Old video, I know, but I love it. Bought a trooper today, near rust free with an immaculate interior. Blown head gasket. $300.00 CDN! Can't believe it. Can't wait to find that early grille!!!
I like your review a lot! I want to pull mine out and make a video series on it. It’s a 1989 with 330,000 miles on it, but the engine has been swapped twice!
My trooper has an Isuzu 2.6 with a 5 speed. I don’t know if the engine was rebuilt prior to being installed, but my guess is it was a good running engine that didn’t need a rebuild. That all happened prior to my ownership.
As the owner of a 1993 Trooper, and no mechanical skills, I admire what you have done. Hard to find repair shops to work on it and parts are very difficult if not impossible (need new brake booster. Bought two aftermarket ones and neither worked and one was faulty out of the box.) The salvage yards here do not even have a Trooper in stock. Barely passed smog, but since its life has been in the southwest, like you said...little to no rust. I just can't get rid of the thing. Thanks for the video.
It's definitely a learning experience when you're forced to do it all yourself. Simple enough cars to learn on though, but yes, parts can be hard to come by
Awesome video, thank you so much for making this video, and also for keeping this nice vehicle alive! When I was a little kid, I grew up with a Trooper. It was my mums family, equipment and horse trailer hauler! I miss it a lot, and my dream is to one day buy one, restore it and paint it the way hers looked and give it to her. She misses her Isuzu too.
Because they were built to be practical and kept the old box designs from the 70's without being tacky or having their size get in their way. That's why modern SUVs look so bad, the rounding kills the leading lines and they look too inorganic
I bought an ‘86 new. There were two models, the base, and the LS. I bought a silver base model. The only option was the outside color. That’s how they could make them so affordable. They all had beige interior, and that year, they all had a carb 4 cyl. In ‘86 this was about the only vehicle that still didn’t have a computer. Everything was mechanical and as long as you had a timing light and tools, you could do anything to it. I was stationed in Colo Spgs and that was a great vehicle to have there. That little 4 cyl had a bunch of torque but it couldn’t get out of it’s own way. Going up some of the passes on the interstate, it wouldn’t go over 35 mph. I still loved that thing and wish I still had it.
I just bought and got going an 1986 trooper (called Jackaroo here in Australia) and I love it. Used to slow vehicles after driving a toyota1978 BJ40 for years, and later a 1986 model toyota. I had been eyeing off the troopers for a while, but the 1986 one is the best, looks good with the round headlights - carby, no fancy electronics or injection systems, you can still get some parts here in Australia (eg: I needed a new master cylinder). A great car to drive and seems competent for most 4WDing.
My first 4x4 was a 1990 Holden Jackaroo / Isuzu Trooper, now have a 1988 Pajero both turbo diesel 5 speeds manual gearbox…I miss the barn rear doors of the jacky but she died a noble death, Pajero is a 7seater so can take my half a footy team with me now. All thought I’ve transition to more trusty old gal 4x4 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ78 TROOPY with a legendary powerhouse 1HDFTE turbocharger diesel straight 6 & gearbox 5-speed manual. Good luck mate.
I strongly considered the Mitsubishi Montero (Pajero) when looking for a Trooper. I still love those too, and 7 seats is a big plus. But they already fetched a higher price than Troopers around here, and a land cruiser was certainly out of budget. They're all wonderful though!
Nice video and interesting, I love in Puerto Rico and I bought a Trooper 1989 RS (short) in 1996, 26 years ago and still have it, Now it have 350,000 Miles. It requires repair engine on 344,000 miles. The best of the best Trooper
@@HighMileageReviews Right, I forgot to say Ed has a 1990 GM 2.8L, mine is a 1991 2.6L 4ZE1. Restoration at .5 mil could take a care for 1st Gen Trooper past 1, million miles. I think. providing parts are there.
Thanks for great memories! My white 91 Trooper is in long term storage, has about half the mileage of yours. Old trucks cool because of easy DIY repairs, no ODB2 codes, iron engine block, metal radiator. Beware 2.6 is interference engine, but timing belt not hard to change. Thanks for tips on valve clearance adjustment and emission controls struggle. Mine burning some oil, so I think at 30 years old it needs valve seals as most senior engines do. If your have gas tank fuel pump issue, you might consider cutting hole in rear cargo floor to access it, instead of having to remove skid plate and dropping the tank. Just make or get a floor hole cover, some You Tuber did that on his Trooper. There are no locking differential options for the Japanese rear axle but there are some Australia options for the part time front axle. Just don't go off road crazy and crash !
Great video, been looking at these early Troopers for a cheaper off road vehicle that I can camp from. Seems like the 4 cylinder/ 5 speed combo is the way to go. Nice job getting yours reliable.
I had a 91 Trooper and a 96 Rodeo, and hands down the Trooper was the better in the snow. I put close to 300,000 miles on both of them. Both were great trucks for me.
When I was looking at buying a project 4x4 I tried hard to find a first gen Trooper but I couldn't find one. I ended up getting a rust bucket of a 2nd gen Montero. I'd still love to get a Trooper but I'll have to wait.
