1992 Isuzu Trooper

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 ISUZU TROOPER. THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING ONTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. HE NOTICED THE ISSUE WHEN HEAVY SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V132000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER INITIALLY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT LATER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 192,031 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 188,000.

THE VEHICLE'S TAIL PIPE SEPARATED FROM THE MUFFLER'S DISCHARGE FLANGE WHICH IS TURNED 90 DEGREES UP, CAUSING THE HOT EHHAUST GASES TO HIT THE FLOOR DECK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, JUST BEHIND THE BACK SEAT. THE RESULT WAS BURNING THE UNDERCOATING OFF, SETTING FIRE TO THE CARPET PADDING AND SETING FIRE TO A DUFFEL BAG CONTAININ CLOTHING THAT WAS PLACED OVER THAT LOCATION. THIS RESULTED IN FLAMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHICH WERE PUT OUT BEFORE ANY OTHER DAMAGE COULD OCCUR. LOOKING AT NEWER TROOPER'S ISUZU CONTINUES TO USE THE SAME MUFFLER WITH NO HEAT SHIELD ABOVE THE FLANGE. IN A SIX MILE DRIVE THE THE DEALER WITH THE PIPE BROKEN ENOUGH, HEAT WAS GENERATED TO STARE THE MATTING SMOKING AGAIN. IN MY MIND THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN DESIGN THAT COULD CREATES A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD GIVEN THE FAILURE RATE OF EXHAUST COMPONENTS OVER TIME. *AK

PRESENT MILAGE GIVEN IS APPROXIMATE. IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN MONTHS AND I DON'T REMEMBER THE READING. OUR VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALER'S SHOP FOR WARRANTY WORK ON THE AIRCONDITIONER AND WATERPUMP. WITHOUT TELLING US, THEY PERFORMED AN OIL PUMP RELIEF VALVE REPLACEMENT AND CAM JOURNAL PLUG RETAINERS. UP TO THIS POINT, THE MOTOR HAD NEVER EXHIBITED ANY OILING PROBLEMS WHATEVER. PRIOR TO REPAIR COLD OIL PRES=100 PSI HOT=50 PSI. UPON RETURN OF THE VEHICLE, COLD OIL PRES=55 PSI, HOT=10 PSI. WITHIN A MONTH THE MOTOR WOULD NOT MAINTAIN PROPER OIL PRESSURE CAUSING EXCESSIVE VALVE NOISE DUE TO COLLAPSED HYDRAULIC ADJUSTERS. WARRANTY RETURN ON THE JOB WAS DECLINED BY THE DEALER. WE HAVE HAD TO DRIVE IT IN THIS CONDITION AND IT HAS GOTTEN STEADILY WORSE TO THE POINT THAT IT IS NOT DRIVEN AT ALL LEAST IT SUFFER TERMINAL FAILURE.