Rodeojet52

2000 Rodeo 3.2 with 136,000 miles

A few questions about the timing belt.

Is it common for these belts to break on the 3.2?

Is my engine an interferance engine?

What else should be replaced while changing the timing belt?

Tranny question.

How do I check the level/condition of the transmission fluid?

surferfletch

Did you break the belt?

It's not uncommon to get 100K + out of the belt. It is an interference engine. You should change the belt, water pump, tensioner and its pulley, idler pulley.

You check the tranny fluid level with the higher of the 2 plugs on the bottom of the tranny pan. You start it cold, let it idle a couple of minutes, put the truck in N, pull the top plug. If a little trickles out, the level is good. If none comes out, you pump in some fluid until it starts leaking out and replace the plug. Loads of info available if you search.

__________________
1997 Isuzu Rodeo LS 3.2L V6 SOHC 4L-30E Dueler Alenzas 4x2

1997 TJ Sport 4.0L D35 rear 5 spd 31" Dayton Timberline ATs

1996 VW Jetta GLS 2.0L 5 spd

surferfletch

I like posting this pic whenever timing comes up...

__________________
1997 Isuzu Rodeo LS 3.2L V6 SOHC 4L-30E Dueler Alenzas 4x2

1997 TJ Sport 4.0L D35 rear 5 spd 31" Dayton Timberline ATs

1996 VW Jetta GLS 2.0L 5 spd

Ramblin Fever

Hey Surf, think you may have mis-worded....maybe, or has it been proven that the 3.2L IS interference.

Just double checking.

__________________
1997 3.2L V6 Rodeo
32" Yoko's, 16x8 MB Wheels, 2" lift, Brushguard, KC Fog's, Loadwarrior Rack
On it's way to 185k strong

2004 3.4L Tacoma TRD off-road 4x4 Double cab
32" Yoko's, Westin Bull-bar, KC Fogs 60K miles

trooperbc

it is NONinterference.

which will give you a little reassurance, but you don't want to wait, cause it can cause other damage, like to the tb covers. not to mention, the water pump is done at the same time (recommended) and if yours hasn't been done, the wp can seize and cause tb problems among other things.

hth
//bc

__________________
1992 trooper 3.2L v6 sohc automatic...as is

i love a good intermittent electrical challenge. . .especially when it's someone else's.

surferfletch

Just plain wrong, I guess. I thought we had posters with valve damage following a timing belt break...

__________________
1997 Isuzu Rodeo LS 3.2L V6 SOHC 4L-30E Dueler Alenzas 4x2

1997 TJ Sport 4.0L D35 rear 5 spd 31" Dayton Timberline ATs

1996 VW Jetta GLS 2.0L 5 spd

surferfletch

I defer to the master...2eyefishclaw...
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...t=interference

__________________
1997 Isuzu Rodeo LS 3.2L V6 SOHC 4L-30E Dueler Alenzas 4x2

1997 TJ Sport 4.0L D35 rear 5 spd 31" Dayton Timberline ATs

1996 VW Jetta GLS 2.0L 5 spd

surferfletch

See!
[Picture of 4 cyl. with piston damage deleted because it makes the page too wide.]




(Wonders how long before they realize it's a 4 cylinder engine....)


Must have been thinking about this one!

__________________
1997 Isuzu Rodeo LS 3.2L V6 SOHC 4L-30E Dueler Alenzas 4x2

1997 TJ Sport 4.0L D35 rear 5 spd 31" Dayton Timberline ATs

1996 VW Jetta GLS 2.0L 5 spd

surferfletch

2carpros.com says:
SOHC no
DOHC yes.......

__________________
1997 Isuzu Rodeo LS 3.2L V6 SOHC 4L-30E Dueler Alenzas 4x2

1997 TJ Sport 4.0L D35 rear 5 spd 31" Dayton Timberline ATs

1996 VW Jetta GLS 2.0L 5 spd

Rodeojet52

The belt isn't broke, just thinking ahead and trying to solve the interferance mystery.

As far as the tranny goes (automatic) I read in the shop manual the fluid gets checked by a temp gauge. Is your way another way of doing it?

Why can't this tranny have a dipstick like all the others in the world?

surferfletch

Yes. I don't have a temp guage. So my method is less exact for sure. I'm sorry for the short, incomplete answers. Searching or reading the manual will help fill in my omissions.

__________________
1997 Isuzu Rodeo LS 3.2L V6 SOHC 4L-30E Dueler Alenzas 4x2

1997 TJ Sport 4.0L D35 rear 5 spd 31" Dayton Timberline ATs

1996 VW Jetta GLS 2.0L 5 spd

Ramblin Fever

FWIW - Surf, I thought there was a poster at one time, with the 3.2L that had broke his belt and it HAD done damage; so I'm not 100% either, although I believe the experts: JLEMND and 2eyefish clearly state that it's a NON-interference.

OP - agree, don't want until yours breaks before changing it out - 130k is long enough. When you change your timing belt, I highly recommend doing the following as well:

waterpump
timing belt tensioner - VERY IMPORTANT
other accessible coolant hoses/driving belts while everythings available.
thermostat - change with OEM Isuzu ONLY
Flush radiator

Transmission -

Have you ever changed the tranny fluid/filter before??

I hope so, otherwise, you may want to leave it alone at this point - except to add fluid if needed. That 136k mile fluid may be the only thing holding it together - IF it's original fluid, that is.

If you've changed your fluid within the last 40-50k or so, I'd drop the pan, clean it, replace filter and refill.

__________________
1997 3.2L V6 Rodeo
32" Yoko's, 16x8 MB Wheels, 2" lift, Brushguard, KC Fog's, Loadwarrior Rack
On it's way to 185k strong

2004 3.4L Tacoma TRD off-road 4x4 Double cab
32" Yoko's, Westin Bull-bar, KC Fogs 60K miles

surferfletch

Just killing time last night!

__________________
1997 Isuzu Rodeo LS 3.2L V6 SOHC 4L-30E Dueler Alenzas 4x2

1997 TJ Sport 4.0L D35 rear 5 spd 31" Dayton Timberline ATs

1996 VW Jetta GLS 2.0L 5 spd