Good job on the video! I have a red 91 v6 5spd. Also I’m in north Phoenix. Trying to get mine through the dreaded emissions process right now. Let me know if you want to have a trooper outing sometime! :)
I just bought a '90 Trooper in white with the 2.8 liter. Absolutely love your videos on it. I have the same rear main seal and suspect my idle air controller is a problem too since it is having trouble idling when cold. Are you going to release any more videos on the vehicle soon? Thanks and keep it up!
Fortunately for me and unfortunately for the channel, I've fixed all the pressing issues with my trooper for the time being, so I don't have any videos to make with it at the moment. But as soon as something goes wrong with it that will make a good video, it'll be uploaded here, so watch this space!
I've got 176,000 on my 1990 Trooper II 4-cyl, but have to clean out the old gas and replace a bunch of hoses that have degraded as I havent driven it for years. Wish me luck.
Love your content, I have a 89 Isuzu trooper no start I removed the starter took it to Napa they said it’s working perfect when I turn the ignition I hear a relay clicking and that’s it. I thought pick your brain for a little bit I live in Flagstaff Arizona it was nice to hear that you live in Arizona as well.
Interesting. I haven't had that issue, but if your trooper is anything like mine, then I'd check out any loose/corroded grounds or wire connections. Stuff like that can cause any number of odd issues
My dad has 1989 RS Trooper with 530k original everything still albeit barely running. Used it for his business everyday for 30+ years. At 400k I pulled a full size Tacoma 2wd up a snowy hill bouncing off the rev limiter!
@@HighMileageReviews next time im in south phoenix i will have to hit you up to run some trails 👣 my first run in her was to pumpkin eater in Stoddard wells ca. Its in a dirt nation video. Stay safe and happy trails 👣
The Trooper was my family's car growing up. I learned how to drive manual on it. My neighbor had one too. Its still sitting in his driveway, I don't think it works.
I had a 3-door ''88 Trooper II.. 4x4, stick, it was unstoppable and I loved it! Unfortunately the engine gave way before I was able to fix it up properly, it was dead at 113k.
Inherited my friend’s Trooper when he passed away last year. Sent it to a mechanic to fix a gas line leak and to fix the stick shift so it worked properly. $2600 later and it’s still not fixed. They wanted another $1400 to MAYBE get it running right. So no way, had it towed to my home and here it sits. Would love to get it up and running but have zero experience in fixing anything. It did come with a chiltons Isuzu repair book. I am so overwhelmed at the sheer scope of things to learn, which would be basically everything.
Yes unfortunately owning a vehicle like this will likely require some mechanical knowledge and confidence to repair things yourself if you don't want to be at the mercy of a shop frequently. I know my way around a car pretty well and it still took me a year to learn the ins and outs of this thing so I could get it running right. But even now, since it's so old, random things will pop up out of the blue. Funny you mention the fuel lines, because mine just sprung a leak and had to replace them. They looked original, so i wasn't surprised. Nearly 40 year old rubber. Cheap and easy fix, but I was lucky I caught it in my driveway before getting stranded. Good luck with it! If it's too overwhelming, I'm sure someone out there will be happy to take it off your hands and fix her up
@@HighMileageReviews I go back and forth on the topic. One day I just want to stick a for sale sign on it and be done with it, the next day I get all sentimental and think I want to fix it up and drive it. It’s already got a lot of issues. I tell myself I can’t make it much worse. What better way to learn? Brought the Chilton manual inside and keep telling myself I should start reading it.
@@tailsof1leo180 I admit it can be a bit daunting at first. But you're right, it would be a great way to learn. As far as cars go, it's about as simple as they come. I'd suggest researching the problems it has on the planet isuzoo forum. Lots of great discussion and experts on there always willing to help and put things into simpler terms than an old book can.
Trying to figure out how to check and fill transmission and transfer case on a 89 2.6 stick shift, looks like there is a drain plug on driver side rear and looks like a plug mid way up passenger side that could be check / fill spot. Also I think another drain type plug in passenger rear. Any tips truck appreciated also what toe of fluid is best. Also brake fluid for the clutch in engine bay front corner ? Should I pull that old fluid and put new or would it maybe cause problems in a good working clutch Plan j g in new t coolant temp sensor , new valve cover gasket kit to stop leakage and distributor or ing ti stop leakage as well. Fun little rig !
The seats I pulled are still sitting in my garage lol sometimes I sit on them when I take a break from working on my car. I really ought to sell them one of these days though. I did not replace the weatherstripping. Can't find that stuff anywhere
Rode in one of these with a girl I met. Now I'm obsessed. With the Trooper, not her. I'm trying to decide if I should buy one in working condition or 4 in less than working condition.
I'd say get the best one you can afford. Parts are hard to come by. Even full troopers are hard to come by haha I'd be impressed if you could find 4 for sale near you. Took me over a year before I found a parts truck trooper within a few hours of me that had a decent interior for me to use.
