Hello. I have a 2000 Trooper (3.5 L) w/ major oil consumption problems that I've just learned to except and monitor.

However...last week I noticed that the engine was making a sucking noise from the engine compartment. This was followed up a few days later by strange shifting - the engine would rev to about 4000 rpms when the auto-trans would try shifting from what felt like 2nd to 3rd.

Reading various info on the web, I was suspecting a bad intake manifold gasket and was ready to take it in for this and a good EGR cleaning.

However - I parked the vehicle today for a quick trip into the post office, and when I came back out to try to start it, the engine struggled to turn and then I ended up with nothing but a a "click, click, click". I tried jumping it to rule out the obvious, and that didn't help at all.

The vehicle is about 50 miles from my service station, so I'd really like to do all I can to get it going in order to drive it in.'

What could this be? I read in a similar post that this might be an alternator or the electrical connection to the tranny is loose and dirty. But then...why the sucking sound? Perhaps I have two separate problems?

CEL's been on for a few weeks as well - but it seems to always be on so because of the excessive oil burn.

Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Dave

You need to get the CEL codes read and post them. You can buy a reader for about $100 or find someone who can lend you one. Autozone reads for free but it sounds like you truck is not mobile at the moment.

I'd check all your battery and starter connections and try jumping again. (Make sure your in Park not Drive)

the sucking sound is probably a bad Intake manifold gasket.

very very common.

First, may I ask a few questions?
1)How many miles are on the Troop
2)What have you tried to do so far
3)Regular Service?
4)Did it start after it cooled down, or is it still dead?

And just for me, how much oil are you going thru?

Adam <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Update -

First of all...thanks again for the feedback.

I ended up having it towed to a garage nearby that specializes in Japanese vehicles.

I had to replace the starter as the motor wasn't turning over. Once this was in place, I was back to the original problem.

Unfortunately, they're telling me that it's most likely a bad transmission, and from what I've seen so far, this expense almost equals the blue book value of the vehicle itself.

I was a little concerned about his diagnosis as he probably doesn't see A LOT of Troopers, so I also decided to drop by a local Isuzu dealer to talk to a mechanic that knows them well.

I explained to the Isuzu mechanic how the vehicle seems to slip out of gear and rev high before catching again once I've slowed down. I also mentioned that it only really happens once it's warmed up a bit. Based on this info...he also thought it was a bad transmission.

I asked about the intake manifold gasket perhaps causing the problem - but he mentioned that the Troopers transmission is all electric, so he doubted this. (I've actually read about problems that seem to be related to the transmission actually being the IMG)

I also asked about the EGR needing cleaning (based on what I've read here and other forums) and he indicated that the Trooper would probably be stalling a lot if this was a problem.

So...I'm kind of stuck. I really hate to invest $4000 in a new transmission for a vehicle that's notorious for other engine-related problems.

But I'm also thinking in the back of my mind - what if they're wrong? What if IT IS as simple as an intake gasket needing replacement?

Not sure what to do here. Could I find a rebuilt transmission for less that 4k?

Thanks again for all the input. Here's the answer to the questions above.

120,000 miles on Trooper. Service was sporadic..and I'm paying for this now (live and learn). Not sure on the oil burn rate exactly. This is the wife's vehicle and I check it every two weeks. Probably a quart every 700 miles or so.

Dave

Ebay generally has rebuilt 4L30-E transmissions for under $1000 and the swap isn't hard so it should cost too much in labor.

Thanks. I just did an eBay search and found nothing at this time..but I'll add an email alert.

Is anyone familiar with this company?

http://www.autoguide.net/apf/isuzu-transmissions/trooper-catalog.html

I found a transmission from a company in Nebraska (Certified Transmissions). They quoted me $1799 plus $160 shipping. I just called the mechanic and I'm being quoted $900 labor to put it in (10 hours).

I guess I didn't expect something like this to take ten hours. Is this normal?

Considering that I'm now close to $3000, and I'll still have to deal with the engine in this thing - would it make more sense to just write it off as a loss and move on to another vehicle? The bluebook on this vehicle is roughly $6000.

DS

I strongly vote for another mechanic. His take that a problem EGR also leads to stalling is a new one on me. A plugged EGR is one of the major reasons the 3.5s burn a lot of oil. He thinks it might be a bad transmission (based on sucking noises under the hood???)sounds like code for lets make the poor guy buy a new AT as we have no idea what the problem is. Not saying the shop is for sure bad just that they don't sound like they know beans about Isuzus. In any event a second or third opinion is always a good idea for that amount of money.

Before spending any major amount of money on the AT also get a through check of the engine. No sense in dropping some big coin on a new AT just to have the engine crash.

As to your original shifting problem, that is likely the IMG problem or it could be the very common mode switch problem (search for the details).

As to driving around for weeks with CELs and not doing anything, that is a potential recipe for disaster. If that is how you routinely treat your vehicles then indeed a Trooper is not for you. Sell it now and move on.

What is the story on the proposed AT. A simple salvage pull? A rebuild if so what do they check/do? What kind of warranty? What kind of warranty will your shop give you? Or will they point at the AT place and they point at the shop?

Bottome line - it could be as simple as new IMGs, cleaning the EGR and tubing, and maybe the AT mode switch. Or you could have a bad AT and an engine about to follow suit. While you cannot rule out the latter you can get another mechanics opinion. Hopefully one with more Isuzu experience to try and make a proper decision with all the information.

I'm being quoted $900 labor to put it in (10 hours).

$900 to R&R a tranny?!?!? No way. They have to unbolt and remove the old one, bolt the new one back up and fill it with fluid. A rather simple procedure. Besides, they are charging $90/hr. That is outrageous, even for the more affluent/metro/whatever areas of the US.

Run, don't walk away from this guy. He may not be crooked, but he is definitely on a different planet than the rest of us.

There is someone out there that can get this done for you at a much better price.

Michael