1989 Isuzu Trooper LS review from North America
"My car was a learning experience"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
-Head gasket blew.
-Head was cracked by valve seat and had to be replaced with a new head from Japan ($400)
-Catalytic converter clogged up and was eliminated.
-O2 sensor went bad and was replaced.
-Motor mounts were bad and were replaced.
-The drive shaft donut broke and was replaced.
-The ignition module died and was replaced.
-The ignition coil module died two times (it was my fault)
-The radiator had to be repaired with JBweld.
-The intake had to be replaced with a custom one because the plastic tube somehow melted and made a hole on the bottom.
-The brakes were completely re-built due to stuck calipers and worn out pads (new pads, new rotors, and re-built calipers)
-Fuel pump died and was replaced.
-Fan clutch didn't engage and was replaced.
-The Auto-Locking hubs never worked properly.
-I popped one of the front drive shafts in a moment where I REALLY NEEDED THE 4X4.
General comments?
If I could describe my trooper in one word it would be LEMON. The previous owner of my trooper beat the living daylights out of it and everything started to break when I had it. It was a bad choice. Troopers are really good SUVs, when shopping for one look carefully at everything, including the way that the owner treats his vehicles because this will have a direct relationship between how your carr will turn out to be, in terms of reliability. I know lots of people that have early troopers and they turn out to be great.
What I liked most about my trooper was the fuel economy. It also has a good low range for pulling stuff. The back seat transforms in to a bed. The roof rack is practical.
Remarks and things to look out for: the center console tends to crack on the side, the dash can warp and sometimes crack, the bottom part of the mini door tends to rust from the inside out. The hynge in the small windows of the front doors tends to break, also these windows make it easy for a robber to enter the trooper. The V6 model is a gas hog and doesn't have more power than the 4cyl. Troopers suffer from warped heads and bad head gaskets. Be careful with the dome light, it breaks easily.
Recommended reviews
| Good value for the money |
|
| 1989 - Trooper LS 2.8L V6 CHEVY Good value for the money; great utilitarian-styled vehicle |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1989 |
| Year of manufacture | 1988 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2006 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.6 I-tec Manual |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 3 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 2 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 130000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 190000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 12th July, 2007 |