Thanks! I haven't done anything to the suspension. I believe it is stock, though I'm not certain. The wheels and tires are the same exact setup you'd find on a 1967 mini cooper 🙃
I bought a brand new 2 door RS in 1989. Red/black. Loved that truck until it was stolen. At the time Lojack. which I had installed at the dealer, was new and as I was driving it out of the salvage yard a week later, that's when the police showed up to find the car!! Yeah.
Man I feel so much respect for the hellish nightmare that was getting your truck to work properly. My 1976 Sachsenring Trabant 601 is a *way* simpler vehicle, so I only have a taste of how it must have felt.
Ha! Good question...I've been trying to figure that out myself. Something one of the previous owners fabbed up. Funny enough, the back left corner sits higher than the rest of the truck.
Head gaskets tend to go at some point, but from what I've heard, they don't go catastrophically. It's more of a gradual failure. And the 5 speeds are supposedly pretty bullet proof. Overall they're quite reliable. I think 234,000 miles is proof of that.
I still have my 90 trooper. I've had many 4x4 vehicles over the years, and I still consider my trooper the best 4x4 out of them all, hands down! Finding parts are almost impossible. Cant even find them in junk yards. Do you know what price running troopers go for those days? I do have some rust on mine, but my grey interior is in awesome shape. I just put a new clutch in mine. My trooper is a 2.8 litter v6, and has a 5 speed manual transmission.
Prices vary largely depending on condition. A solid running example with a good body and interior is probably between 3-5k. I've seen pristine examples go for over 10k on bring a trailer though!
@@TheGarageEngineer that's definitely a valid concern. So far, the hardest parts to find are obviously anything interior related. Trim, seats, electronics etc. Then there's the windshield. You can see a big crack in mine, but it's almost impossible to find one from a parts truck that isn't also broken. You can get most basic engine stuff new still, but there's some oddball parts that are rare or you can only get secondhand or refurbished. Idle air control valve, injectors, MAF, various emissions components are some that come to mind
@@HighMileageReviews thank you for the great reply. That helps. My plan is more usability day to day. So making my own interior is ok with me. I live in the area with no emissions testing so as long as those engine parts don’t effect performance, my job repairing would be a little easier. Keep up the good work with the videos. Can’t wait to see more.
I noticed today a couple things... today was my first day driving! At initial idle, it's rough, like 500 rpm needs the gas occasionally feathered so it doesn't die rough.. gonna try pb blaster down the IAC hose and clean the MAF sensor as those are the 2 easiest things to attempt lol. Second... clutch feels squishy and has a real soft engagement. Idk. I don't think it's normal. Compared to my 02 wrangler, it feels terrible. Gonna check fluids tomorrow. Maybe bleed the system. Are you on the forums? What was your best resource when trouble shooting your trooper? I wanna get this thing running good and drive it until the wheels falls off haha such a neat old suv. I LOVE IT
@@geoffnelson64 I am on the forums. That's a great resource. Definitely my go-to for trouble shooting. I also have the Haynes manual which is pretty insightful. You seem to be on the right track regarding the idle. I have a video of how to replace the IAC if you end up going that route. I'd also check your valve clearances and timing. getting those in spec helped my idle greatly. And my clutch is light as a feather, so you'll definitely want to get your sorted. Definitely something off about it if it's mushy. Best of luck!
@@HighMileageReviews when you say light as a feather you mean it takes zero effort to engage/disengage? That's exactly how mine is.. it doesn't slip. It's just very very soft. Something I'm not use to. Thanks for replying, whenever you get a chance. I appreciate being able to pick your brain
@@geoffnelson64 correct. It takes very little force to press the pedal, but the pedal travel is very smooth. Like at no point throughout the pedal travel does it get heavier or increases resistance. Whether or not that's completely normal, I can't say for sure, but I've driven one other trooper and the clutch felt very similar.
I've wondered that myself. Something the previous owner did. It looks homemade. Someday I'll cut it shorter because it just looks odd the way it is and doesn't seem to have any function being that long
I just replaced the oil pressure sending unit. Really cheap little part. You can even find it on rockauto. From my research, people say that it's uncommon for those gauges to actually break, so replacing them should be a last resort. It's usually whatever is sending the signal to the gauges that's broken. Good luck!
@@HighMileageReviews Shucks, ya replaced that, still no go. It's the diesel engine though, maybe I have the wrong sender as testing on my shop gauge reads fine.
There are people on the planet Isuzu forum who can get more obscure stuff. Otherwise you gotta find a junked parts truck or sometimes eBay. RockAuto has many common items though
I've got a '91 with the 4 cyl, which I had rebuilt at 230k, about to have the transmission redone which should give me a bunch more miles of life. I like the bumpers on your rig. Any idea who did them or where they came from?
@@HighMileageReviews as is everything on these rigs... love mine! Bought it as my weekend surf rig and now use it as my daily driver as well and get compliments on it and the old "I used to have one of those..." everyday. Good luck and have fun
@@HighMileageReviews Haha because last December I bought a 1990 4 door trooper with the v6 out of Glendale. It needed some hard to find parts. I found his ad on Craigslist and drove out there from Tempe. Which was quite the drive, my trooper had a slipping clutch and a misfire above 55 mph😂 Anyway I remember he had 2 or 3 troopers he was parting out behind that mobile home park!
