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Isuzu Trooper Transmission Problems

159 messages,  Last post on Apr 24, 2013 at 5:38 PM

You are in the Isuzu Trooper Forum.

What is this discussion about? Isuzu Trooper, Isuzu Trooper II, Transmission, SUV

Messages Page 15 of 17

#137 of 159 97 trooper 4wd light blinking and slipping 1st gear by glen1002

Apr 09, 2012 (7:21 pm)

I have a 97 trooper that has a 4wd light blinking.. when in 4hi the car has little pull going up a hill until it kicks into second gear and shifts well afterwards but in 4wd low car will pull but loud popping noises from the front axle areas.. please help.. please help.....

#138 of 159 Re: 2000 Trooper auto trans works in manual mode only PLEASE HELP [kather] by tomtom59

Apr 14, 2012 (6:10 pm)

Replying to: kather (Sep 15, 2009 9:50 am)
This is only a small thing but a Trooper is not a car, call it a truck or an SUV because that's what it is. Now on to the transmission. I learned what NOT to do with a messed up transmission by going to AAMCO. I was way-overcharged and it was never the same afterward. Years later I bought a used Jaguar and experienced transmission failure 2 weeks later. It was covered under warranty and a Jag dealer installed the rebuilt transmission. It has been flawless. Factory rebuilt transmissions have enhancements, modifications, and fixes to address failures of stock units. First off, anyone who goes to a dealer and DEMANDS a NEW transmission is doing the wrong thing. You WANT a rebuilt unit. The dealer knows your vehicle and has worked on many of them. Don't ever go to a "shop" somewhere, what you will end up with is a crap shoot. Since you are already past this point I wish you the best in getting the problems solved. I don't mean to sound condescending, I'm trying to be helpful. As yet another example my sister kept taking her Grand Prix to a Goodyear store for a stalling problem when she was almost at a stop. She spent $900 and the problem was still there. All the while I kept urging her to take it to the dealer. She finally did and the mechanic listened to the symptoms and said he knew what it was, a sticking lockup torque converter solenoid. $275 later, it was fixed. It was a hard lesson learned for her and for me as well with AAMCO.

#139 of 159 Re: 97 trooper 4wd light blinking and slipping 1st gear [glen1002] by speedrover2

Apr 16, 2012 (1:21 pm)

Replying to: glen1002 (Apr 09, 2012 7:21 pm)
Pretty sure the blinking indicates it is functioning. The 4wd button is simply allowing the front wheels locks to engage. I assume you do not have TOD (Torque On Demand). Perhaps you should not use the 4wd option with the noise. You might want to check the fluid level in the front differential box/transfer case. It might be as simple as fluid levels...let's hope!

#141 of 159 trans issue by 94trooper1

Apr 30, 2012 (1:27 pm)

I have a 94 trooper with a dohc it seems to be slugish from a standing stop I can put the trans into power mode but not winter mode from what iv red the system can fail an get stuck in winter mode if this is what has happened would a new tcm fix the probblem and if so where do I find one

#142 of 159 01 Trooper trans Slipping 1st & 2nd Only by jc357

May 05, 2012 (9:56 pm)

I have a 01 Trooper that slips in 1st and 2nd then it drives like new when it shihts in other gears,any suggestions would be appreciated....

#143 of 159 2001 v6 Trooper by gh007

May 26, 2012 (3:07 pm)

I have a 2001 v6 Trooper. Have had two transmissions put in the last 5 years. It still did not fix the problem..Problem is, it seems to make a slipping noise like the tranny is slipping around 55 mph, but the tach does not go up.. It keeps getting worse..Almost like a spinning sound??? Now they tell me it may be the torque converter. Trying to get this SUV back running to give to my kid in college. Any answers out there..The wallet is getting thin..
 
Thanks
GH

#144 of 159 Re: 2001 v6 Trooper [gh007] by speedrover2

May 27, 2012 (6:38 am)

Replying to: gh007 (May 26, 2012 3:07 pm)
Unfortunately, it was always the Torque Converter. The OEM converters can't even be purchased anymore because they were GM junk. Good news is the new Converters (upgrade) are $125 more but they are super strong, made of carbon-fiber mesh and even somewhat lighter.
Eventually, your rpm increase will be noticebale. If you went tinto a transmission shop talking about rebuild then that's often what they do. The TC is your issue.
Check you differential fluid as well.

