I ‘ve been reading the Isuzu boards before I bought my auto 98 3.2L Rodeo. I purchased it about 2 weeks ago and has 152,000 miles on the odo. The seller was the original owner and had ALL the maintenance receipts. All the recalls were done and oil changes were at 3k. The interior and exterior are a 9 out of 10. Also have new tires and spare. I bought it for $3,000 b/c the owner could not guarantee the longevity of the tranny. He said he started to experience some slipping after he got the tranny flushed at a Jiffy Lube. His records indicated he had most, if not all, the work performed at a dealer. Seems like the tranny issue happened after the Jiffy Lube incident. Instead of researching his problem, he just bought a new TSX. He adjusted the selling price to make up for possible tranny repairs. I priced rebuilds and used trannies and they were from $700 to $2,000. Even if I had to rebuild, I felt I would have gotten a good deal since retail value for the SUV is $4,900 and private sale is $4500. I searched about 2 months for a decent SUV b/c I will be starting my home healthcare clerkship this summer.

But, I’m starting to regret having purchased a Rodeo. I keep reading all these tranny horror stories. I’m having the usual issues everyone else does, the harsh shifts, some slipping, and clunking when accelerating. I did notice a tiny leak at the tranny drain bolt and there is a 3 sec delay when I put it into Reverse. I will tackle the range sensor this weekend but I am reluctant to take it into the dealer next week b/c of what they might find? I am going to ask they drop the pan, clean it, change the filter, and add fluid. I don’t think I should do a complete flush since there is no record of changing the filter or cleaning the pan. Any advice on what I should ask the service guys or how to protect myself from unnecessary repairs? I just want certified techs that know Isuzu’s. The dealer is all I have right now. I don’t trust Cottsman or Aamco. How often, from your experience, is the Rodeo tranny replaced or rebuilt? I think I can handle a rebuild but a new tranny might tap into tuition money. I guess I’m trying to prepare myself for the worst. Besides the tranny issue, everything else works perfectly. Please keep in mind I know NOTHING about Isuzu’s. Every Honda I’ve owned, I’ve repaired. I never had to take it to a dealer. Any comments or suggestions? You can call me a retard for making this purchase too.:frown: :disappoin I hate being a broke college student.

I currently have 156k miles on original transmission, no repairs what-so-ever, and I have heavily towed for 85% of it's life, along with many hundreds of miles of steep mountain highway inclines, not too mention running oversized tires.

I am the original owner, and had the tranny flushed at 35k miles, again at 73k along with transmission pan dropped, cleaned and new filter, then 118k just a flush, and at 152k had the transmission pan dropped again with a new filter.

FWIW - I wonder if your's is low on tranny fluid. Jiffy Lube's are notorious for not filling them completely, in fact, we had a recent poster who had taken her Rodeo to a Jiffy Lube for a transmission flush, the truck was completely fine before she took it in, afterwords she was having slipping problems, etc. found out it was 2 qts low.

I do NOT recommend a low fluid level, ever, these trannies HATE that and they will burn up quickly - so check it *now* if you haven't already. I would not wait til next week to have the level checked - unless you're gonna park it.

If you have fluid leaking out one of the bolts, give that bolt another slight crank and tighten it up a bit. Again, don't allow a low fluid level condition to arise.

See if you can't get ahold of the original owner again, and aske him/her if the truck was fine BEFORE Jiffy Lube, if so, then it's real likely they didn't add enough fluid.

When you go to the dealership, definitely do NOT do the flush until after they drop the pan, clean it and put a new filter in, then do a flush if you chose too. Otherwise, they do end up replacing about 5qts of the old fluid with new, mixing it back in with 4qts old fluid.

I chose on this last service, i.e. 152k not to continue with transmission flush, and just had the 5qts replaced when they dropped the pan. I don't know if I agree with a flush on an older transmission's seals.

When that filter gets changed, you'll notice a BIG difference in smoother shifting - especially if it's never been done before.

Do that, and then see if you have to look for a rebuild.

While you're at the dealer, or call before, see how much they charge to clean the range sensor while they're there.

You are not a retard for making this purchase, it actually sounds like you got a very fine deal. If Jiffy Lube caused this issue, it's not the trucks fault, nor is it the previous owner's fault, or yours. It just happens - which is why I always tell people to NEVER go to places like that, they can't even be trusted with an oil change, let-alone a transmission change.

Thanks for taking the time to post Ramblin. The owner stated that he noticed the slipping about a month after having the service performed at a Jiffy Lube. I plan on checking the level and filling, and cleaning the range sensor myself this weekend. I'm heading to Sears to pick up a hand pump and torx set in the morning. If I do everything correctly and to spec, and the problems persist, I will assume there are other problems which may result in a rebuild. I don't feel too bad now.

It *may* result in a rebuild at this point anyway, as it sounds like it's been running low on fluid for a while = not good. These 4L30-E GM transmissions are very sensitive.

Good luck to you - keep us posted.

FWIW - there are not very many "regulars" on this board who have reached the 150k plus mile mark, which is why you haven't gotten many posts.

