by pmnugget » Thu Mar 14, 2013 10:30 am
I bought an Isuzu Bighorn with a 4JX1 Automatic around 2005, imported and converted from right hand drive to left hand. It was branded as a Vauxhall Monterey at that time, but is a typical Isuzu Bighorn/Trooper with pushbutton 4 wheel drive (shift on the fly) and also manual 4-wheel drive engagement.
I got it with about 70,000kms on it which is now around 126,000km. The only engine problems I have had were a bad diode on the alternator a while back (replaced), changed the leaking water pump 2 years ago and just had the radiator cleaned out last month (rodded) as it was over heating on the highway, and just had the starter Bendix replaced yesterday. It rides, runs and drives very nicely. The owners manual says to use 10w-40w in this warm climate and that is what I have used for the last 8 years changing at the recommended 10k intervals. Is it really wise to go against the manual and use 5w 30w or 5w 40w as many suggest?
Strangely it is registered as a 1995 Bighorn but I'm not sure the 4JX1 was available in that year. What year did the 4JX1's start? It is our family SUV and I have 6 kids in school and need something that is reliable, but after reading forums about the 4JX! for many years I have become worried about future reliability and I don't have a mechanic that can work on serious engine problems if they occur. As much as I hate to part with it (it really drives great!) I was thinking of selling it and trying to find something more reliable.
I was planning to call IM in England to see if they have a record of the maintenance to see if the injector and turbo recalls were performed. Would they likely have that info? From your collective expertise do you think I am sitting on a mechanical time-bomb? Is this beast likely to fail at any time? Or with my 8 year history of having no major engine problems is is likely to keep on keeping on? My health is also not so good and I'm not in great shape to deal with mega engine problems if they occur. I also do not know of a mechanic who could work on it (serious engine problems) and from what I've read once they start messing with the injectors and turbo, there seems to be a high chance of repeated problems. So if I ran into serious problems I would likely just junk it or sell it for parts.
I'm really sorry about the length of this post, but hopefully it might provide some insight to other 4JX1 owners. I'm just very torn between keeping it and letting it go. Any advise is much appreciated. Great forum and great people here.
Best wishes,
Philip
Last edited by
pmnugget on Thu Mar 14, 2013 11:09 am, edited 1 time in total.