Need some serious advice....

[TJMaxx]

Well, i dont post too often - never had any troubles till now.... I sure could use some advice now... my 2001 was due for oil change and had a slight rough idle -barely noticable, so I decided to take it to the dealer (60 miles away) to have it checked out vs. a very reputable oil change service nearby. They changed the intake gasket ( the source of rough idle according to them), rear shoes, and the oil change. Two months later ( after maybe 1500 miles) my VX breakes down.... after some inspection it was discovered that the drivers rear cyclinder spark plug blew out of the cylinder and mangled the coil.... I got it towed back to the dealer and they give me the obvious news.... 3,600.00 for a new cylinder head. Why would the spark plug just all of the sudden blow out of its threads unless it wasnt properly (re)installed? That cylinder is an obvois tricky one to get to being under the master cylinder.... do you suppose the tech pulled the plugs looking for a source of the slight rough idle to start with? Maybe not getting it properly reinstalled? They say the guy that originally worked on it is in Jamaica for a week... my VX has 73,000 miles -I am not the original owner.... the power train warranty is only 50,000 correct? Am I totally screwed here or what? Just looking for any thoughts or advice.... thanks guys.

[Ruflyf]

Well that sucks bad, but for $3600.00 I would expect a complete new engine. Maybe I am way off course on prices because i do alot of work myself, but that sounds VERY high for a head. I would think you could get one from someone parting out a vx for relatively cheap, like a couple hundred bucks, again maybe I am way off course.

Whats interesting to me is, what the cause could have been, I agree it is the hardest plug to get to and very easily to %^$* up, and I would say it probably was cross threaded. Its probably too late, but I would try to get him to admit whether he pulled them before you say what happened, beacuse if it were cross threaded a close examination would reveal it. However if he knows in advance, its not likely he would admit to it.

Personnaly I cant imagine changing the gasket without pulling the plugs, but I suppose technically its not a requirement to do so.

Hope that helps a bit
Keith

[ZEUS]

Well, I'm sorry to hear of your misfortune. I can't offer any knowledge on the cause and effect personally but I would say $3600 for a head is a raping. With some patience you could wait for a wrecked VX to come up on eBay and buy the whole thing for $4000! Not that that is your only viable solution or anything but I have seen them sell for that. Plus, with all the problems I hear about 3.5's spinning bearings there has to be some accessible heads around for cheap. I would get a second opinion and search the web... a mechanic was going to charge me $375 for just a fuel injector - without labor! I found one from ISUZUPARTS.com for something like $80 - turns out I didn't even need a new injector because all that happened was a clip came undone and the injector lost electrical current. The mechanic said they checked it but obviously they didn't. That's why I say get a second opinion. Good luck, I hope it works out for you!

[Ldub]

Maxx,
I just bumped Tone's "misc. parts" thread to the top...He has "loaded heads" $1000.00 on his list of things for sale. Maybe pm him to see if that'll do the trick.
Ldub

[TJMaxx]

Good call LDub!! I sent him a message - I'll let you know what I find out.... thanks for the replys guys!
Ross

[TJMaxx]

On the Isuzu site it says the 10 year -120,000 mile powertrain warranty is transferrable to direct family members only - so I really dont know where that leaves me.... I did some complaining to the service manager at the dealership, I just cant believe that the thing cant be fixed with a helicoil or something... he called me back, left a message said he may have some helpful information for me... - we'll see.... I chat with him in the A.M.

[etlsport]

My apologies, i just looked in the warranty book that came with my VX.... there is a warranty for subsequent owners that arent related.. but its 60 mo/ 60k miles, sorry about the mix up!

[etlsport]

i think that the powertrain warrenty on it is 75,000 miles (or 5 years) my 2001 is still under powertrain (but only has 41k).. but definately look up the warranty, i think it is 75k miles