Range sensor or other issue?

About 2 months ago I was having trouble with my range sensor on my 98 Rodeo. It had happened once before and I had it replaced at my dealer so I knew the symptoms. Having found this board I printed out the directions on cleaning the range sensor and my dad and I took it off and cleaned it. My rodeo ran great up until recently.
About 2 weeks ago I got into my car, turned the ignition and nothing. I did this a few times then, for some reason I decided to jiggle my gear shift. Right after I did it cranked. It's randomly been doing this and each time I can jiggle my gear shift a few times and it will crank. It's getting worse though, and sometimes I have to jiggle it more and more before it will crank.

So what I'm wondering.. is the jiggle /crank thing something up with my range sensor or is it maybe a coincidence and I should be looking somewhere else?

Oh in case this helps, I'm not experiencing any other problems, no warning lights are on and I've tried cranking the car in nuetral and it's the same thing as trying to crank it in park

Do you have the original starter? I'm wondering if it's just a coincidence that it starts after some jiggling. When it doesn't crank, do you get a single loud click? If so, then I'd guess it's your starter.

Sounds like the switch that tell it that the tranny is in P or N needs adjusted/cleaned/replaced. Whether that is the range/mode switch I dont know. I dont know where another switch would be either (I have a manual tranny).

....I did this a few times then, for some reason I decided to jiggle my gear shift. Right after I did it cranked. It's randomly been doing this and each time I can jiggle my gear shift a few times and it will crank. ...
So what I'm wondering.. is the jiggle /crank thing something up with my range sensor or is it maybe a coincidence and I should be looking somewhere else?

...

the mode sensor also doubles (triples) as the neutral or lock-out switch and the backup light switch.

so in your case, i'd say it is the mode switch, given that jiggling the gear shift lever affects the positive change. when the gear shift lever is in P park or N neutral contacts in the mode switch 'allow' for start. if those contacts are worn, or the mode switch isn't adjusted right, the start goahead isn't.

as you know, the mode switch needs to be adjusted just right so it works correctly. this is done with the gear shift in neutral.

did you adjust it on reinstall when you cleaned it?

so, to make a long story short, sounds like your diagnosis is correct to me. and you might want to consider getting a new mode switch this time (depending on mileage on this switch and depending whether you think you adjusted it correctly), and/or make sure you adjusted it correctly.

???? what's the mileage on this mode switch and how many miles since you did the clean/reinstall???


hth


//bc

Do you have the original starter? I'm wondering if it's just a coincidence that it starts after some jiggling. When it doesn't crank, do you get a single loud click?
It's not the original starter. The starter was replaced about 3 years ago. And there's no sound what-so-ever when I turn the key.

did you adjust it on reinstall when you cleaned it?
We followed the directions I got from the FAQ on here. I didn't see anything on there about readjusting or having it in nuetral when putting it back on. I do know it has to be just right for it to work so we made sure everything was in the exact same spot when we put it back on as when we took it off.

???? what's the mileage on this mode switch and how many miles since you did the clean/reinstall???
If the dealer did in fact install a new one like they said and didn't just clean and reinstall the old one, then I'd guesstimate this one has about 50,000 miles on it. If they did just clean it, then it's the original and has about 170,000 miles on it.
I've probably driven about 1000 miles since we cleaned it ourselves

We're going to take another look at it tonight. My dad has suggested getting a new one so we may just do that.

Thanks for your help!!!

BTW - do any of you happen to know the part number for the range sensor?

I beleive it is part number 8-96017-511-0

I got that number from slhondaparts.com for a '98 passport. They seem to use the isuzu number for passports.

we followed the directions…we made sure everything was in the exact same spot when we ut it back on as when we took it off.
well, it worked. . . by exact same spot, i assume you match marked it. With a new one you will have to make sure it is adjusted correctly. It should come adjusted for N neutral, so make sure the lever is in N neutral. If you want to know how to check it, let me know, i’ll try to write something up – it’s harder to write about than actually do. there are two ways: 1.lining up a notch in the center of the switch and 2. using an ohm meter after disconnecting the connector.

As to the mileage – 50,000 isn’t much for this switch, imo. And i can’t imagine the dealer just cleaning it, it is just way too much time for them; easier and more efficient to replace.

As to part number – i don’t know, but beware that different applications have different part numbers. The switch itself is the same, but the harness tail and connectors are different.

Where to get – i would look to st charles isuzu in Missouri. They give 15% ‘internet’ discount, *free* drop shipping to your door from the distributor, no tax, and MERLIN , ask for him, is known to be *very* good and knowledgeable and worth the wait on speaker phone. For the phone number http://isuzu.stcharlesauto.com/Department-Parts.aspx (http://isuzu.stcharlesauto.com/Department-Parts.aspx)

Another source is JLEMOND, a guy who worked for isuzu umpteen years and is very knowledgeable, helpful, and has good prices on the oem parts he can sell you.
I’m pretty sure his contact info is in the FAQ
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=359204 (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=359204)

Hth


//bc
P.S. btw, nice diagnosis with the jiggle thing. . .

If you could write something up that would be awesome!! My dad has always done most of the work on my cars in the past but he's not too familiar with Isuzu's so anything at all that I can tell him will help.

And the great news is that I found the paperwork from where this was replaced before and my friend, who works in a factory parts warehouse was able to get the part for me. (the part number is the same as what Gizmo42 posted if anyone else ever needs it)

And maybe I'll pull out the digital while we're doing this and take a few more pictures to go along with the ones on the FAQs.

I'm so glad I found this board! It's been really helpful. Thanks again everyone!!

If you could write something up that would be awesome!!everyone!!

ok, even better...i remembered this post from atfdmike and finally found it. here's the link:
[link] http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=4322738#post4322738

it's a copy of the factory manual either from his cd or from alldata, but it is for a 2001 Isuzu Truck Trooper LTD 4WD V6-3.5L.
however, the info is all good except maybe your harness tail may be longer, and your connector configuration may be slightly different than pictured (mine is). my connector is kind of a mirror image flop of the one he pictures, but it's still the same wires, etc.

here's mine:::(1992 trooper)
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a281/trooperbc/transmodeswitchconnectorillust001.jpg

you can check your connector's wire numbers easily: they are molded into the connector where the wires enter it. mine uses the numbers, not the letters. then just follow the directions and use the numbers they say for the test/adjustment.

btw, since you did this before, do you have the long harness that goes up to the air cleaner area, or the shorter one that's pictured in the link?


i'd say : hth
but i know it does:iceslolan


//bc