Introducing a newbie's first year in a VX

[spaceghost]

Owning a VX is like having a baby. I became a proud owner, spent a lot of time learning, and now finally taking a moment to post about it 9 months later. Might as well fill everyone in so other can waste as much time as I did reading through mountains of posts before I tried anything for real.

I am a long term Joe Isuzu, starting in 1997 when I could afford my first own truck. About to begin college, I couldn't resist buying that 1987 Trooper that was literally frozen to the lot after a nice North Dakota ice storm. Had to put it in 4-low just to break free. I was sold after touching the 4wd lever, no questions asked. That old salesman had any easy day. Today I still have an 1989 Trooper RS to do the chores and go play, but the desire to own a VX was always in the back of my mind.

A local lot happened to acquire a trade-in 1999 Ebony base VX last September, and in my $5k price range. With 185100 on the clock, the VX came complete with check engine, ABS & Air Bag lights. Although I knew better, I couldn't say no even if I tried.

I gave a Seafoam treatment, some fresh oil, and fixed up what I could. After a few spins around the neighborhood a, I added some blind spot mirrors and a rear window "fish eye" wide angle lens (after spending way to many hours reading about backup cameras and giving up). Also played monkey arms with the drivers window regulator and track before picking up the custom window brackets. Then I learned about the wonderful forms here and found out I am not the only one dealing with the joys of VX ownership!

Here to follow are some of my captured moments as a newbie for your entertainment.

[spaceghost]

Check engine light cleared and came back a few times with p0440 evap emissions code until I found this under the hood. Spent a few minutes to find the host that should be attached, and after connecting no more check engine light so far. Not sure what it does, but it likes it connected.

[spaceghost]

The ABS works great in sub-zero temps at times, but isn’t happy the rest of the time. For the most part, I don’t really mind. ABS always seems to make me mad on any car I have tried to use it. The air bag light is a bit more bothersome, and I did manage to fix it for awhile by playing with the drivers belt recoil. I’ll have to try harder some day.

[spaceghost]

A month into VX ownership,II noticed the original timing belt was still going strong @ 185k and installed a Gates TCKWP303 Timing Belt Kit with Water Pump to keep fate at bay. Shortly after went in some new SurTrack IZ-8021 CV Axle Shafts and Moog ball joints. With fresh axle half-shafts, the TOD system is way better than I thought after having the jerkiness with the old shafts. If you think your TOD is crap, install new shafts. Of course, none of this helped all the oil disappearing without a trace. If I drive nice, I can go 1000 miles before adding a quart. If I drive like I do, I get between 500 and 800 miles it seems. Interesting enough this exactly matched the behavior my 99 Trooper had with about the same miles on it, so I am already trained in. Let’s just say I am used to having a monthly oil budget in addition to gas.

[spaceghost]

Around the first holiday season, I gifted the VX some custom replacement rear door cargo cover knobs, and threw in a Kurt 2" receiver hitch. Heck, even found the old subwoofer & rear some speakers to make life good. With holiday travel in effect, my man Craig and his mighty list prepared me with with a Yakima Low Rider rack & Basketcase rack to prep for Santa. Liking the setup so far.

[spaceghost]

This lead to a first road trip, driving 4 folks a few hundred miles in a VX. Required the most serious mod yet - custom cup holders all around. If you can’t hold at least 4 cups, you aren’t ready for prime time yet.

Rear console with added cup holder from 200ish Chevy Prizm.




Front custom from moded walmart $5 auto isle special

[spaceghost]

The road trip also made me install a Trooper rear cargo light off the dome light. Also found this to be an easy “must do” mod.

[spaceghost]

Lookin a new rubber, I gave Discount Tire a spin with some P255/70R15 109S OWL Pathfinder SAT tires. They look good, and eat snow and weather like nothing happened. Would do again!

[spaceghost]

Mr Craig also set me up with a hitch based bike carrier. A few minutes of drilling and bolt action made it fit like a glove.

[spaceghost]

Summer’s warmer weather finally got me to spend the 10 minutes needed to restore headlights, thanks to Turtle's $10 kit. Considering a clear spray paint as a sealer coat to avoid doing again, but not sure if would work. I am sure a few of you may know.

[spaceghost]

Just this weekend, my 9-month installed custom window bracket finally smoked the drivers window regulator (well broke the cable anyway). My $0.69 Menards fix might not work over the long term. Now the month wait for Japan replacment parts order to commence.

[spaceghost]

As long as that is happening, I decided to get it out of my system and spent most of a day installing a Rodeo 4WD Auto switch and relay to turn TOD ECM off for 2WD action. Now I can limp home if I break something up front, or just go 2WD crazy for jack-assery fun. Saves me the trouble of unplugging the TOD ECM by hand! Likley won’t use it much, but I feel way more manly now that I can press another button.

[spaceghost]

9 Months into it, my To Do list seems unending. Old cars are fun. I'll keep at it.

I added this mod for a few bucks on Amazon, making anything is possible from here.

[spaceghost]

Early on, had to free up the driveway for a bit. Made for a nice car show I thought. Wife disagreed.

[Mile High VX]

Nice job spaceghost!

Be sure to keep the front half of this cup holder filled for more mods and more fun...