@@pointerstep small world! That's definitely the same guy. I spent about a half day out there gutting the interior out of one and pulling spare parts off of the others haha I left with a box full of rare replacement parts plus the interior. Really nice guy!
I had a trooper think it was an 88'...and the 4wheel drive worked when i needed it...later i got a 91' blazer..and got stuck in like 3/4 inch of sand with 1 wheel spinning in 4 wheel drive🤷
@@HighMileageReviews i towed a pop-up camper, carried my wife, son and entire cargo area w/ camping gear and it never felt sluggish driving in the Pennsylvania mountains😊
Would you buy one of these over the equivalent Toyota of the era?
Yes. Any day.
I now own a 97 bighorn/trooper
Way cooler way more rare, just harder to get parts..
@@jimloucks2853 That was my concern, too.
The Isuzu was cheaper than the Toyota, and in my opinion better looking
Trooper's truly are amazing creatures
Majestic and endangered beasts, they are
Old video, I know, but I love it. Bought a trooper today, near rust free with an immaculate interior. Blown head gasket. $300.00 CDN! Can't believe it. Can't wait to find that early grille!!!
Sounds like an excellent candidate for the 1UZ V8 swap!
Definitely worth fixing it up. These cars are great fun and super capable and well designed for camping and 4WDing.
I like your review a lot! I want to pull mine out and make a video series on it. It’s a 1989 with 330,000 miles on it, but the engine has been swapped twice!
That would be great! More trooper content the marrier!
What engine is it and how much you paid for it sir? Did you had to rebuild it?
My trooper has an Isuzu 2.6 with a 5 speed. I don’t know if the engine was rebuilt prior to being installed, but my guess is it was a good running engine that didn’t need a rebuild. That all happened prior to my ownership.
As the owner of a 1993 Trooper, and no mechanical skills, I admire what you have done. Hard to find repair shops to work on it and parts are very difficult if not impossible (need new brake booster. Bought two aftermarket ones and neither worked and one was faulty out of the box.) The salvage yards here do not even have a Trooper in stock. Barely passed smog, but since its life has been in the southwest, like you said...little to no rust. I just can't get rid of the thing. Thanks for the video.
It's definitely a learning experience when you're forced to do it all yourself. Simple enough cars to learn on though, but yes, parts can be hard to come by
Good video. Got 265,999. On my 2002. Love it! New motor being installed on choice. It wouldn’t die 🙌🏽
Beautifully made video. The passion for this car is oozing out of this video
Awesome video, thank you so much for making this video, and also for keeping this nice vehicle alive!
When I was a little kid, I grew up with a Trooper. It was my mums family, equipment and horse trailer hauler!
I miss it a lot, and my dream is to one day buy one, restore it and paint it the way hers looked and give it to her. She misses her Isuzu too.
I have Isuzu Trooper 1989 too,I love it
Excellent. Don't ever let go!
@@HighMileageReviews yeah will not
Man you'll be one heck of a Salesdude!!!! Amazing content creation and great review.
I'd rather bite my index finger off than be a salesman, but thank you!
I've got two Troopers '89 and a '90 (called a Holden Jackaroo in Australia) the '90 has 501,000 km's .The '89 has 218,000 km's. I love them.
Mighty impressive! On a side note, I can't believe my tiny channel has reached the other side of the world!
That intro was awesome!
I tried to get Clint Eastwood, but he wasn't available
Just bought my first trooper. Love this video, and it gives me some insight as to what I’m up against. Mine is a 1989 Trooper RS.
Awesome! The RS is quite rare. Keep it nice and you'll have something of value one day!
This is a great video, there’s something about old suvs that I can’t get over. The trooper is on of the top on my list right now
Thanks! If you want something different and capable, I highly recommend!
Because they were built to be practical and kept the old box designs from the 70's without being tacky or having their size get in their way.
That's why modern SUVs look so bad, the rounding kills the leading lines and they look too inorganic
@@victorkreig6089 Yes, everything post 80's looks terrible.
This was so nicely done! As well as the restoration of course. Really nice video
Thank you, glad you enjoyed!
I bought an ‘86 new. There were two models, the base, and the LS. I bought a silver base model. The only option was the outside color. That’s how they could make them so affordable. They all had beige interior, and that year, they all had a carb 4 cyl. In ‘86 this was about the only vehicle that still didn’t have a computer. Everything was mechanical and as long as you had a timing light and tools, you could do anything to it. I was stationed in Colo Spgs and that was a great vehicle to have there. That little 4 cyl had a bunch of torque but it couldn’t get out of it’s own way. Going up some of the passes on the interstate, it wouldn’t go over 35 mph. I still loved that thing and wish I still had it.
Yes, high speed hills are the Trooper's arch nemesis and their simplicity was certainly admirable.
I just bought and got going an 1986 trooper (called Jackaroo here in Australia) and I love it. Used to slow vehicles after driving a toyota1978 BJ40 for years, and later a 1986 model toyota. I had been eyeing off the troopers for a while, but the 1986 one is the best, looks good with the round headlights - carby, no fancy electronics or injection systems, you can still get some parts here in Australia (eg: I needed a new master cylinder). A great car to drive and seems competent for most 4WDing.
