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Isuzu Trooper

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

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What is this discussion about? Isuzu Trooper, SUV

Messages Page 1157 of 1197

#11558 of 11964 Re: 2001 Isuzu Trooper Transmission --repair/rebuild time [automaticsucks] by boxtrooper

Jul 09, 2007 (6:25 pm)

Replying to: automaticsucks (Jul 09, 2007 7:52 am)
IF it were me, I'd be looking for either a transmission from a junk yard, or a whole used Trooper with some other issues for a much lower price than $5000.
..
A million years ago, I dented the front of my mom's 1965 Impala and someone at night broke out a rear window. I found another Impala at a used car lot. I talked to the guy and asked if I could just buy the parts I wanted from that used car. He was all for it. I just harvested the parts right on the lot and paid what I considered a low price for all.
..
I drive only manual transmission Troopers, no problems, but no TOD either.

#11559 of 11964 Re: 2001 Isuzu Trooper Transmission --repair/rebuild time [automaticsucks] by bsmart1

Jul 10, 2007 (10:23 am)

Replying to: automaticsucks (Jul 08, 2007 9:03 pm)
What are your symptoms that the transmission is going??? I would like to know what to look for since I have 2 Troopers with Automatic. Was it sudden, or is it a gradual failure?
 
I've had to replace the starter on my 99' Troop and I think I can recognize when the problem will occur on my 01' I noticed a different sound when starting the vehicle several times before the starter completely quit. It was at about 89000 miles when it gave out. This seems to be about a typical life expectency for starters on Troopers.

#11560 of 11964 Re: EGR cleaning [serranot] by bsmart1

Jul 10, 2007 (10:27 am)

Replying to: serranot (Jul 09, 2007 2:15 am)
Tom, you're right on target with the oil consumption under 'loaded' conditions. In short trips my oil consumption is pretty much zero, but when I take the 99' on a 'road trip' it gets a little thirsty for oil. It isn't bad, but it does increase.
 
I put Sea Foam in the crankcase of both Troopers a few weeks ago, and it seems to be making a small difference in the 01' model. We've made a couple of 500 mile trips since putting the SF in, and there's no indication of oil use at this point!! We'll see if this holds up.

#11561 of 11964 Re: 2001 Isuzu Trooper Transmission --repair/rebuild time [bsmart1] by boxtrooper

Jul 10, 2007 (6:57 pm)

Replying to: bsmart1 (Jul 10, 2007 10:23 am)
Starter at 89000 miles is suspiciously close to the life of the typical car battery. If the voltage is too low the starter will be working much longer and at worst case voltage conditions.
..
Maybe change your battery sooner and not lose the starter.
..
While on the battery topic, consider using an AGM battery, their internal resistance is 1/10 that of a regular wet cell battery, so at a given starting current, the voltage drop will be much less, so your starter gets more voltage and starts quicker under more ideal conditions. Also, the AGMs don't leak or vent corrosive gas so your battery terminals stay shiny new and do not contribute to lower cranking voltage.
..
I believe that the GRP31 battery is the largest that will fit, good for winches etc..
http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/rvbatterysize.php
..
I have also used the Optima brand in a smaller size that needs a spacer for the Trooper battery clamp to hold it sucure.
http://www.optimabatteries.com/publish/optima/americas0/en/config/product_info/automotive.html

#11562 of 11964 Re: 2001 Isuzu Trooper Transmission --repair/rebuild time [boxtrooper] by serranot

Jul 11, 2007 (2:47 am)

Replying to: boxtrooper (Jul 10, 2007 6:57 pm)
Note that the Optima batteries now come with a removable spacer. It gives the battery the perfect height. I was using a block of wood prior to the time when I got ahold of the spacer.
 
Regards,
Tom

#11563 of 11964 failsafe or winter switch? by isuzufan

Jul 12, 2007 (11:17 am)

Back in July '01 someone had a tranny problem that sounded very much like the problem I'm having with a 93 Trooper I just bought. Consistent symptoms: if put in Drive after starting, it is sluggish (as if it is in a high gear) and won't change gears. If put in 1st after starting, it will not change out of 1st even when the shifter is put into 2nd...UNTIL the check trans light flashes. Then it will manually shift (with hard shifts) but will not go into Drive (stays in 3rd). I assume that "Drive" is actually "overdrive" on the 3rd gear. The problem starts over fresh every time the engine is turned off: the check trans light is off until I've run the rpms in 1st up over 4500. I didn't check the speed the last time I drove it, but at 4500 rpm in 1st I'm probably in that 21 mph range.
 
The reply by paisan in '01 suggested the winter switch was intermittently activating, as the problem was not consistent. However, someone else suggested it was the transmission control module. There was very little in the way of follow-up on the discussion, so I'm asking for some help here now.
 
I do not know where the trans control module is located, nor do I know much about these kinds of things. It seems that the TCM is part of the computer system. However, it could be a sensor kind of thing. So how do I find it, so that I can either have it tested or replace it?
 
How would I disconnect the winter switch (which seems like a redundant system when you have 2WD-4WD capability)?
 