#145 of 159 2000 trooper trans just rebuilt-new probs by kather

May 30, 2012 (10:17 am)

Hi fellas, and thanks for all your help a few years back after my first rebuild nightmare in 2008.
A "hack" tranny shop "rebuilt" my trans, it was never right, they even gave it to me, I found out much later, with 5 stripped pan bolts, one of which they had literally stuck a PAPERCLIP in so that the bolt would tighten at all.
I've had a horrible 3 years of little or no income, so I've been driving it it limp mode using 1st and 2nd manually, and to my amazement, it's kept letting me.
Recently, I was able to get my finances in better shape, and at first decided to unload the trooper as many mechanics had recommended I do, and try to find a reliable car for around $3,500. After months of car shopping, I wound up paying homage to my reliable engine and too much attention to my deep adoration of my huge double-size moonroof, and decided to fix this transmission again instead.
One of my main problems has been deciding just what to do. I came close twice to trading in the trooper on small car lots, but I was too unsure about the replacement vehicle. I did a lot of research on all of the cars I looked at, too. I ALSO CAN'T GET A HANDLE ON WHETHER THE
TROOPER IS SOMETHING I SHOULD KEEP, LET ALONE SPEND BIG BUCKS ON.
 
My current dilemma:
I just spent $1,900 getting my tranny rebuilt again, by a shop who was helpful during the last siege. When he was done, he said "it has a vibration that is coming from the front axle" I told him there was no vibration before, but I was so sure he had truly fixed the transmission, and as I drove away I felt nothing noticeable.
By the time I had driven 8 miles or so, there was a horrible grinding, catching, and shuddering as I came to a stop, and as I began to accelerate. In subsequent days this has continued consistently, as soon as it's warmed up. I called the rebuild place, they insisted it was the axle, but said I could bring it back Tuesday after Memorial day. Over the weekend I decided it would be prudent to get some more local opinions for ammunition before I went two cities over to the rebuild shop.
Two general mechanics whom I believe are less likely to be dishonest than most had multiple mech's drive the car and believe it is the tranny, not the axle. I went to an AAmco in town (to whom I told the whole story) who supposedly did a lot of testing and to my surprise, showed me that it was the axle (both boots are blown) and he wiggled the front tires and said that the wheel bearings were bad. He then said that these two conditions would produce the symptoms I was having. HAS ANYONE EVER HEARD OF THIS?
I went back to my trusted mech, who put it back on the rack, drove it again, specifically paying attention to the axle, bearings, and the rest of the drive train, and cannot produce while on the rack, any friction or wobble that would create the problem. I went to another general mech and the-most-respected tranny people in town (expensive #$%) this morning, and they also believe it is an internal transmission problem.
Unfortunately, I called the rebuild shop after seeing AAmco and told them it looks like he was right. I no longer believe that.
The rebuild shop had said my tranny was extremely burned, and that he had to go into the valve case 3 times (with test drives in between) to get it clean. Can my symptoms be related to remaining grunge, or does it sound like something else?
 
Most of all, is there any chance that the axle and wheel bearings CAN produce these symptoms? Should I have my mechanic fix them for another $1,000 against his better judgement? Should I put another $1,000 into this car at all? It has occurred to me that since I told AAmco everything, they knew they were'nt going to make any TRANNY money off me, and came up with something I had reason to buy into that they could do.
 
PLEASE HELP. In 2008 I went through all the appropriate channels and filed all the appropriate complaints, thru to DACS and the office of the Atty General, and even went to ABC Action News for help. At least the ABC volunteer assigned to my case had the integrity to be appalled by the blatent lack of appropriate response from the officials.
 
I've read your wonderful forums and know that these Isuzu transmissions can reduce grown men to tears. I'm a girl.

#146 of 159 Re: 2000 trooper trans just rebuilt-new probs [kather] by speedrover2

May 30, 2012 (6:32 pm)

Replying to: kather (May 30, 2012 10:17 am)
Wow! I'm exhausted just reading your dilemma... The front end noise is, in fact, the wheel bearings. Repacking the wheel bearings is to be done every 50k anyway and is usually $50-80 a wheel. It sounds like you have a 4WD, however 2WD vehicles require the same. It's the SUV nature.
 
Trooper owner/enthusiasts are an odd and magnificent lot. We like working on them. We love the international heritage Troopers they maintain, and their subtle yet uncanny ability to keep going. Thing is, your previous owners have 4-wheeled that thing rather harshly-that being said, it's really OK.
 
Your car has value, so you probably should sell it and get a 95 Camry (also indestructible yet more reliable)
 
Mechanics pull those stunts all the time, to all of us. It's shameful and shi%%y yet everyone pretends it doesn't happen to them. It appears as if you're doing everything correct, so keep up the fight...
 
Good luck

Messages Page 15 of 17

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