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Isuzu Trooper Engine And Engine Cooling Engine Safety Report | Oct 20, 2003



Reported on Oct 20, 2003


I OWN A 1999 ISUZU TROOPER WITH AROUND 77000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I AND MY FAMILY ENJOYED THE VEHICLE UNTILL ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO (10-03) WHEN, ON A 250 MILE RUN FROM SAN ANTONIO TO MY HOME, WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS, STRANGE SOUNDS OR ROUGH RUNNING, I HEARD A LOUD WHINE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, EVERYTHING LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR A SECOND AND THEN WENT COMPLETELY DEAD. AFTER A LONG. HOT WAIT AND AN EVEN LONGER TOW, I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP TIGHT AS A DRUM AND THAT THERE WAS AROUND 1 QUART OF OIL IN THE PAN. DURING MY OWNERSHIP OF THE TRUCK, I HAD NOTICED THAT THE DIPSTICK WOULD OCCASIONALLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY READ LOW - BUT IT NEVER VISIBLY BURNED ANY OIL. I CHALKED IT UP TO A 'DIPSTICK MALFUNCTION' AND KEPT UP WITH MY OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE. I HAVE OWNED MANY CLASSIC AND HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLES IN THE PAST AND AM A STICKLER FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE. MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHT WAS THAT MY PREVIOUS OIL CHANGE HAD BEEN DONE INCORRECTLY - BUT MY OWN DILIGENCE IN CHECKING THE OIL PRIOR TO MY TRIP AND ADDING A NEEDED QUART STEERED ME AWAY FROM THAT AS A SOLUTION. NOW, AFTER AN ATTEMPT TO LOCATE A REPLACEMENT ENGINE FOR THE TRUCK ONLINE, I FIND THAT I'M NOT ALONE BY ANY MEANS. BEING OUT OF WARRANTY (JUST) LEAVES ME WITH THE BELIEF THAT I WILL JUST HAVE TO EAT THE COST OF GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK ON THE ROAD, BUT I FEEL THAT, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR STORIES OUT THERE, ISUZU SHOULD PONY UP AND ASSIST THOSE WHO CAN PROVE THEIR STORIES. AFTER 1 FULL YEAR WITHOUT A SECOND VEHICLE AND MINUS THE INITIAL $159 FOR TOWING AND INITIAL DIAGNOSIS, MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY BEING RE-DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED AT A TRUSTED FACILITY AFTER A SECOND COSTLY TOW. INITIAL ESTIMATES HAVE INDICATED THAT IF A REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS REQUIRED, I WILL BE OUT AROUND $3000-$4000 FOR THE ENGINE PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $1000-$2000 IN LABOR. I WILL LODGE A SECOND REPORT ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED INDICATING THE ACCURATE TOTAL BILLING.
Make: Isuzu
Model: Trooper
Manufactured by: ISUZU MANUFACTURING SERVICES OF AMERICA
Year: 1999
Was a crash reported? N
Was an injury reported? 0 person(s) were injured.
Was a death reported? 0 person(s) died.
Was a fire reported? N
Location: GRAND PRAIRIE TX
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): JACDJ58X6X7
Mileage: 77546 miles.
Speed: 65 MPH
Number of cylinders: 6
Vehicle type: 4WD
Vehicle fuel: GAS Fuel injection.
Was a police report filed? N
Tire size:
Dealer name and location:
Previous Report:Engine And Engine Cooling Engine Next Report:Tires Tread/belt

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