Possible rod issue

[Spike]

Drove to work today (5 miles) - then came home to feed the dog.

Started the VX back up to head back in - and it sounded like a 40 yr old high mileage diesel.

Took it to the gas station up the street (1/4 mile) they said it sounded like a rod.

Anyway... if this IS a rod, What kind of trouble might I need to prepare for via the dealer? I am already upset that they will probably have it for over a month.


I had a rod go in my old Intrepid, and it was nowhere near that loud. Same size/and higher horsepower engine. But I got her back with a whole new crated engine (not rebuilt) in a week and a half!

Any thoughts or comments are welcome.

[Dallas4u]

One comment...

This has been an issue before, but I haven't seen it brought up in a while. I would wait for more comments AND search the other forum as most of the info on this subject will be on there!!!

[Spike]

I JUST hit 30,000 mi over the weekend to. And she was cruising along happily this morning.

Wish me luck.

[Dallas4u]

Good luck! I'm at 36.6k and no... well, I'm not going to say it!

[Hotsauce]

Make 100% sure you have oil in there up to the mark before you bring it in, and have all your oil change papers to prove you did routine maintenence.

John C.

[Spike]

But I only bought it about 2000 miles ago... I have no papers

[Whaleboy]

One month ago, I also threw a rod. It was rod #2 I think they told me. I changed my oil religously, and had the records to prove it - which comes to the second part of my story.

My warranty company fullfilled their obligation, only half assed (this is the carmax extended warranty). They gave the Isuzu dealership some awful shortblock to replace my blown one. To make a long story short, as I've been in a battle over this new P.O.S block I decided to approach the tech that did the rebuild, and he said the following -

"I've tried to complain to Isuzu that there's not enough oil getting to those two back cylinders"

He went into more detail about the process and that this seems to be an inherit problem with the 3.5L's from Isuzu... But I forgot the rest...

just some interesting bit of info.

I saw where Dallas commented about this topic coming up in the past, but I never saw the discussion so not sure if I'm just restating old info or not.. :P

[Spike]

I still have 30k and 3 yrs on my transferred Isuzu drivetrain warranty...

... plus the one I got when I financed through my credit union is backed by CUNA insurance co. I am supposedly able to take it to any shop, even a garage that has certified auto technicians. (certified by who? I don't know.. since they havent mailed me my papers yet)

All this speculation and preparing for the worst.. I need to just chill and wait for the bad.. or optimistically not quite as bad news.

Wish me luck...

... and I was hoping to meet up with the VXs that are headed into central New Jersey this Saturday... grrrr

[AnalogVX]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. This has come up before and I only can hope it does not happen to me.

[VehiX]

Can the folks who have experienced this problem please be more descriptive as to the noises you are hearing to indicate a bad rod or bearing

I'd hate to confuse a little engine tap maybe say due to poor gas with a bad rod

Thanks

[Spike]

This was much louder than a 'tap' or It almost sounded like an exhaust pipe banging against the frame, but it was coming from the engine compartment.

It would come and go as the idle went up and down. But it was there most of the time.

Dreadful sound... hope no one else experiences it.

2 months of feeling totally secure and not finding any unexpected mechanical flaws with this vehicle, then I get a flat last week and now this.

[VX4EJR]

Noooo!!! I just saw your post, what the hell happened??
Where are you going to take your VX for service?

I'm actually experiencing very frequent clunking in decelerations and also a periodic clank noise from the front driveline or axle noticeable when shifting between drive and reverse when the VX starts moving. Might have to give Murphy Isuzu a call but like I said in a previous post, they don't know much about the VX....inside or out....YIKES.

Have you tried looking up in the VX Repair Manual CD thingy you can download?


Elliott

[Spike]

Hey man,

I wish i knew what happened. It just started up making all that noise and I went from good mood to not a good mood.

I had it towed to Murphy... there isn't anyone else nearby that I could think of.

Isuzu Roadside operators really are easy to work with. I just hope I don't get the thumb-screws put to me.

It's gotta be well beyond what I can figure out from the shop manual CD. I didn't even bother launching it to look.

I have a friend in the auto industry who is out in West Chester. He told me he knows someone at Murphy, plus he deals with Isuzu North America every so often, and has a decent contact there. If I have any problems with service. I will get him to make a few calls and see if I have any recourse.

But we won't think like that. We will think positive and give them benefit of the doubt. (for now)

They are supposed to be looking at it right after lunch today.
I mean, somewhere 'about now'

[VX4EJR]

Well, the Murphy Isuzu shop guys may not know that much about the VX....but they are good about at least trying and providing satisfactory service. I guess you can't blame them, the VX is a rare vehicle that they either aren't trained on or don't see that often.

Anyways, I worked with a service manager there, Rich Devito (ext.332) who's very honest and won't give you BS. If you haven't already, I'd strongly recommend talking with him to handle your VX. I'll be up there soon with my issues though, no doubt!!

Good luck and don't worry, I feel your pain, trust me.

[Green Dragon]

Originally posted by VX4EJR
Noooo!!!
I'm actually experiencing very frequent clunking in decelerations and also a periodic clank noise from the front driveline or axle noticeable when shifting between drive and reverse when the VX starts moving.


Elliott

That Sounds like a bad U joint or loose bolts on a propeller shaft.

Incidently the only grease point on a VX is the rear U Joint.