A thank-you from a longtime lurker...

[660Ryder]

I've learned so much from this forum. I was contemplating buying my first car (95.5 Rodeo). Had 82k miles, trailer package, new windshield, electric brakes, brand new tires, brand new brakes + rotors.

The story: a coworker of my father had two Rodeos, a 95 and a 95.5 and had just purchased a brand new Durango. He was going to donate one of the rodeos to charity for a $1500 tax writeoff, until my father talked to him. He said, "Send your son over (he lives 5 miles from me) and have him test drive both cars; $1000 and we will call it even. No, not $100 to test drive them; $1000 for whichever one suited my fancy. (The 95 Rodeo was light blue, 112k miles and had a nice stereo system but otherwise, not too much to offer.)

Summary - Purchased my Rodeo ~4 years ago for less than a month's pay (at the age of 16!).

Every problem has been diagnosed and fixed from people on this forum (Amen search function!) Thank you all so much!

On a side note, I recently went 4-wheeling and now, on startup and shortly thereafter, the battery dummy light comes on and the blower for heat shuts on and off. The lights dim and the volt-meter swings wildly from 10 - 16. It goes away after a while; should I be concerned? What can I do?

[Ramblin Fever]

This is a great forum for sure.

No, no need to be concerned, nothing too extreme - just your alternator complaining.

Battery light and loss of HVAC/Radio controls is a classic sign.

Time to invest in a new one, and DO NOT waste your time on just any alternator or you'll be buyin another soon.

I recommend a new Isuzu OEM; Bosch; or perhaps Hitachi - but don't visit just any parts store, although Napa has a good one (can't remember the name) and expect to pay close to $200+

Don't hesitate too long on this, or it will string out your battery - although they generally both go at the same time.

[2000izusu]

my 2000 has the alternator low. so it is very possible if the 95's alt is low that it took a mud water bath, on you wheelin trip, which has probably ruined it.

[Ramblin Fever]

Yeap, the alt's hang low on the earlier 3.2L's as well.

You can try cleaning out any kind of mud or debris that may have gotten in it, to see if it helps. But, it's probably time anyway.