, and no evidence of engine overheating, but both heads are slightly warped 4/1000's of an inch- just enough to cause a misfire and coolant to leak into two cylinders. The aftermarket warranty (Century Warranty service of Jacksonville FL) is a bunch of crooks. Even though I have paid in full, and never had a claim before, they are saying that their "expert" opinion is that the car overheated, even though the Isuzu dealer and I say it did not. Luckily, I live in GA, where the small claims court limit is 15,000. I told them I will see them in court. I really loved my Trooper before this happened, now I'm thinking that maybe I should sell it and get a 4Runner or Landcruiser after all this is over with- don't know if what happened to me is a fluke, or the 1999 3.5L V-6 is an unreliable, problematic $6000 engine.

#10324 of 11964 Re: article [makaye] by boxtrooper

Nov 18, 2004 (12:22 am)

Replying to: makaye (Nov 17, 2004 3:12 pm)
I went to a party the other week, and on my way out with my kids, we spotted three other Troopers parked around mine. It was not a Trooper party, just coincidence I guess, but I enjoyed that little going away sight.
..
Here's a web page to make you feel good about what your Trooper can do:
http://www.expeditionswest.com/vehicles/ewvehicles/Isuzu_Trooper/
http://www.off-road.com/vw/features/trooper/trooper.html
..
Even if our Troopers become a little obscure, we can still enjoy them:
http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/ecars/Steyr/Pinzgauer.html

#10325 of 11964 re: crooks by sbcooke

Nov 18, 2004 (9:14 am)

How much did you pay them for the warranty?

#10326 of 11964 Rancho 9000s by bsmart1

Nov 18, 2004 (11:18 am)

What seems to be the failure mode of these shocks? What symptoms are you noticing first? How many miles do you have on them when this begins to happen?
 
I have a set that I'm very happy with so far. Only had them on a couple years now (25000 miles)

#10327 of 11964 99' trooper engine by bsmart1

Nov 18, 2004 (11:21 am)

I would have to say this engine failure is a 'fluke' in your case. I don't hear others coming on the board to anty up the same situation. I have a 99' that is performing wonderfully so far (69000 miles). How many miles did you have on your 99' when it failed?? It wasn't 200,000 yet was it?

#10328 of 11964 Re: 99' trooper engine [bsmart1] by boxtrooper

Nov 18, 2004 (1:02 pm)

Replying to: bsmart1 (Nov 18, 2004 11:21 am)
My Trooper reliability has been great:
..
201K miles on 1984 Trooper 80Hp 1.9L 4 speed manual 201K miles 17MPG commuting, replaced alternator and belts and water pump all at 140K, replaced power steering pully, replaced carburator throttle plate for worn larger throttle butterfly valve shaft holes leaking air in. Used 1 qt. per 1000 miles at 200K miles up from 1 qt. in 4000 miles at 30K miles. Got 90K miles on each of two replacement sets of tires. Sold because I moved South and wanted A/C, plus years of salt exposure made it rusty underneath to the point of weakening the frame.
..
145K miles on 1995 Trooper 175Hp 3.2L 5 speed manual 16.5MPG commuting, timing belt and tensioner changed, fought the lifter ticking noise and was winning every battle, then totalled by rear ended so hard that the $6000 air bags exploded, Volvo that hit me was carried away on a flatbed, my Trooper was still driveable. Used no measureable amount of oil between changes, except when towing a heavy load a long way, then 1/2 qt. per 1000 miles.
..
55K on 2001 Trooper 215Hp? 3.5L 5 speed manual 17.5MPG commuting, changed all fluids, changed thermostat and serpentine belt, uses 1/2 qt. oil between oil changes, runs strong. 145K miles to go, or about 7 more years. Maybe by then there will be a new Isuzu Trooper on the market long enough to prove itself worthy of the name.
..
So far over 400K+ miles and 20+ years ($11K new, $22K new, and $14K used respectively compare that to the value in buying a Toyota land Cruiser! ) driving Troopers without any significant problems.
..
Meanwhile, my wife's minivan had to go back to the dealer for repairs 28 times (new transmission, new dashboard, cracked battery three times, etc...) in just 45K miles, replaced it with same (she likes it and I get a big discount) this time only in shop for repairs to fix leaking head gaskets, replace the radio 4 times and new brakes at 50K.

#10329 of 11964 re: crooks [sbcooke] by go-to-ak

Nov 18, 2004 (10:13 pm)

Replying to: sbcooke (Nov 18, 2004 9:14 am)
It was a powertrain warranty 3yrs/36,000 miles added to factory warranty. Unfortunately I should have used a more respected company like Warranty Direct who has a zero complaint record with the BBB. Had the heads looked at today by several independent mechanics who said they are barely out of tolerance- just enough to cause leakage - they thought it may have been due to improper bolt torque in the factory, or head bolt elongation over time due to the heating and cooling cycles of the engine. Valves look okay, but heads are warped 4/1000 of an inch. Dealer insists that you cannot remill/machine a 3.5L v-6 head. The machine shop guys said that was BS. Anyway, I got 4 written statements from mechanics as to the clean, well maintained look of the inside of my engine to pursue the aftermarket warranty company with in court if it comes to that.

#10330 of 11964 re: by sbcooke

Nov 19, 2004 (8:36 am)

Good luck. Even if the engine overheated...if the problem was caused by something wrong in the engine, they should repair it.

#10331 of 11964 RS9000 "failure mode" by makaye

Nov 19, 2004 (10:04 am)

What I noticed was a loss of control on-road. The shocks still adjust from soft to firm and on firm are rock solid over larger bumps. Over small undulations, the Trooper feels bouncy and wanders. It's NOT the suspension or alignment.
 
I pulled the shocks off the front. One of the shocks has about 2" of free-play before I can hear the oil go through the valve. On a setting of 5 that play is reduced to less than 1". The other shock has almost no free-play even at the softest setting. There is no external sign of oil leakage on the shock.

#10332 of 11964 Rancho 9000s play..... by bsmart1

Nov 19, 2004 (11:08 am)

is significant. I can understand why you are getting that 'bouncy' feeling. You've got almost NO shock absorb. on the 2" play shock. That should be a no-brainer for Rancho to replace FREE if you told them and sent the shock back for warranty replacement. There's nothing you could do to cause the play to exist. That's obviously a manufacturing defect.

Messages Page 1034 of 1198

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