My first 4x4 was a 1990 Holden Jackaroo / Isuzu Trooper, now have a 1988 Pajero both turbo diesel 5 speeds manual gearbox…I miss the barn rear doors of the jacky but she died a noble death, Pajero is a 7seater so can take my half a footy team with me now. All thought I’ve transition to more trusty old gal 4x4 1991 Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ78 TROOPY with a legendary powerhouse 1HDFTE turbocharger diesel straight 6 & gearbox 5-speed manual. Good luck mate.
I strongly considered the Mitsubishi Montero (Pajero) when looking for a Trooper. I still love those too, and 7 seats is a big plus. But they already fetched a higher price than Troopers around here, and a land cruiser was certainly out of budget. They're all wonderful though!
They're called Isuzu bighorn in New Zealand and they got the 4jb1t 2.8 turbo diesel.
A real shame that we never got the turbo diesel in the states. What a great little engine
Nice video and interesting, I love in Puerto Rico and I bought a Trooper 1989 RS (short) in 1996, 26 years ago and still have it, Now it have 350,000 Miles. It requires repair engine on 344,000 miles. The best of the best Trooper
I live in Puerto Rico...
Incredible! Huge respect for owning it so long!
Love my 87 with 2.8l diesel 4jb1t engine
Always wish the US got the diesel!
Id love to see future videos on the trooper when other things break, and even ones on any modifications you do
I plan to do that! I've got three other videos of the Trooper on my channel already. Check them out if you haven't!
Ed in California recently broke 500,000 miles / 800,000km in California, My Cali 4dr model is at 550,000km. Great vdieo, Troop on!
Holy moly, that's awesome! What an accomplishment
@@HighMileageReviews Right, I forgot to say Ed has a 1990 GM 2.8L, mine is a 1991 2.6L 4ZE1. Restoration at .5 mil could take a care for 1st Gen Trooper past 1, million miles. I think. providing parts are there.
Thanks for great memories! My white 91 Trooper is in long term storage, has about half the mileage
of yours. Old trucks cool because of easy DIY repairs, no ODB2 codes, iron engine block, metal radiator.
Beware 2.6 is interference engine, but timing belt not hard to change. Thanks for tips on valve clearance
adjustment and emission controls struggle. Mine burning some oil, so I think at 30 years old it needs valve
seals as most senior engines do. If your have gas tank fuel pump issue, you might consider cutting hole in
rear cargo floor to access it, instead of having to remove skid plate and dropping the tank. Just make or get
a floor hole cover, some You Tuber did that on his Trooper. There are no locking differential options for
the Japanese rear axle but there are some Australia options for the part time front axle. Just don't go off road
crazy and crash !
Glad I could bring back some good memories for you! And no plans for any hardcore off-roading in this lol
Great video, been looking at these early Troopers for a cheaper off road vehicle that I can camp from. Seems like the 4 cylinder/ 5 speed combo is the way to go. Nice job getting yours reliable.
Thanks! They're quite a capable rig if you're willing to sacrifice just a bit of luxury, and don't mind going very slow!
I had a 91 Trooper and a 96 Rodeo, and hands down the Trooper was the better in the snow. I put close to 300,000 miles on both of them. Both were great trucks for me.
The commentary is incredible
You're incredible!
When I was looking at buying a project 4x4 I tried hard to find a first gen Trooper but I couldn't find one. I ended up getting a rust bucket of a 2nd gen Montero. I'd still love to get a Trooper but I'll have to wait.
Your video editing on this alone should net you 100k views man wtf
Great work
I appreciate that. Thank you! I'd love it to get that many views. Here's hoping
Great vid... just watched from the PI post. Sent PM. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Really really great video. From another 1989, White Trooper owner to another ;)
Thanks, Johan! Gotta keep these antiques alive!
Good job on the video! I have a red 91 v6 5spd. Also I’m in north Phoenix. Trying to get mine through the dreaded emissions process right now. Let me know if you want to have a trooper outing sometime! :)
Thanks! Would be awesome to have a Phoenix trooper get together sometime!
What a beautiful rig!
Thanks, Ryan!
1:24 beautiful trooper, do you know where I can find spear parts for a project car I have, the Isuzu trooper 960 1997?
Forums
I just bought a '90 Trooper in white with the 2.8 liter. Absolutely love your videos on it. I have the same rear main seal and suspect my idle air controller is a problem too since it is having trouble idling when cold. Are you going to release any more videos on the vehicle soon? Thanks and keep it up!
Fortunately for me and unfortunately for the channel, I've fixed all the pressing issues with my trooper for the time being, so I don't have any videos to make with it at the moment. But as soon as something goes wrong with it that will make a good video, it'll be uploaded here, so watch this space!
Great video ! Steven Lang sent me. You two are kindred spirits.
I'm not sure I know who Steven Lang is, but if he sent you here, he must be pretty cool! Thanks!
I've got 176,000 on my 1990 Trooper II 4-cyl, but have to clean out the old gas and replace a bunch of hoses that have degraded as I havent driven it for years. Wish me luck.
