Need Advice! Just bought '95 Rodeo w/110k miles

[carlosian]

I just bought a '95 rodeo with the 3.xL engine. the person i bought it from kept it in good condition. they changed the timing belt at 60k miles and did the regular routine maintance. the problems the car has are that the 2 passenger side power windows are not working, there is a gasket leak in one of the engine manifolds, and i'm noticing that the car takes a while to start after its been sitting for a while. granted, i use regular unleaded gas therefore i do not know whether its the gas or the starter thats going bad. also, when the car starts after its been sitting for a while, i hear the belts squeeling. i just hope its not the timing belt that's going bad since the car was sitting for a few months.


what other problems do these cars normally have?

[Ramblin Fever]

Originally Posted by carlosian

I just bought a '95 rodeo with the 3.xL engine. the person i bought it from kept it in good condition. they changed the timing belt at 60k miles and did the regular routine maintance. the problems the car has are that the 2 passenger side power windows are not working, there is a gasket leak in one of the engine manifolds, and i'm noticing that the car takes a while to start after its been sitting for a while. granted, i use regular unleaded gas therefore i do not know whether its the gas or the starter thats going bad. also, when the car starts after its been sitting for a while, i hear the belts squeeling. i just hope its not the timing belt that's going bad since the car was sitting for a few months.


what other problems do these cars normally have?

Doubtful of it being the timing belt. The timing belt, tensioner, and water pump typically last at least 80-90K miles on these 3.2L V6's. Do make sure, however, that the timing belt "tensioner" was replaced at 60K as well.

This part typically starts going before the belt itself; and 9 times out of 10, if one has replaced the belt, but not the tensioner, the tensioner is soon to follow.

When the tensioner starts failing, the truck develops a sound similar to a rod knocking - some mechanics swear to the customer that they need a new engine when this occurs, because it does sound like the engine will throw a rod, when in fact, it's just the timing belt hitting the belt covers cause of loose tension.

To me, your squeeling, and possibly even the hard starting, is more likely do to your visible belts slipping - these belts are typically $10-25 dollars a peice and easily accessible to changing out. I say belt(s), because on my 97 Rodeo, I have 3 driving belts in front of my timing belt cover; however, I'm not positive of the belt set-up on the 95's for sure.

I typically run 87 octane without any problems, living at high altitude, if I lived at lower altitude, I'd probably run at least 89-90 octane.

Regular maintenance will keep these engines running forever; they love every 3K mile oil changes, and get a little noisey if you go past that.

Just make sure to change/flush out the tranny, radiator, thermostat, fuel filter, pcv valve every 30K; spark plugs (truck likes particular brands; hates other brands) wheel bearings, every 60K; timing belt, water pump, tensioner every 80-100K miles.

Another thing to note, these trucks perform best on a Bosch alternator, Isuzu's are VERY picky about getting good, clear voltage, and if they can sense a weakness anywhere in the system they began to run funny and develop an attitude. Not so obvious problems develop, i.e. tranny starts shifting weird, 4x4 idiot light, along with brake light, gas light, etc start to glow for no obvious reason. A/C/Heater blower, and radio even start acting weird, along with loss of power.

Typically one will run a voltage check, and 95% of the time the alternator checks out fine, leaving one baffled - the important thing to remember is if there is ANY kind of flaw in that alternator, your Rodeo will NOT like it! Whereas most vehicles wouldn't care.

[carlosian]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

When the tensioner starts failing, the truck develops a sound similar to a rod knocking - some mechanics swear to the customer that they need a new engine when this occurs, because it does sound like the engine will throw a rod, when in fact, it's just the timing belt hitting the belt covers cause of loose tension.

i noticed a knock coming from the engine today when I was driving to work. it wasn't loud but it was coming from the engine area.