Should I buy a 2004 Rodeo?

[Ramblin Fever]

Yeah, but if you pick up a slightly *older* 4-runner or pathfinder for around that same price, it'll probably have over 50-60k miles, and very little warranty left.

I've been studying for quite some time, and I can say that here in Colorado, anyway, you can't touch a Toyota Tacoma or 4-runner for less then $15k unless it has over 60-70k miles or so.

You'll be back in the same boat within a short time frame.

Don't know about the value of the pathfinder, I've heard they're good trucks, but can be expensive to keep maintained as they age. My sister was looking at one after the transmission in her '02 Trailblazer crapped out, after several weeks of talking with owners, they all say they're excellent in younger mileage, but age terribly and get expensive.

I'm not aiming to steer you away from either - heck, I just bought me a Toyota, and I still want another '05+ Xterra; but money wise WITH reliability, you can't beat that YOUNG mileaged Rodeo.

Believe me, wish I could turn back the clock on my Rodeo to only say 21k miles!!

[MrMGA]

Originally Posted by amigo-2k

Looks like there are still about 20 or so New rodeo's available in CA.

I looked into that. They were all listed at one dealership. I called a salesman there. They don't have any of those. It's an error on the isuzudealers.com web site. He thinks maybe they were supposed be Ascenders.

[MrMGA]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

Yeah, but if you pick up a slightly *older* 4-runner or pathfinder for around that same price, it'll probably have over 50-60k miles, and very little warranty left.

but money wise WITH reliability, you can't beat that YOUNG mileaged Rodeo.

You're right about the pricing on the 4Runners and Pathfinders. That's what I'm finding here in Arizona. If anything, they may be higher here.

The 2004 Rodeo is tempting, but I have some concerns about it. It has the 3.5L "direct injection" engine that got rave reviews (i.e., 250hp/260ft-lbs. of torque and 23 mpg), but it was only made for 1 year and was only sold in a few Rodeos and Axioms. Given that it is a new, complicated, low-production engine, I have concerns about reliability. Even though it is covered by a fairly good warranty, I worry about parts availabilty and the dealers' lack of experience working on that engine.

I may hold on to my '95 for the time being and wait for a "great deal" on something else. There's no sense of urgency; my '95 still runs good. In any case, I don't think I would get much for it as a trade-in. I finally got rid of the dreaded ticking, but it still sounds like a diesel at idle and always will.

[Ramblin Fever]

Well, the 1yr thing on the 3.5L and Isuzu leaving the country gave me concerns as well, I almost picked up one of those 3.5L's as well. If I could find one for $6-7k though, I'd do it. I don't doubt the 3.5L engine in the slightest, it's the availability of parts I worry about.

I already have trouble finding parts for the '97 Rodeo at times - living in a small town area. But, I'd say a good portion of those bad ratings on some of Isuzu's years/engines, is because owners just flat neglected to check their vital fluids - Isuzu's are not for the faint of heart, you neglect them, they WILL leave you paying big-time.

But, if you take care of them - they'll get you home.

What oil filter are you using? Probably have already read this, but the filter's *can* cause some of these engines to tick.

And, seriously, if you haven't tried it, if your down 'round the Mason-dixen line throw in some 10w-30 Valvoline, either the Durablend or Maxlife. Valvoline seems to be known for quieting these Rodeo's, not always, but seems many have had good luck.

If you live up north, run 5w-30 in the winter.

Otherwise, I've read that the ticking is completely harmless; though, I'll admit it drove me nuts for a good 5-7k miles when mine was *ticking* - though the funny thing is, got quiet about as fast as it came on. Got even quieter when the waterpump, timing belt, and tensioner were replaced.

[MrMGA]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

What oil filter are you using? Probably have already read this, but the filter's *can* cause some of these engines to tick.

And, seriously, if you haven't tried it, if your down 'round the Mason-dixen line throw in some 10w-30 Valvoline, either the Durablend or Maxlife. Valvoline seems to be known for quieting these Rodeo's, not always, but seems many have had good luck.

I've read that the ticking is completely harmless;

I started using Genuine Isuzu oil filters purchased from the dealer ever since I followed the Isuzu TSB to stop the ticking. That's the TSB where you put in 0-30W Mobil 1 Synthetic oil and a Genuine Isuzu filter and rev the engine at 2,000 rpm for 30 minutes. It worked for me. For the most part...

The Valvoline is worth a try. I'll keep that in mind. By the way, I live in the Phoenix area and my Rodeo is subjected to stop-and-go city driving in 110+ degree weather for 5 months of the year. That's the with A/C on max 100% of the time. I get 14 mpg under those conditions. (19-20 mpg highway.)

As far as the ticking is concerned, you and I know it's harmless but try telling a potential buyer that! Not to mention the diesel-like noise that remains after you get rid of the ticking...

[Ramblin Fever]

The diesel like noise that remains after you rid of the ticking??

Not quite sure what you mean here. But, for what it's worth, ANYONE (potential buyers) who is familiar with Isuzu engine's in general know that they ARE naturally noisey engines.

Some people either like this or they fear it; I for one have been around so many Isuzu's that it's the norm for me, and in fact, I like a somewhat different sounding engine. But, then again, I grew up with the sound of a train coming down the track every night at 10pm; and grinding of the 18-wheelers off in the distance.

Has the timing belt and tensioner ever been changed in the time that you've owned it, or are aware of? As these components age, along with the waterpump, they can lead to a noisier engine.

With you living in the desert, I would personally be running something like Valvoline Maxlife 10w-40 in the summer, and for your *winters*, I would be running a 10w-30. Your part of the country doesn't get cold.

[MrMGA]

Originally Posted by Ramblin Fever

The diesel like noise that remains after you rid of the ticking?? Not quite sure what you mean here.

Has the timing belt and tensioner ever been changed in the time that you've owned it, or are aware of? As these components age, along with the waterpump, they can lead to a noisier engine.

Your part of the country doesn't get cold.

By diesel-like noise, I mean valvetrain chatter at idle only that sort of sounds like an old diesel truck idling. I don't think it has anything to do with the timing belt or tensioner; those were changed at 90K miles (I now have 103K on it) and the noise was the same before and after. I'm not concerned about it. It's only a minor annoyance.

You don't think it gets cold in Phoenix? Three January's ago I had an outside water line burst after it froze up during a 25 degree night. This past winter it snowed in parts of the Phoenix area.

[Canucklehead]

Originally Posted by MrMGA

You don't think it gets cold in Phoenix? Three January's ago I had an outside water line burst after it froze up during a 25 degree night. This past winter it snowed in parts of the Phoenix area.

That's not cold... that's "chilly".

[Ramblin Fever]

Originally Posted by Canucklehead

That's not cold... that's "chilly".

x2!!

Try -20F, and we had 16" of snowfall Thursday.

If the coldest it ever got in the mountains of Colorado was +25F, I'd be running 10w-30 without a doubt.

Yeah, that V6 valve-train clatter at idle is VERY common; heck, even my new '04 Tacoma with only 26k miles has that sound. Every V6 I see, whether it be Toyota, Nissan, Isuzu, even some older chevy V6's have that rattle sound - seems to be a trait of V6's in general, at least in my experience.