Good luck, my friend
I used to own a 97 second gen I regret getting rid of it these things are a relic
lol at "Souper Trooper". Awesome video!! Would love to get it together with my Jeep Cherokee for a playdate :)
That needs to happen! Bring it to AZ when it's ready 😘
Love your content, I have a 89 Isuzu trooper no start I removed the starter took it to Napa they said it’s working perfect when I turn the ignition I hear a relay clicking and that’s it. I thought pick your brain for a little bit I live in Flagstaff Arizona it was nice to hear that you live in Arizona as well.
Interesting. I haven't had that issue, but if your trooper is anything like mine, then I'd check out any loose/corroded grounds or wire connections. Stuff like that can cause any number of odd issues
@@HighMileageReviews Do you know how to start the trooper from the starter relay?
@@neftalisoto4757 unfortunately I do not
Hey awesome review!!! I rock an 89 2.6 also and I love it.
Thanks! Keepin troopers alive!
My dad has 1989 RS Trooper with 530k original everything still albeit barely running. Used it for his business everyday for 30+ years. At 400k I pulled a full size Tacoma 2wd up a snowy hill bouncing off the rev limiter!
That's amazing! They're a lot more capable than people expect
I love my 88 we call it the stormin trooper! Lol running stock suspension and welded the front and rear gears. With the manual hubs it works great👍
Sounds like a stout little set-up you got there. Nice!
@@HighMileageReviews next time im in south phoenix i will have to hit you up to run some trails 👣 my first run in her was to pumpkin eater in Stoddard wells ca. Its in a dirt nation video. Stay safe and happy trails 👣
The Trooper was my family's car growing up. I learned how to drive manual on it. My neighbor had one too. Its still sitting in his driveway, I don't think it works.
Well you ought to go over to your neighbor and give that trooper a good home. Fix it up and get it back on the road
I ended up getting a 1990 trooper down here in Benson AZ and would like to meet up and see your beast one day.
Unfortunately I no longer have it! It's still owned locally though
The round headlights look way more better than the square.
I agree! I'm really glad I happened upon one that already was swapped
I had a 3-door ''88 Trooper II.. 4x4, stick, it was unstoppable and I loved it! Unfortunately the engine gave way before I was able to fix it up properly, it was dead at 113k.
So you're saying it wasn't unstoppable 😉
@@HighMileageReviewsI should have clarified - unstoppable in the snow 😶
Inherited my friend’s Trooper when he passed away last year. Sent it to a mechanic to fix a gas line leak and to fix the stick shift so it worked properly. $2600 later and it’s still not fixed. They wanted another $1400 to MAYBE get it running right. So no way, had it towed to my home and here it sits. Would love to get it up and running but have zero experience in fixing anything. It did come with a chiltons Isuzu repair book. I am so overwhelmed at the sheer scope of things to learn, which would be basically everything.
Yes unfortunately owning a vehicle like this will likely require some mechanical knowledge and confidence to repair things yourself if you don't want to be at the mercy of a shop frequently. I know my way around a car pretty well and it still took me a year to learn the ins and outs of this thing so I could get it running right. But even now, since it's so old, random things will pop up out of the blue. Funny you mention the fuel lines, because mine just sprung a leak and had to replace them. They looked original, so i wasn't surprised. Nearly 40 year old rubber. Cheap and easy fix, but I was lucky I caught it in my driveway before getting stranded. Good luck with it! If it's too overwhelming, I'm sure someone out there will be happy to take it off your hands and fix her up
@@HighMileageReviews I go back and forth on the topic. One day I just want to stick a for sale sign on it and be done with it, the next day I get all sentimental and think I want to fix it up and drive it. It’s already got a lot of issues. I tell myself I can’t make it much worse. What better way to learn? Brought the Chilton manual inside and keep telling myself I should start reading it.
@@tailsof1leo180 I admit it can be a bit daunting at first. But you're right, it would be a great way to learn. As far as cars go, it's about as simple as they come. I'd suggest researching the problems it has on the planet isuzoo forum. Lots of great discussion and experts on there always willing to help and put things into simpler terms than an old book can.
Trying to figure out how to check and fill transmission and transfer case on a 89 2.6 stick shift, looks like there is a drain plug on driver side rear and looks like a plug mid way up passenger side that could be check / fill spot. Also I think another drain type plug in passenger rear. Any tips truck appreciated also what toe of fluid is best. Also brake fluid for the clutch in engine bay front corner ? Should I pull that old fluid and put new or would it maybe cause problems in a good working clutch Plan j g in new t coolant temp sensor , new valve cover gasket kit to stop leakage and distributor or ing ti stop leakage as well. Fun little rig !
I no longer own the truck, but the planet Isuzu forum or trooper Mafia Facebook page are valuable resources for such information!
Nice Troop. What did you do with seats you pulled? And, did you replace the vent window weatherstripping?
