Driving to work... 130K mile VX out 150 yrds from the driveway and the engine shuts off. The sweet sounds of STP still pumping through the speakers without a beat. I coast to the side of the road...stop...turn key and starter cranks with no start. Towed to house and replace battery (needed it), fuel filter, checked fuses, checked for fuel in the rails, replaced air filter for ****s n giggles (needed that too) and no luck.
Towed it to the shop. Noted to the mechanic that starter sounded higher pitched with half the rotation repetition but would not start. Mechanic calls me back and says the timing belt broke. Tells me $320 to replace I feel fair, give him the go. He starts to warn me that this may not fix as he has gotten a 50/50 opinion that this is an interference vs. non-interference engine and may have bent valves upon failure. Gets the belt on and tells me compression is fine (i think 150lb per cylinder) but... water pump is bad and radiator is half full ( I hear half empty) but opt for the replace as a complex heat problem has been killing this truck from the front to the back for some time. Mechanic says ran great for 20 minutes then the fan clutch assembly started to work its way off the fan pulley. Part replace $130. I'm into it $600 by now and go to check it out. They tried to weld the pulley back on but would not fit due to welds in way of fan clutch seating (if I've lost you by now you're not intimate with your VX) Calls back and says the part he orders is the wrong part and the factory replacement is $300. I say no way and he says thats ok. They grinded down the pulley and all is good but says now....
The engine is misfiring badly. Asks me if I've had this problem before and of course I hadn't. He eludes to a mechanical failure, specifically a broken camshaft. I show up just before they pop the valve cover and alas the lobes look fine and no excessive signs of wear. Haven't yet grilled them on the spark plug replacement and why they didn't address the electronics diagnostics as they haven't explored the trouble code of cylinder misfire without being more specific. Talked to a Isuzu dealership mechanic whom seems knowledgeable and he says in theory that this is a non-interference engine but has seen bent valves on rare occasions. Also eluded that compression tests might test good without indicating bent valves and that he would conduct a leak down test. Supposedly would verify bent valve without pulling cylinder head. Now as I've said I'm $600 into it with replacement belt, water pump, spark plugs, and labor from a somewhat reputable shop. Should I tell em to button it up an bring her home or does anyone here have advice to offer from this long *** diagnostic description of the headaches from my 1999 VX. I swear I'll keep this bitch on the road if it kills me. Please advise.
