jerky accelerater

[russellk]

My Isuzu wizard with 4JX1 3.0 turbo motor is very jerky/jumpy with very small accelerater movemets, makes vechile very annoying to drive, have been told to use 5W30 oil with no change, also told possible due to the electrical accelerater control and computer. any help out there?

[geeves]

Unfortuanatly not many of us have the later engine. That engine has a computer so inteligent it will try and second guess anything you do so theres very little you can do without a rare expensive diagnostic machine.Your diy options are make sure you have no sticky linkages maybe give them some crc for good measure, If its been off road unplug and reconect all the sensors you can find in case of corrosion and lucky last replace a oil filter that you dont know about yet. Its on the left hand side of the engine and its job is to feed oil to the injectors. Holden says it only needs changing at recon time ie 400000 but its a cheap filter so every 20000 is more realistick. Also have you had the mod done to the injectors If not expect a bill around 500 but not doing it may kill your engine before it reaches 100000

[Bruce]

There was a re-call on these motors in Aus (I believe) to do with the injector seals, if they start leaking you get straight diesel in to the cylinder like getting a gut full of water, bang no motor no more, (only what I've read) so have a talk to some one at GMH. If your in NZ I dont thing they will do it for nothing. I don't want to alarm you but it sounds like that problem, I would not think it to be a big job, put the engine model in to "search engine" and see what you come up with.
Cheers Bruce
PS and yes the oil has a lot to do with the injectors as they rely on the engine oil to operate, Caterpillar designed set up, some thing to do with common rail injection.

[morpheus]

My wizard has exactly the same problem, small movements in the accelerator at certain speeds are very jerky and it wont drive smoothly, its had a new bypass filter and oil and that didnt help so now im just waiting for the dealer i got it off to let me know whats happening with the recall/seal problem.
Tried fuel additive/injector cleaner and no diff either.

[CraigO]

I read a news paper story some time ago about this and yes the above is correct. It didn't have many details.

All it said was that Holden in Oz were recalling Frontera's (Holden badged Wizards) because of an injector fault. And that the injector failure had lead to some engines needing to be rebuilt.

I don't know if it was just with the first of this engine model and if/when Isuzu fixed the problem.

So in short speak to a Holden dealer and get the injectors changed. The cost of fixing the injectors is a lot less than fixing an engine that has gone snap, crackle, pop.

Here is some background. The Wizards changed shape in June 1998. It also changed the diesel engine to the 3.0L, 4JX1. The engine is very good, apart from the injector fault, and won many technology awards for emissions, feul consumption, and output.

I do have a question. The 1998 on Bighorns have the same 3L engine, 4JX1. Do they have the same problem?

Craig

[geeves]

If you do a google search on 4jx1 youl see that this motor hasnt got a lot of freinds. Aparently there is a website somewhere that you can input your chassis no and find out if it needs doing but I belive all of these engines need doing except in that the recall started in Japan in 1999 so I would hope that all later engines are ok although the Holden engines may of been made before this date then installed in later cars. Ive read stories of these engines not being reconditionable with 60000km

[CraigO]

So what you are saying is don't buy Isuzu's 1998 onwards with diesel engines?

From 1998 I think all Mu's, Bighorn's and Wizard's all have the 4JX1 engine.

In that case will this club slowly die as the older wagons give up the ghost?

Craig

[niallinireland]

In answer to CraigO question about the Bighorn known here as the Trooper, I know that the 3.0L engine has had definite problems in the past, never met a mechanic who said a good word about the engine over here. Does not have a lot of friends on this side of the world either.
Also was told last week by my mechanic that they have changed the 3.0l engine in the new isuzu. Ment to be putting the old 2.8l head on the 3.0l engine. I'm guesting they've also beefed it up also to handle the compression ratios. Anybody heard anything like this???

niall

[geeves]

Theres realy only 3 things wrong with the 4jze engine.
The injectors leak diesel into the oil but this can be fixed
The engine requires 5w30 synthetic oil (in cold climates use 0w30) If not it wont start in the mornings as the injectors use oil pressure to activate. Also change the oil fanaticaly at 5000km
The computer is so inteligent it makes fools of any mechanic without the proper test gear. This engine will adjust the fuel on 3 cylinders to compensate for a loss of 50% compresion in the 4th so it still runs perfectly smooth but no power.
Fix the injectors do the oil correctly and it will live 400000km or more but neglect it and it will seek revenge.
There are isuzus in the club now 20 years old so we dont need to worry about no isuzus for a long time yet. My understanding is that the Trooper/Bighorn and Mu/Frontera are to be fazed out the end of this year The Mus replacment is the Vericross which is petrol only Trooper I dont know what the replacment is but there is a vehical called Axiom in the US which would be a fitting succsessor

[CraigO]

I new I would get a good reaction when I wrote the above.