Well this isn't really an update but more of a rant. I called about 6 shops, including 2 dealers, inquiring about tranny service. I just want to drop the pan, change the filter, and refill. I'm not comfortable with a flush until I see whats in the pan. Anyways, all the shops asked what kind of problems I was having. I stated that my tranny was starting to slip, which seems to be normal with Rodeos that have low or dirty fluid, and needed to have the fluid changed. EVERY shop stated I need a new tranny w/o even checking the tranny in person! Not one shop even bothered to say they need to check it first. How sad is that?

BTW, I checked the fluid today and it's not low, it's just dirty as hell. Anyone else have trouble getting to the range sensor? I tried to get it removed w/o jacking up the truck, but I couldn't get to the top bracket. Grrrrrr

I have a 4L-30E with more than 150K! If you're ATF is dirty as hell, I doubt he did the full system flush a month ago. I change out 4 quarts or so every 15K and it always looks pretty good. Try just draining and refilling several times to see if it improves the tranny's performance. I would drop the pan, change the filter and gasket, and drain/refill 2 or 3 times. I think you'll have a decent vehicle once you get the tranny issue squared away. Good luck and I'm interested to know the outcome. I used to drive my Rodeo for home health, but I could no longer afford the gas at 100 miles a day, and my daughter now drives it to school.

Dirty?? Seems obvious that Jiffy Lube did NOT change the transmission fluid; in which case, I would NOT flush that transmission period.

If the fluid is that dirty, I'd simply do small/short fluid change outs over the course of the next several thousand miles.

The thing to remember, in talking with transmission shops, their goal IS to get you to buy a new transmission, that's what they're in business for. As for the next place you call, when they ask if anything's wrong with the transmission, just simply say you want the pan dropped, new filter and fluid - leave it as that.

When you get to your appointment, tell them you want to see the pan when they drop it, and that way IF there is any concern about metal shavings, etc. then at least you can see it personally, rather then wondering if you're being taken for a ride. Cause MANY transmission shops WILL do just that.

Personally, if you're mechanically inclined, it may give you peace of mind to do it yourself - when you drop the pan, it drops roughly 5 qts at that time.

Again, you don't want to replace ALL the fluid at once, i.e tranny flush; as that old fluid *may* be holding the transmission together.

FWIW - look back through all the maintenance receipts, did the 1st owner EVER have the transmission fluid changed?? If not, and if that's the original transmission fluid at 150k miles, you're probably very well looking at needing a new transmission.

These GM transmissions like their fluid changed every 25-30k; 40k at most. And if the original owner got 150k out of that transmission with no servicing, that's pretty darn good; also a shame on his part if he never had it done, seeing as it's obvious he took good care of the rest of it.

The horror tranny stories that you hear mostly about are from owners that neglect the fluid condition and/or some that don't really know how to drive an auto in hilly terrain.

I have all the old receipts. The last tranny flush was done in December 05 at the JL. The truck only had 2,900 miles on it since the flush in Dec. when I bought it a few weeks ago. The owner said he didn't want to risk it breaking down when he had a client with him. The owner has had 3 total flushes done since the beginning. Two were done at the dealer (they still have his service records) and the last one at JL. In fact the range sensor was replaced in 03 when he had a flush performed by the dealer. This guy just put a lot of miles on the truck since he is a real estate agent. I believe he took really good care of it since his business depended on it.

I can't drop the pan b/c I live in an apartment complex and the manager is an ass about repairs. But, I will drain and fill several times and see what happens. The ranger sensor will be cleaned this week. I'll have to take it to a shop to drop the pan and change the filter. I think I will watch them do it. I just don't think I truly need a new tranny but I could be wrong.If none of the above works then I'll add some additive to buy more time. Last step would be to get a rebuilt and tap into my tuition money. :banghead:


It's much easier working on my Honda with 184,100 miles on her.:p

Somewhere along the line, somebody jipped him (previous owner) on a transmission flush. The fluid should not be that dirty after only 3k miles or so; nor should it be that dirty if he did it even 30k miles ago.

My fluid swaps were not all exactly in the 25-30k mile perimeter; my fluid was never really dirty or discolored, even with a lot of towing, etc.

Only 3 flushes in 150k miles, means every 50k miles roughly - that's pushing the willingness - if you will - of what these trannies will allow for dirty fluid.

But hey, the previous owner took better care of it then 90% of the world's population would have, I'm not doubting anything he did, I AM doubting Jiffy Lube and the service he paid for. I doubt they did anything.

If your tranny is slipping and the fluid is that dirty; do several swaps and see if it helps. Keep us posted.

Jiffy Lube? Tsk tsk.

Check this out.

http://www.w-body.com/forum/index.php/topic,42082.0.html

There's some folks out there would put soap and water on your transmission to get it messed up.

They will charge you for tranny fluid change but not actually changing it.

I would think you will be better off, having the transmission pan off and replace the tranny filter again just to make sure. It's your best bet at this time and cheaper. If that does not work then something must have been done to it.

If the previous owner paid to have the tranny filter replaced and come to find out that it is using the old tranny filter then you know what to do.

If you don't trust anybody then have a friend that does it on the side to replace your tranny filter.