Tranny techs, come inside (99 Rodeo V6)

[George G.]

I've been having this problem lately with my transmission. Last year I had the transmission rebuilt (clutch pack and some hard parts too). Just out of the 1 year warranty, it decides to dump all the fluid. The shop said it was the front seal and the T/C bushing. We agree to split the costs and I'm on my way. 3 weeks later, dumps the fluid again. One tech said it was a pin hole in the t/c where they welded it but when I picked it up, this other tech said it was the seal again, just keeps popping out. Then he kinda corrected himself once he realized the other tech told me something different. Pick the car up Wednesday(no charge to me) and not 5 miles on it and the darn thing lost it's fluid again.

My nerves can't take no mo!

A little history, when the tranny was rebuilt, there was a clip that holds the gear selector cable that was damaged during the R&R. The shop was unable to locate a new one from Isuzu so they opted to jerry rig my old one. That didn't hold up too long so it went back shortly after the rebuild. Then the tech(jokingly) said, "that sucker ain't coming off now" "we just welded the bracket". I wasn't too happy with that but, whatever. Also, ever since the rebuild, it's always had a much firmer shift...too firm for an Isuzu and too firm for the wife's liking. (Almost shift-kit firm). I know that the firmer the shift, the longevity of the clutches increases. Is it possible they could have increased the line pressure after the rebuild to assist in making their rebuild last longer? Would increased line pressure cause this kind of failure I'm getting now?

I'd take it to a different shop but I already have time and money vested at this one with this repair. Any help is appreciated.

[amigo-2k]

It almost sounds like something is warped so the gaskets will never seat right. May be the high heat due to low tranny fluid warped the case?

[Ramblin Fever]

FWIW - rebuilds on these 4L30-E's never seem to last long, a year is the typical length for a rebuild, from what I've heard/read.

The firmness in the shifting sounds like it *could* be low on fluid level.

Good luck to you, these 4L30-E's are not easy and most definitely not cheap.

[George G.]

Thought I'd post an update on my tranny issues.
After 5 return visits, I think they finally fixed it or rigged it up to seem like it's fixed. The only reason I say this is cause now it's acting different. By that I mean that now the 1-2 shift is extremely soft and seems to take too long for 2nd to kick in. It's like I had a stick shift and was taking too long to put it in 2nd after releasing first....does that make sense? 2-3 shift seems smooth and normal. It just doesn't seem like a torque converter hub seal would change the way it shifts. Also, they told me that the after market seals was the failure. They finally went to Isuzu for the replacement seal, cost about double the price of the aftermarket and they had to put a new clutch kit due to the old clutches burning up.

We'll see how it holds up but I think we're gonna sell it.

[2000izusu]

how many miles on the rig? and how many miles on the rebuilt trans?

[Ramblin Fever]

Originally Posted by George G.

They finally went to Isuzu for the replacement seal, cost about double the price of the aftermarket and they had to put a new clutch kit due to the old clutches burning up.

They should've done Isuzu replacement seals to begin with - it took them 5 times of doing this over and over to finally *try* different seals?

You know I've had lots of other vehicles, toy's, chevy's, honda's, etc. one thing I can say for certainty with Isuzu vehicles, is you ALWAYS use Isuzu parts. I've had two Isuzu's and any time I ever tried something - seal, gasket, part, etc - that was not an Isuzu part, I always end up having to do it a 2nd time and spending more money in the long run.

I'm really surprized this shop didn't think to try this on the 2nd occasion, this was their mess-up, not yours, and I hope they've given you major discounts and a warranty. And they shouldn't have charged you for the *Isuzu* seals or the clutch kit, as they didn't do the repair currectly the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or the 4th time.

Originally Posted by George G.

We'll see how it holds up but I think we're gonna sell it.

I would - that truck would have a For Sale sign on it for sure, seeing as how the transmission shop has torn that tranny apart 5 times, there's only so much you can do to a mechanical component before it just can't be repaired anymore.

Boy, sounds like someone at that transmission shop really does not know how to work on this particular transmission.

[George G.]

I knew I should've sold it!! The trans decided to dump the fluid this morning....for the 5th time. I called Isuzu for a ballpark estimate for a reman and they said 4-5K! That's more than what the car is worth!

I can probably get a used trans with some high miles for about 500.00. Can anyone tell me how high I'd have to get the car on jack stands to remove it myself? I can do it, I just don't have a lift.

PS, can somone tell me what years the 4L30-E trans came in the Rodeo?

[trooperbc]

that's too bad.
you can use this official isuzu online parts site to help you determine trans compatibility. it's not only a matter of whether it is 4L30E, different applications have different bellhousings and electronic stuff. find the part number for your year and model, then click the < ? > icon for a list of applications for that part number.

http://www.myisuzuparts.com/



good luck
//bc

[George G.]

Originally Posted by trooperbc

......it's not only a matter of whether it is 4L30E, different applications have different bellhousings and electronic stuff......[/url]

good luck
//bc

Is this the case even with Isuzu trans of a similar year? I was also looking on this site http://www.car-part.com and I might be able to find one on here for pretty cheap. I'm just not sure what range of years I can work with. Thanks for all the feed back.

[George G.]

I finally have my Rodeo back.

I found a used unit with 70K, got it installed and now it runs and shifts like a factory, unmolested transmission. There's no telling what the shop did to mess up the last one to give it the harsh shifts, or what they did to try to fix it.


It's still going up for sale though....this week.