Florida Meet Recap

The DVD is done and will ship out Thursday. Got 'em all labeled last night and everyone's address together, so let me know what you think after you get them. WARNING: There's a bit of colorful language in the chapter titled "Joe Got Mud". I'm sure y'all know what segment I'm talking about! LOL!

-x-, you'll just have get under the VX and have at it with the garden sprayer and a toilet brush. I did that three times and it pretty much looks like it should now. Be sure to put PLENTY of water behind the skid plates, shields and the gas tank cover.

I'm already putting together another meet for maybe mid/late August and will post details once I get it together. Stay tuned!

i hear theres a good mud pit round sea world ;Db; ...x

Well, dealer said Thursday, maybe Friday before he got the alternator in, let alone has it installed. I was in the area so I dropped by today (it was good to see my baby LOL), and sure enough no alternator today and the same guy said "with any luck, tomorrow". <sigh> I can't believe it takes this friggin' long. You'd think they never had to change out an alternator before, and while the VX is rare, the 3.5L V6 Trooper one should work, and surely those are readily available, right? I'm starting to wonder if it is on a boat direct from Japan.

I'm expecting some grief when they finally get up under there and see the mud (thought I had it looking pretty good but saw it today dry and realized it STILL needs work) but for starters I will tell them if the v-reg were properly sealed it should have been a non-issue. Also having the window tracks looked at, but they said since that could be related to alternator failure they did not intend to do anything to them until the alternator goes in. I told them it was happening before that and would like this wrapped up as soon as possible, meaning I don't want to have to wait more for this after the alternator is in there and I want it done and back in my garage the day they get that part in. I don't care when they do the windows so long as it is fixed right and doesn't hold things up an extra day.

I have read all the posts about the windows binding and it sounds like just a little track lube may not fix this right. The guy at the dealership told me that should be all it needs despite my saying others have been down this regulators/lube route and it wasn't enough. So we'll see.

As a precaution I also noted the mileage when I was there today, since Scott reported his dealer put 60 miles on his VX. Wouldn't that beat all if they fixed it and then I had to wait while someone was joyriding?

Thanks to all who signed my petition reference rear differential whine, with that proof the dealer has agreed to rebuild or replace, taking it in on Monday, I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Good deal Pat! Keep us apprised of your progress!

Hey, no problem Pat. Way to go get 'em.

Got mine back today FINALLY. Everything looks just like I left it and no post-surgery complications yet. :-)

They got it done real fast once the part came off the boat from Japan or whatever it was (it was a 5 day wait). :-) This (alternator replacement) was covered under the extended warranty. While I'm not terribly impressed with the Isuzu dealer, I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't hear so much as a tiny whisper about the mud.

I was pretty certain I wouldn't get it but I mentioned the CD changer while I was at it, and he had said it probably wouldn't be covered. I didn't get my hopes up but guess what - I was told today I am also getting a new CD changer under the warranty. :-) They said it'll be a week and they'll call when it comes in so they can do the swap. Ok, so it won't be the newer model, just a remanufactured version of what I have now, but for now I'll take it and see how much mileage I get out of that. Buys me time until I can get a nice Pioneer setup or something.

I will try lubricating the runners in the windows and see how that goes. If it gets worse I'll cross that bridge when I get to it, and with all the info about this on this board even a numbskull like me could probably handle it at no cost. If it ever comes to it, the service manager freely admitted they've seen a few of them before for the same problem and I don't think he'd give me any problem with it.

Anyway, I got a new CD changer and alternator for a $100 deductible - I'm happy. :-)

Hey Joe,

Thanks a bunch for the DVD! I've been so anxious that I went to the post office twice. LOL! This morning, about 11:00am, nothing there. Figured what the heck, I'd go check again tonight just in case. Besides, it's a good excuse to drive my VX and I'm always up for that. :-) After making some guests of my neighbor stare at my VX (didn't their parents teach them it's not polite to point and stare?), I got down to the post office and there it was! Woo hoo! You should've seen the grin on my face when I opened it up and saw the case with all the graphics - very cool! And then a big smiling Dragon on the disc, too. :-) Well done and THANKS.
Pardon me now - I have to go watch it RIGHT NOW. :-)

LOL! Well I certainly hope you enjoy it and it reminds you of the fun you had discovering how capable the vX is! I'm very much a neophyte when it comes to editing video and making DVDs, so there several areas where the camera was just running. Then again, it's the forest scenery so you've got a low-tech screen saver. ;-)

Hi Pat,
You know I was skeptical but you proved me wrong. I’m glad I could help and even happier to hear that it worked out for you! Just goes to show that if you’re right, you must never give up!

....just an F.Y.I. fellas I updated or uploaded :work: the pix that i took from tha meet and also rearanged my gallery seperating my pix from the first orlando meet ;Db;

http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/da...ront_angle.jpg

And yes i got new tires after the meet go figure:confused: 285/75-16 wow...x

Tire Rack has some pretty affordable tires for the Vehicross (less than $100 per wheel). Looks like the Scorpion A/T is a good choice, but what about the Yokohamas? I always thought any Yokos were much pricier than that, and with the multiple superior ratings they have over the stock Duelers, Scorpions, and Kumhos, I'm thinking it's a no-brainer. But just in case, any suggestions anyone?

I used to have Yoko’s (A/T+2) on my previous truck (full size Montero with a rear diff. Lock… ;Do; ) and found them pretty god with a good offroad manners too. I’m considering them for my VX now but would like first to lift my VX with the OME springs. Hey X, Do the 285’s rub? Did you do any trimming? :confused:

The techs at tha shop said it wouldnt fit but my bro tried them on anyway (he works there) and they went on w/out a problem ;eekb; yea it was pretty cool ....

... i did have to trim to avoid rubbin :rolleyes: when the wheel is max to the left or right. ;Db;

And i absolutely love 'em it just about comletely fills the wheel well and eliminates that gap i myself dispise. I have yet to go off-roadin but after speeding around and cuttin corners i dont see any problems ;pb; Id recommend the size....x ;pb;