I found a ozzie site which had some info so here is the url‘s
www.recalls.gov.au/search.cfm?psa_id=10305&keyword=4JX1&rcl_type=recalls_vehicle

Here are some more url’s on Isuzu faults;
www.recalls.gov.au/search.cfm?psa_id=7142&keyword=holden&rcl_type=recalls_vehicle
www.recalls.gov.au/search.cfm?psa_id=7106&keyword=holden&rcl_type=recalls_vehicle
www.recalls.gov.au/search.cfm?psa_id=6571&keyword=4JX1&rcl_type=recalls_vehicle
www.recalls.gov.au/search.cfm?psa_id=6247&keyword=holden&rcl_type=recalls_vehicle

I didn’t early listings for the pre 1998 Isuzu as they had been removed from the site.

Would it be a good idea to set up a category with known model/year faults?

I know the injector seal problem is a real, serious, and expensive issue with the 1998 to 2000 Bighorn, Mu, and Wizard. But if the faults are known they can be factored in when purchasing and/or fixed during maintenance. For the cost of the repair I would rather have a later model Wizard for performance, comfort, and safety.

In response to Geeves email, I think part of the issue with diesel mechanics is how quickly the technology changed. They had to quickly update their skill levels and purchase computing technology to do their jobs. A big shock to the system. To move from thumpers that could run on it’s own sump oil to computer controlled engines in just a few years. I would have thought diesel mechanics would be happy as there is a lot less DIY the average person can do on the newer engines.

This also happened with petrol engines. In the good old days I tuned my own engines, now when I open the bonnet everything is colour coded.

Diesel manufacturers had to introduce this technology to keep and to increase their market share. Governments and consumers also forced the introduction of this technology. Governments to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiencies. And consumers wanted a vehicle that is comparable with petrol vehicles for acceleration, speed, and comfort.

I went over to the Coromandel last weekend and for part of the trip I followed a couple of early 90’s 4wds, a Bighorn & a Discovery I think. I couldn’t be sure as I was back in the queue. On the hills I felt like putting on a gas mask and getting out to give them a push. Slow 4wds belching black smoke gives all a bad name.

The older style (pre 1998) Mu, Bighorn, Wizards also have their own problems including, persistent oil seal leaks, dash lights switching off at will, transmission freezing, rear suspension sage, and weld cracks in the chassis. The engines may last 400,000ks but how long will the bodies last?

I read somewhere that from the early to the mid 90s 10,000+ Mu’s and 50,000+ Bighorns were recalled for various faults. How many of these vehicles are in NZ? The reason these vehicles are here is because they could no longer meet Japans standards. Also with the older vehicles their safety standards aren’t so good so if you have a reasonable accident in one be prepared to die or at least be seriously maimed.

Craig

[geeves]

one question answered Its only 98 - 2000 engines affected so 2001 or later should be fine

[morpheus]

Good news on the recall front, I found out today that Due to pressure from the IMVDA, Isuzu Motors Ltd (Japan) have agreed to supply the replacement parts for the injector.
Aparantly they have to search the records in japan of those engines/chassis numbers that have had the modification done and then compare that with the registration numbers here in New Zealand, all those with an unmodified engine will be sent a letter informing them that the vehicle is to be recalled and repaired. All this is supposed to take a couple of months So if you dont recieve anything in the mail in a few months it may pay to contact the nearest Holden dealership

[Andrew]

Holden (GM NZ ) have advised that they will NOT pay for the repair of any IMPORTED vehicle into NZ.

This recall programme has been in place for some time and NZ New Vehicles Affected will be covered.

PLEASE NOTE :
If you have purchased your vehicle within the last 12 months you may have a very good case for the supplier to pay for the cost of the repair under the consumer gaurentees act.

I have today spoken to an inside contact about this issue.

If you think you may be affected by this problem PLEASE... do not contact Holden (GM ) NZ, Email me your details and I will send you some additional information, include your phone number as I dont mind calling you ( if in NZ ). Australian members, I may be able to assist however at this stage I am still attempting to find out some addtional information.

This information will not be made public, however members who think they are affected are asked to contact me.

- Andrew ( email: [e-mail] )