The transmission shop refused to work on this car, as they said the wiring harness was bad ("wires pulled, broken, the plug on the transmission destroyed...a butcher job") but I visually inspected all the wiring and found no such condition. I think they just don't want to get into a '93 rewiring job and have to give a warranty. Thoughts, all you Trooper experts out there?
 
By the way, I bought Isuzu because 11 years ago when I remarried an '87 Isuzu pup came with the ring...and you couldn't shoot the thing and kill it. It gave us 25+ mpg when the head was so warped it burned up a gallon of antifreeze every tankful.

#11564 of 11964 Re: failsafe or winter switch? [isuzufan] by atfdmike

Jul 13, 2007 (4:42 am)

Replying to: isuzufan (Jul 12, 2007 11:17 am)
I can't imagine that the transmission was behaving this way and you still bought it, but in any event, it sounds like you will have to address the problems in some kind of logical order. IMO, if the Mode switch which is down on the transmission selection lever is bad, miswired, corroded, etc;, then you have to start there and see if that is the problem. The mode switch is often mentioned first with most trans problems. the TCM would be my last suspect until you know that the mode switch and power and winter switchs are OK. Really, you will need a manual or service info to nail down what is happening. The winter switch simply puts the trans in third so there is less slippage in icy conditions. Does the winter light illuminate when you press the button? There are usually directions on visor for this option when equipped.
I would suggest the mode switch first, then other options. Truprs are known for electrical gremlins, so checking the connectors and cleaning connections are a good place to start as well. One guys opinion

#11565 of 11964 Re: failsafe or winter switch? [atfdmike] by isuzufan

Jul 15, 2007 (3:56 am)

Replying to: atfdmike (Jul 13, 2007 4:42 am)
Yes, the price of the vehicle and the terrific condition it was in otherwise convinced us we were money ahead even if we had to rebuild the tranny and put a new wiring harness in.
 
However, I fixed the problem, and it wasn't the mode or winter switches...this time. I simply need better glasses.
 
I put the vehicle up on a platform so I would have better working room, which also put the wiring harness/transmission into my good-vision-without-glasses range. Using a mirror on an extendable arm, I found that the two wires for the plug at the top of the trans (right under the shifter on the console) had been spliced improperly. I also found another wire, on another plug to the driver's side of the transmission (the 4-pin one).
 
For others who might have this same problem, here's what I did:
 
I don't know the names of the parts, so I'll try my best to describe them. I disconnected the shifter by taking out a cotter key on the end of the flat rod that went from the shifter to a round rod. (The round rod is connected to a flat rod that is connected to the shift mechanism in the trans. I simply disconnected that part which I knew would not alter the gear locations in the process.) After removing the key, I simply laid the rod end down (it rested on the muffler, if I recall correctly), and then took apart the console. The only caution I have about doing this is to be very careful with the positioning of the screws on the cable that leads from the shifter to the ignition. These got changed when I re-installed them, and I had to make several adjustments in order to get the key out of the ignition switch.
 
Using electronics cleaner spray, I cleaned the exposed wires, trimmed them and twisted the strands. I added dialectric grease, and used electrical connectors, the kind that you put on the end of the wire and crimp down, to reconnect them. In this way, I had a good electrical connection, free of grease and oil, and protected from future invasion of water, etc. The spray, connectors, and grease were not expensive. In fact, the spare change I found when I took the console apart paid for about half of the cost! My husband found that rather amusing.
 
In putting the console back together, I had my husband work the brake pedal as I reinstalled the knob (and the release button) on the top of the shifter. The pedal needs to be depressed in order for the release button to sit properly when you align the screw holes at the bottom of the knob.
 
There are other botched splices in other areas, and I will address them shortly. Fortunately, all are fairly accessible. The blue plug behind the left headlight has several bad splices, and there are two wires leading the the fuel injector that need work, but right now the vehicle purrs.
 
So, atfdmike, thanks for the encouragement to retrace the wiring again, even though I never opened the mode switch assembly. I appreciate knowing that elsewhere on this forum are instructions for doing so, if I ever need to and desire to get my achy, aging body back underneath again. In the meantime, I am serious money ahead.
 
Apologies to the AAMCO guy, but his description of the wiring harness was grossly overstated, as was his estimate of repair costs.

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Jul 15, 2007 (11:21 am)

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#11567 of 11964 Re: 2001 Isuzu Trooper Tran --repair/rebuild time/symptoms [bsmart1] by automaticsucks

Jul 15, 2007 (11:34 am)

Replying to: bsmart1 (Jul 10, 2007 10:23 am)
My wife drives 80 miles a day in her 01 trooper. One day she noticed surging and hesitation (It was in December). We took it to the dealership they told us 5000.00 to fix... we parked it trying to decide what we wanted to do. It is currently at AAmco with a 3800.00 price for the fix. She loves the troopers... I drive her old 89 trooper and have a 98 Chevy truck. I work on all the vehicles... but the time/energy to work on the 01 transmission just wasn't there. By the way.... We looked for transmission they were hard to find and the few we did find had high price tags on them as well.

Messages Page 1157 of 1197

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