Hello, I am new here!

I have a V6 98 Isuzu Rodeo with 50,000 miles with the auto transmission. I was on a recent trip and was slightly offroad on a hill and I was starting to slip. I pushed the 4WD engage button as I have done many times before and it instanly engaged. As soon as I got onto the pavement I pushed the button again and although the indicator started to flash it would not disengage. The road was getting dry so I pulled of the side several times trying to play with the controls and nothing. I did not want to drive with the car in 4WD so I tried several things. On the gravel a minor panic stop got the system back to 2WD.

We drove about 20 miles on a winding road and stopped for gas. I could smell a definitely burning smell like a clutch or burning plastic. I checked all over the car annd everything seemed OK so we proceeded.

Later on it started to rain and hail on the freeway so I pushed the 4WD button again at about 50 mph in 4WD high gear. The car then did something I could not explain. It was like pushing the clutch in on a manual. I lost power and the engine would rev but no drive. I coast off the side of the busy freeway at night in the rain (&*%$!) after fiddling with the gear selector and moving the car from high to low 4WD a couple of times we proceeded on our way in 2WD. I am not a 4WD expert so I thought that I would join thhis board and ask one of you. I have an italian sports car I work on but have not much luck on the Rodeo. I tried to change the starter once and had to have the truck towed to the dealer!!!! So I have pretty much given up working on it.

I was hoping one of you tech gurus might be able to help me diagnose the problem so I could talk intelligently to the dealer. I am asuming something electrical screwed up and hope that the 4WD or transmission were not harmed!

Is there a clutch of some kind in there that would have given off the burning smell?

Thanks!

Rob Garven
Ventura CA

I just went out and played with it at slow speed in the dry. The 4WD comes on with a slight clunk almost instantly but it will not go off driving straight or stopping as it says in the OM. Curiously it will go out of 4WD when making a 90 degree turn, I tried this several times and as soon as you turn a corner the lights stop flashing and it goes into 2WD? I am just concerned as why the vehicle lost all gear drive going 50 when I tried to enagage the 4WD???!!!

welcome to the world of isuzus. First off never shift into 4wd at highway speeds.It doesn't even make sense to use 4wd at 50 let alone shift into it at 50. this is not italian sportscar AWD this is 4wd that operates differently (simpler mechanism) yet less room for error. I am not a real expert on the sotf system but I have a 98 and I think they use an axle disconnect and automatic hubs. The disconnect is solenoid activated via engine vacuum. Auto hubs are torque activated.

Not quite. Uses drive flanges and has a shift actuator on the front axle and another on the back of the t-case. The one on the axle locks/unlocks the driver side shaft from the differential and the one on the t-case shifts in into/out of 4wd.

Thanks Guys,

I have had the Isuzu since new in 98 and have never had any problems with it. The OM says you can SOTF up to 60 in high gear. I guess I am getting the 4WD confused with AWD. I am not good with electronics, my experience lies with mechanical parts.

Pro BMXer I think we have the same car with different badges, can you think of any reason for the problems I encountered. BTW we were coming down San Marcos pass from Big Sur when it started to rain and in SB it was hailing. I guess I should not have tried to engage the 4WD but actually the problem seems to have started when I engaged it much earlier and that was at about 1 mph?

Anyway thanks for the replies. I dont have a lift or room in my garage to get the Rodeo up to work on it myself. I have changed the oil myself regularly, and had the gearbox fluids and timing belt changed earlier than suggested. I try to over maintain my vehicles, so I would have never done anything that I thought would have damaged the gearboxes on purpose.

When my starter went out the dealer had to remove the entire exhaust sytem to replace it and I think they might have banged some stuff around as 6 months later my ABS light came on and when i took it back to them they said some vacuum hoses were fried and the tech re-routed them. i wonder if they re-routed the SOTF stuff.

Are the shift actuators vacuum actuated or by electrical solenoids?

Thanks again!!

Rob

This is not meant to be a flame but I've seen alot off this in the last couple months.


Ok let's backup a little bit.

On the 98 and newer Isuzu's Rodeo's/Amigo's/RodeoSport's and Honda Passport's you own a 4wd vehicle (4wd=four wheel drive).

The owners manual apparently leads people to think they own an AWD vehicle(AWD=AllWheelDrive).

Regardless of what the Owners Manual say's NEVER OPERATE YOUR VEHICLE IN 4WD ON PAVEMENT OR CONCRETE IF YOU CAN "SEE" THE PAVEMENT OR CONCRETE!
IF IT'S SNOWING/SLEETING WHATEVER.......IF YOU CAN SEE THE ROAD SURFACE YOUR TIRES CAN TOO.tHIS MEANS YOUR TIRE WILL BE GOING THRU WHATEVER IS ON THE SURFACE AND GETTING TRACTION ON THE HARD SURFACE.(yes ice is transparent <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />~)


If you/she/he drives on pavement(even wet or a real wet slush)the kind of slush that let's the tires get to the asphalt then it will bind the TransferCase up,when it binds it will "pop" out of gear and go into the condition discribed by most as "neutral" or engine just rev's.