The seats I pulled are still sitting in my garage lol sometimes I sit on them when I take a break from working on my car. I really ought to sell them one of these days though. I did not replace the weatherstripping. Can't find that stuff anywhere
Rode in one of these with a girl I met. Now I'm obsessed. With the Trooper, not her. I'm trying to decide if I should buy one in working condition or 4 in less than working condition.
I'd say get the best one you can afford. Parts are hard to come by. Even full troopers are hard to come by haha I'd be impressed if you could find 4 for sale near you. Took me over a year before I found a parts truck trooper within a few hours of me that had a decent interior for me to use.
Hey great video! I also have a white trooper and live in AZ, I think I’ve seen you drinking around if you still have it
I don't have it anymore, but it's still in the east valley!
Do you think a 12v cummins could be swapped in this model?
I've never heard of anyone doing it, but anything is possible! A nice strong diesel would be an awesome swap for these
love your video! can you make one on your suspension and wheel/tire set up?
Thanks! I haven't done anything to the suspension. I believe it is stock, though I'm not certain. The wheels and tires are the same exact setup you'd find on a 1967 mini cooper 🙃
I bought a brand new 2 door RS in 1989. Red/black. Loved that truck until it was stolen. At the time Lojack. which I had installed at the dealer, was new and as I was driving it out of the salvage yard a week later, that's when the police showed up to find the car!! Yeah.
Good ol' 80s tech haha
Man I feel so much respect for the hellish nightmare that was getting your truck to work properly. My 1976 Sachsenring Trabant 601 is a *way* simpler vehicle, so I only have a taste of how it must have felt.
Yeah early electronic fuel injection cars like the trooper are quite finicky! Lots of vacuum lines everywhere...
What’s going on with the leaf spring shackle? Or do I even wanna know
Ha! Good question...I've been trying to figure that out myself. Something one of the previous owners fabbed up. Funny enough, the back left corner sits higher than the rest of the truck.
question. how reliable are the engines/transmissions? im looking at buying one but a little bit leery
Head gaskets tend to go at some point, but from what I've heard, they don't go catastrophically. It's more of a gradual failure. And the 5 speeds are supposedly pretty bullet proof. Overall they're quite reliable. I think 234,000 miles is proof of that.
I still have my 90 trooper. I've had many 4x4 vehicles over the years, and I still consider my trooper the best 4x4 out of them all, hands down! Finding parts are almost impossible. Cant even find them in junk yards. Do you know what price running troopers go for those days? I do have some rust on mine, but my grey interior is in awesome shape. I just put a new clutch in mine. My trooper is a 2.8 litter v6, and has a 5 speed manual transmission.
Prices vary largely depending on condition. A solid running example with a good body and interior is probably between 3-5k. I've seen pristine examples go for over 10k on bring a trailer though!
I’m thinking of getting one. But my concern is getting parts. What are they hardee parts to find? @highmilagereviews
@@TheGarageEngineer that's definitely a valid concern. So far, the hardest parts to find are obviously anything interior related. Trim, seats, electronics etc. Then there's the windshield. You can see a big crack in mine, but it's almost impossible to find one from a parts truck that isn't also broken. You can get most basic engine stuff new still, but there's some oddball parts that are rare or you can only get secondhand or refurbished. Idle air control valve, injectors, MAF, various emissions components are some that come to mind
@@HighMileageReviews thank you for the great reply. That helps. My plan is more usability day to day. So making my own interior is ok with me. I live in the area with no emissions testing so as long as those engine parts don’t effect performance, my job repairing would be a little easier. Keep up the good work with the videos. Can’t wait to see more.
Just picked up an 89 4 door! 5 speed 4cyl, it's got a laundry list of new parts! Rust free. Got it for 3,650! Did I do good!? I think so
Sounds like you've got yourself a fine vehicle. Get it sorted and it'll be a fun time!
I noticed today a couple things... today was my first day driving! At initial idle, it's rough, like 500 rpm needs the gas occasionally feathered so it doesn't die rough.. gonna try pb blaster down the IAC hose and clean the MAF sensor as those are the 2 easiest things to attempt lol. Second... clutch feels squishy and has a real soft engagement. Idk. I don't think it's normal. Compared to my 02 wrangler, it feels terrible. Gonna check fluids tomorrow. Maybe bleed the system. Are you on the forums? What was your best resource when trouble shooting your trooper? I wanna get this thing running good and drive it until the wheels falls off haha such a neat old suv. I LOVE IT
@@geoffnelson64 I am on the forums. That's a great resource. Definitely my go-to for trouble shooting. I also have the Haynes manual which is pretty insightful. You seem to be on the right track regarding the idle. I have a video of how to replace the IAC if you end up going that route. I'd also check your valve clearances and timing. getting those in spec helped my idle greatly. And my clutch is light as a feather, so you'll definitely want to get your sorted. Definitely something off about it if it's mushy. Best of luck!
@@HighMileageReviews when you say light as a feather you mean it takes zero effort to engage/disengage? That's exactly how mine is.. it doesn't slip. It's just very very soft. Something I'm not use to. Thanks for replying, whenever you get a chance. I appreciate being able to pick your brain
@@geoffnelson64 correct. It takes very little force to press the pedal, but the pedal travel is very smooth. Like at no point throughout the pedal travel does it get heavier or increases resistance. Whether or not that's completely normal, I can't say for sure, but I've driven one other trooper and the clutch felt very similar.
