5th Feb 2008, 21:53

I have a 97 Isuzu Rodeo that has all the same exact problems! On my way to school tonight in the rain my drivers side wiper just up and stopped working! What can I do now, I had to drive home in the dark and rain! Was no fun at all! If any one can help what may my problem be? The passenger one still works, so motor is still good!

16th Mar 2008, 21:25

I am having the same problem with my 1999 Rodeo, about the fuel gauge not working. Does anyone know where I can get a new sending unit, and about how much they are? and also where is it located at on the vehicle?? If anyone knows, please email me at kelfitz09@hotmail.com

Thanks!

12th Apr 2008, 22:40

About the driver's side wiper not working - I had the same problem. The plastic socket part of the ball-joint on the link wore out so that the link fell out of the socket. Cleaning and replacing the part as originally assembled didn't work, but I found that reversing the ends of the link did work (even though the link is not perfectly symmetrical). The "bad " end is installed on the top instead of the bottom, so it can't fall out as easily. I did this as a temporary fix, but it has continued to work for about 2 years (even though I have new parts now, I haven't bothered to install them). Make sure to clean and grease the joints well before reassembling them. Hope this temporary fix works for you.

24th Apr 2008, 13:14

2001 4x4 V6 LS. I'm having the same problems with the fuel sending unit. I'm not sure if I'll make it home tonight.

2nd May 2008, 15:49

I have a 1999 Honda Passport v6 3.2 (same Isuzu Rodeo), problems seems all to be the same (oil consumption, wiper linkage, bad sending unit, bad mpg), but the greatest problem I have in my vehicle is bad braking. ABS used to start for nothing so the vehicle didn't stop normally, then I took of the ABS relay but if I'm driving 55 mph or more I have to push really hard brake pedals to get vehicle stopped.

Any suggestions on brake improvement are welcome.

14th Sep 2008, 15:35

Have a 1999 5 speed 4x4 LS. Nice to drive. Mileage not great.

Had a problem that I was told was fuel pump. Very expensive quote. I switched a relay from the heater to the fuel pump circuit and the car starts every time. All the relays are the same number. Have a spare in the glove compartment when needed.

Yes, it uses oil, but have had cars before that ran for years always using oil from the beginning.

Since I bought this Rodeo with 180,000 kms on it, maybe most problems have been fixed. After reading about all the problems others have had I'm a bit nervous. Have only driven about 15,000 since purchase.

Ron

19th Nov 2008, 05:01

I'm Holly, I just purchased a 99 Rodeo LSE last month, and it won't start now. We sprayed starting fluid on it and it ran till it dried, so we were told it was the fuel pump. Well, the fuel pump didn't fix it after I paid 150 bucks for it, and it is not registering or pumping the gas?? Can anyone offer any suggestions?? You can email me at ring_of_fire1984@yahoo.com

12th Jan 2009, 11:21

I have the same issues with my 1999 Rodeo, I bought it brand new and as soon as the warranty ran out I had issues with oil consumption (up to 6 quarts between changes). Turned out to be a bad seal. I have also had problems with the gas gage reading empty even though I know it's not, the brake light coming on (bad sensor), etc. For awhile there I thought that I was going to have to have my dealership put a plaque on a parking stall just for me. Talk about a problem vehicle.

File a complaint with the federal agency called the Consumer Product Safety Commission. If they get enough complaints about that issue they will take action and you will be one of the first to be taken care of, when and if they act.

14th Feb 2009, 23:09

I bought a 99 Rodeo brand new. Mileage is very low for a 10 year old - only 35,500. Brakes were BAD since new. SUV went for a recall but - no improvement. Transmission is bad, the automatic transmission shifts erratically. Wipers are terrible, they stop when you need them most. Fuel gauge stopped working at early life. Even with a full tank it shows less than half.

Check engine light it goes on and off continuously. For no reason.

I never found the transmission stick until I read this column.

If I have to buy another car, I WILL NEVER BUY AGAIN ISUZU.

26th Apr 2010, 00:24

My 1995 Isuzu Pickup is the best vehicle I have ever owned, she is unstoppable and beautiful. I pushed my luck when I purchased a 1999 Rodeo. The Rodeo has had fuel pump issues, ABS indicator light nonsense, EGR valve issues, wiper arm problems, stock sound system problems and the list unfortunately goes on. What I wouldn't give to put the soul of the '95 pickup into the Rodeo.

23rd Nov 2010, 00:49

I bought a second hand 2001 V6 3.2 petrol LX Rodeo, 100,000ks on the clock. It is now 178,000ks and this is the best vehicle I have ever owned. It's OK on petrol, it's a workhorse, and I keep it maintained, but it just never says never, and I will drive it until one of us carks it.

30th Nov 2010, 21:55

1999 Isuzu Rodeo - I have that error 3 CD changer issue. I tried that old trick posted on here about holding the eject button etc., but it didn't work. Any other ideas? Thanks.

11th Apr 2011, 11:43

I bought a used 2001 Rodeo LS.

The fuel pump has not worked since June of 2010 when I purchased it, so I have to rely on the trip odometer. Yesterday when I was on the expressway, the sensor said reduced power and would not accelerate and I had to pull off on the shoulder.

I had my A/C on for the first time in 6 months due to living in cold Michigan. As soon as I turned my car off and turned off the A/C it started and I didn't have any more problems.

Also, the back wiper never worked and the front wipers have problems as well. I had to buy a new stereo system, the CD player stopped working a week after I bought it.

Does anyone know what the problem may be with the reduced power issue?

18th Aug 2011, 07:35

I had the same problems with my '99 Rodeo (check engine light constantly on, high idle at traffic stops, feeling like it would stall.) After my mechanic replaced the intake gaskets bought at a local auto parts store ($40 + labor), problem solved. Hope this helps.

19th Aug 2011, 14:55

Did you try unhooking the wire at the brake master cylinder while it's running, and plug it back in?

13th Dec 2012, 19:02

Have a 1999 Rodeo 3.2L V6. Very high idle; 2500-3000 RPM.

Two pro mechanics would not figure it out. Turned out to be the four prong plug in the front of the engine (think it's the idle air control unit). The connector looked fine and the prongs looked clean, but it behaved just as if it weren't plugged in. Being strange, I decided to twist the prongs with my needle nose and that fixed it (now about 3 weeks). Only a slight twist. When cold it starts at about 1700RPM, but quickly slows to 1400 and then 1100. After warming up, it hovers around 1000, which may be a little high. Bad connections are the reason they use gold in computers BTW.

30th Aug 2014, 15:35

Take your throttle body duct off the throttle body, then open the throttle body. Look in the throttle body with a flashlight. The lower portion of the chamber contains a tube. This tube comes from the EGR valve. This tube gets stopped up with carbon. I dismantled my intake to find this out.

What I could have done was take the EGR valve off the back of the engine (two bolts and a connector), take air and blow in both holes (one from exhaust, the other to the intake). If they are stopped up, you will not be able to blow through these. I took a coat hanger and carb cleaner, and worked in the intake tube while spraying carb cleaner in the tube. It takes a while to get through the carbon, but it can be done.

One note: the tube has a 90 degree angle, so it will have to be worked from both sides. The EGR side and then the intake side. Once you can blow air through this tube, exhaust gas can pass and your light will stay off. You can take the top of your intake off and do this, but it is time consuming. Hope this helps.