I hope this isn't to technical,but It can be explain'd differently.

This is not an AllWheelDrive system.There is no differential in the TransferCase.So if the tires are on pavement even though it's wet there will be Binding happening especially during or after a turn.The front of the truck turns in a different arc/radius than the rear.This means the front and rear actually travel different lenghts which is what causes the binding.

Differentials allow both sides of the differential to operate at different speeds.The front and rear of the vehicle each have differentials.These allow passengerside and driverside tires to rotate at different speeds for going around corners,the outside tire has to travel further because the radius is bigger,without a differential the inside tire(in the corner) will want to spin,chirp or chatter.So now that that makes since;).

The front and rear of the vehicle travels in different radius's when drivin' around a corner.Without a differential in the transfercase(too allow front and back to travel at different speeds/distances)the transfer case and driveline will bind up and try to break something.Luckely Isuzu's will pop out of Hi-range when this happens(severly)mildly it won't "unlock 4wd".

When the 4wd button is pushed,it activates two solinoids.(98-02)(not sure exact on 02+)
One moves the Transfer case into 4wd,then the front axle disconnect moves and locks the driverside axle together.

You do not have a 4wd lever.....period.

That lever is a manual way of shifting into low range.(low range will allow slower more control'd speed's)great for long slopping driveways cover'd in snow,slow speed's allow
gas to be given and drive down the hill.

The vehicle has what is called drive flanges on the front axle,they mechanically lock the hubs/C.V. joints together.The vehicle does not have manual,automatic or locking hubs.

So the binding that happens will not let the vehicle go back into 2wd or it "pop's" out of gear.
"binding" is a bad thing cause if it doesn't pop out of gear then something can break.

If you can't get the truck out of 4wd:

1)Place transmission in nuetral--Make sure vehicle is in Hi-range.lever on the rightside of transmission shifter,it should be pushed towards dash for Hi-range.

2)place transmission in opposite direction it was in when you attempt'd 2wd before,roll forward or backwards and turn the steering wheel you should hear a click and the light will stop flashing.


If the vehicle is driving over 30 MPH you do not need 4wd! It doesn't matter what the owners manual says,because if you can go to the store,etc on the road at 50,60 you obviously have enough traction to cause the frontend or transfercase to bind up and break something.

This is not meant as a flame to anyone,it is just a general post I can save and modify to help explain to new owners of Isuzu 4wd vehicles that these are not AWD.

Bansil

Bansil,

Thanks that clears up allot. I am not a dedicated 4WD'er so that help explains the drivetrain better. My question is do you think I damaged anything? The 4WD still engages, and it will unengage when I turn the wheel as you said. There is no unusual noise when it is engaged (no grating etc) but does a slight clunk when engaged.

It seems like I experienced this binding when the car went into neutral. Unfortunately on a packed freeway, at 50 mph, at night, and in the hail! What is curious is that during heavy rains in the past I engaged the 4WD button and when I pressed it again it would unengage, now it will not do that without turning the wheel at a stop as you suggested.

I really appreciate the advice and info, I think the OM should state this clearer though as after 8 years of owning the Rodeo this is the first I have heard of this. If what I understand correctly what you are saying is, then the only time I should use the 4WD button is off road, in gravel, in snow or ice and under 30mph?

Thanks

Rob

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Gravel, snow, ice, sand, mud... anything that is a low-traction surface so that the drivetrain can slip a bit to prevent binding. As for the speed, if conditions are such that you need 4wd engaged, you have no business going over 30 anyway. If you can comfortably go over 30, then things obviously aren't bad enough to need 4WD.

You're truck doesn't say anything about when to and not to use 4wd? Mine came with a manual specific to proper use of the 4wd system. A 'Cliffs Notes' version of said manual is also printed on the part of the sun visor that faces me when its down.

I have a 98. I find that when my light just blinks forever. Toss it in reverse real quick and roll back a little. It will disengage, just dont do it at 50mph. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I had a problem with this. The SOFT mechanism has a small amount of gear oil. This needs to be changed on a regular basis and probably has not been changed since it isn't prominantly listed on any maintenance lists. The dealership that I used to use when I was an idiot thought it shared the same fluid with the front differential, but it doesn't. There is a seal between the diff and the SOFT mechanism. It's easy to change, but tricky to get to. There is a drain screw I think, but I just drain it by opening the resevoir. The fill plug is on the backside of the resevoir. I use the small narrow gear oil containers, put a straw on the tip of it and squeeze. Hope this helps. Good luck.