"Wesley" <wesf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:sa%Bi.386$J96.107@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> My dad's got a 1994 Isuzu Trooper with right at 100k miles on it. They
> are
> getting ready to head out of town (my wife & I are as well) to the beach
> in
> about a week, towing a travel trailer. Hence the urgency of the request
> if
> anyone has any suggestions. Here's the story...
>
> About a month ago, they had gone on a weekend trip (towing the trailer),
> and
> on the way back, started having problems with the Trooper not acting
> right.
> He said when he began to press in on the accelerator after having let
off
> the gas, it would tend to jump and buck and not want to run right. It
did
> it several times, but he was able to get home without any major
problems.
> He was thinking perhaps it had something to do with running gas that has
> ethanol in it (I forget the %, but such as is common for normal vehicles
> to
> be able to run).
>
> After getting home and running it solo trying to reproduce the problem,
he
> found that when he would stomp the accelerator, it would down****ft to
2nd
> gear and then have very little power. He was unable to get it to
> reproduce
> the "bucking" problem.
>
> He took it to their normal mechanic, and he immediately reproduced the
> problem. Apparently their computer reader won't read a vehicle as old
as
> his, so he shorted something out to get it to give a code readout, which
> confirmed his suspicion that it needed a Throttle Position Sensor.
After
> a
> week of fighting to get the part in and installed, it continued to have
> the
> problem. It has also had an occasional and intermittent "check engine"
> light. The machanic managed to catch it in the act, and diagnosed it as
> needing a MAP sensor. After its installation, the problem continues.
The
> mechanic tells him that it is now acting like it is trying to flood
> itself.
> Not sure if the other symptoms have changed...
>
> Sounds like they are about at their wits end as to what the problem
could
> be. The Isuzu dealer****p would be the next logical choice, but they
> screwed
> him over once already. (Bought the vehicle there, they put on a new
head
> gasket before it was sold...broke off some bolts holding on the exhaust
> stuff to the engine and basically fixed it enough to get it off the
> lot...then told him he had bought it "as is" and they wouldn't do
anything
> about it). So...the Isuzu place isn't a welcome option.
>
> Any thoughts on what might be going on? The backup tow vehicle is a 93
> Trooper, with over150k...so obviously he would rather take the one that
is
> now having problems... :-)
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Wesley
>
Wesley, I'm sure you've already done this, but let's start.... my grandpa
always told me "Fix the obvious and let the rest of it take care care of
itself".....
You must have (tell me you did so) check all 6 plugs. W/ 100K on the
clock,
if your dad is like mine, they probably have a LOT of miles on them. I'd
change them. That goes for plug wires, also, and it wouldn't hurt to look
at
the distributer cap, if a 94 has one - I think it does. Look for a track
or
evidence of shorting or moisture. If you find any at all, replace it and
the
rotor. Again, if the 94's don't have a distributor (my 98 doesn't), then
ignore this.
Your next thing to check is the timing belt - with 100K on it, and
probably
never having changed the timing belt, what you're describing could be a
timing belt that has jumped one tooth on the cam. The 94's have a Single
OHC, if I recall correctly, as opposed to my oilburning, gas-guzzling 3.5
piece of garbage engine in my 98, but I think if your tensioner wasn't
adjusted right or perhaps has reached the end of the travel then it could
do
this. I don't know, but a quick check of the lineup of the gears should
tell
you if it's all in time properly.
Since your parts-changing mechanic has already done the work for you on
the
TPS and the MAP sensor, I wouldn't waste time there. The last thing I'd
check (no kidding) is the alternator - make sure it is putting out 14.5
volts, and you have a GOOD battery that you KNOW is good. DAMHIK. Been
there, done that. Car literally wouldn't run with a battery w/ one dead
cell, even after being jumped (on the hottest 4th of July I've ever been
in
with a pregnant wife).
Last of all, I'd check for water in the gas. Try draining a little of the
tank and see what you get.
And that, my friend, should keep you busy for a while. Let us know what
you
find on these and if you strike paydirt on any of them. Best of luck.
r/
Steve
>
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