Ok cool but whats the wheel and tire set up???
I have this trooper ||. Is it possible to make it auto gear ?
It did come with an automatic transmission, so yes it should be an easy conversion
Why is the left rear leaf spring shackle longer?
I've wondered that myself. Something the previous owner did. It looks homemade. Someday I'll cut it shorter because it just looks odd the way it is and doesn't seem to have any function being that long
Hi, nice video! Would you be able to tell me how you fixed the oil pressure gauge? or did you just replace it?
I just replaced the oil pressure sending unit. Really cheap little part. You can even find it on rockauto. From my research, people say that it's uncommon for those gauges to actually break, so replacing them should be a last resort. It's usually whatever is sending the signal to the gauges that's broken. Good luck!
@@HighMileageReviews Shucks, ya replaced that, still no go. It's the diesel engine though, maybe I have the wrong sender as testing on my shop gauge reads fine.
My baby ❤❤
😍
Do you have a good parts source for these ?
There are people on the planet Isuzu forum who can get more obscure stuff. Otherwise you gotta find a junked parts truck or sometimes eBay. RockAuto has many common items though
I've got a '91 with the 4 cyl, which I had rebuilt at 230k, about to have the transmission redone which should give me a bunch more miles of life. I like the bumpers on your rig. Any idea who did them or where they came from?
I was told they were made by one of the previous owners, so they are custom
@@HighMileageReviews as is everything on these rigs... love mine! Bought it as my weekend surf rig and now use it as my daily driver as well and get compliments on it and the old "I used to have one of those..." everyday. Good luck and have fun
@@tracydoane4261 do you have a pic or two?
Did you get your interior from an older gentleman out in Brenda, AZ by any chance?
Are you some kind of wizard? Yes I did. How did you know that
@@HighMileageReviews Haha because last December I bought a 1990 4 door trooper with the v6 out of Glendale. It needed some hard to find parts.
I found his ad on Craigslist and drove out there from Tempe. Which was quite the drive, my trooper had a slipping clutch and a misfire above 55 mph😂
Anyway I remember he had 2 or 3 troopers he was parting out behind that mobile home park!
@@pointerstep small world! That's definitely the same guy. I spent about a half day out there gutting the interior out of one and pulling spare parts off of the others haha I left with a box full of rare replacement parts plus the interior. Really nice guy!
Hello, I need your help. I have an Isuzu Amingo with a 4ze1 engine, and my problem is a maze in the air hoses. I need your help 💔
Insta
Can you fold down the back seat for more trunk space?
Yep! Actually the rear seats fold forward up against the back of the front seats so lots of room.
@@HighMileageReviews thank you!
I had a trooper think it was an 88'...and the 4wheel drive worked when i needed it...later i got a 91' blazer..and got stuck in like 3/4 inch of sand with 1 wheel spinning in 4 wheel drive🤷
Should've stayed with the Trooper!
Tire dimensions?
Believe it or not, they're the same exact tires that came standard on a 1994 Honda Civic
How about c223turbo
We never got the diesels in the states
What wheels and tires are you running bro? Looks beefy.
They're Michelin pilot sports on 28" Forgiatos
You went after 33 year olds hard in this video 😂
That's ok, I'm friends with 33 year olds. They said it was cool
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
🤟
Hopefully your elbows aren't permanently damaged from the extra grease production this project demanded from them.
No, not permanently damaged, but certainly devoid of most of their grease reserves haha
I miss ny amigo 😭
Get another, they're cheap!
Oooo Southwest Ronald Finger
What
LOL. He is a youtuber. You both have the same speaking style(which is a compliment!). Look up FingerPrints Workshop.@@HighMileageReviews
@@Kbrusky15 haha wow, I've never heard of him before, but we really do have similar styles! Maybe some day he and I will collab lol
What’s the tire size? 😂
The same tires you'd find on a hot wheels car
Hey what's the tire set up??????? YOU NEVER SAID!!😄
They're actually the same exact wheels and tires that come on the Lamborghini Aventador
I have a ‘90, same color. Wouldnt sell it for the world
Awesome! They really are fun little trucks
They don’t need recognition, keep them cheap so I’ll be able to afford one
Ok get one cheap, and then spread the word 😉
Isuzu rodeó 1998 mill 231250
Excellent!
Cant stand the square headlights! 100% necessary swap
Agreed!
First
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Joe Isuzu was right.
Of course he was. He never lied
95 LS 3.2 anyone?
I've reviewed a 2001 Trooper with the v6 if you haven't seen
I fucking hate GM. They ruin everything they touch.
Goodness I miss my Trooper, simple, clean, reliable. I always had enough power w/ 4cyl. manual 4Wd
If by "enough" power, you mean, enough to simply move itself from one place to another, then yeah haha it had enough. But damn was it slow
@@HighMileageReviews i towed a pop-up camper, carried my wife, son and entire cargo area w/ camping gear and it never felt sluggish driving in the Pennsylvania mountains😊