Isuzu Trek Owners Infoletter #15
November, 2004
ALERT! Trek owners check
your bed track bolts.
:Note: See one bedbolt
fix and pictures at bottom of page.
Stan Denoo (denoo1 at
denver.oilfield.slb.com) alerts us:
I found that on our 92 trek that 2 of the four bolts that
hold the bed track to the wall had broken for whatever reason. I am going to
buy all new bolts and replace all 16 of them. Rather than try to get the broken
bolts out of the wall, I am going to move the rack down about two teeth,
supporting the bed on that corner with a hydraulic jack and make new holes.
The front track on the passenger side had both bottom bolts broken off at the
wall. The bolts were held in place by the metal shim used as a spacer.
This is a very dangerous situation and we will not drive
our rig again until all the bolts are replaced. This situation was found during
routine checks. Nothing appeared wrong until I popped off the caps and tried to
tighten the screws.
Please notify all owners to get this checked.
Power Steering
Again, from Ken Harmon (kencathyha
at aol.com) , a good write-up of some excellent mechanical detective
work about the Trek’s power steering system:
Starting somewhere around 60,000 miles I noticed the fluid
in the power steering reservoir was becoming very dark. I changed the fluid and
started to check the color of the fluid more frequently. While traveling in the
Northwest we stopped at a maintenance facility in Portland, OR, for an oil
change.
While there I asked if the chassis had any outstanding service bulletins and I
mentioned the dark power steering fluid. I was told there was a service bulletin
on the power steering pump that required the replacement of the main shaft in
the pump along with a new seal and some other parts. I gave them the go-ahead to
do this work while the vehicle was in the shop. As I recall the parts and labor
cost was around four hundred dollars and it included a new pump shaft.
Thirteen months after having the "bulletin" work done (and one month out of
repair warranty) the power steering reservoir overflowed during start-up. While
cleaning up the overflow I noticed the power steering fluid was again very dark.
I called the Oregon service facility and asked if there were any new bulletins
or information on this problem. Their reply was there was no new information and
they said they had found the new shafts were the same as the old shafts prior to
the bulletin. They also said that minor engine oil contamination in the power
steering fluid should not be a problem. I think they told me minor was something
like 10% to 25% engine oil in the power steering fluid. To test your fluid, dip
your finger in the reservoir and put a drip or two on a white rag. If it has
some red color it should be okay; if it is very black you may have engine oil
in your fluid. I increased my monitoring of the system and the frequency of the
power steering fluid changes. The system uses Dextrol transmission fluid.
When the contamination became very pronounced after a long trip, I contacted
my local Isuzu dealer to see if there was anything new in the way of service
bulletins on the pump. I was informed there were no service bulletins on the
pump and to their knowledge there never had been. They also told me the pump
could be replaced for about the same cost as having it repaired. I decided to
remove and disassemble the pump to see for myself what the problem was.
After replacing all the fluid in the system as per the service manual, I removed
the pump. By removing the drive gear from the pump shaft you can remove the snap
ring below it and then pull the shaft and thrust bearing out of the pump. Using
a slide hammer type device the pump seal can be removed without further
disassembly of the pump.
With the pump disassembled the first thing I noticed was that the wrong shaft
seal had been installed. The proper seal has two chevron type seals built into
it. The two lips sealing on the shaft are backed up with small wound coil
springs around the circumference of each seal to increase the pressure of the
seals on the shaft. The seal the service facility had installed in the pump had
a single lip and no coil spring plus it did not fit properly in the pump
housing. When I inspected the pump shaft it showed a wear pattern for a two lip
type of seal and not the single lip seal that was in the pump. Based on this
inspection I can only conclude that the new shaft I paid for was not installed
when the so-called "bulletin" work was done. I purchased the correct seal from
my local dealer (two lip/two spring) and installed it. At this writing the fluid
level and color have remained normal.
If I ever use this service facility again I will try to observe the shop
operations much more closely and I will insist on seeing the old parts as they
are removed from the coach.
P. S. While traveling in the Northwest this summer I stopped and talked to the
service manager at this facility and gave him a copy of this report. I did not
ask for my money back, I just wanted him to be aware of the problem and I did
not want someone else to have a problem like I had. He assured me he would
investigate the problem and write me a letter with information on what he
found. That was two months ago and I have not received a letter.
Over-bed Hatch and Fan Self-Install Adventure
John Tomich (jtomich4 at sonic.net)
shares this wonderful story:
We are also gearing up to head south, planning to take our
94 Trek 2430 to
southern Mexico from mid November until the end of April. Wanting to
make those warm, humid beach and jungle nights a little more comfortable for
sleeping, I decided to cut a hole in the recessed ceiling over the retractable
bed in the Trek and install a fancy 12 volt powered ceiling vent called a
Fantastic Fan.
A little exploration revealed that the roof is a single layer of some kind of
free floating fiberglass cloth sitting on plywood and supported by tapered
wooden ribs about seven inches apart. The ceiling looks like 1/8 veneer and is
covered with carpet. Doing a precision knuckle tap on the ceiling, I figured I
could cut out a fourteen inch square
over the pillow (driver’s side) end of the bed, losing only a section of the
middle rib. A nearby ceiling lamp could supply power and I'd just need to stick
that powered vent in the hole. I took down the nearest light fixtures and none
of the wiring seemed to be interfering, so I climbed up on the roof and drew a
careful square. Borrowed a really slick little 18 volt cordless skill saw and
after a few contemplative breaths, I pulled the trigger and let her rip. The
first two cuts went fine, but half way through the third one, there were some
pops and a chunk of chewed up white wire came my way. Eventually, I couldn't see
anything to do, but keep on cutting. Turned out I'd cut a fourteen inch section
from a major wiring harness. Six colored hot wires, six white ground wires, all
four sets of speaker wires, the bed control wires and the coaxial cable from the
back up camera were all sliced flush with the two outside ribs. It was
disheartening. I wondered how I'd feel about burning it to the ground and
trying to collect the insurance. After a while I went inside and figured out
how to fix it. Peeled back some of the ceiling carpet on both sides, cut two
small openings to work through, and spliced and routed each wire around the
new opening, using the correct color and gauge wire. Two days later, the
Fantastic Fan was blowing, the rest of it was all back together and everything
works, except for the back up camera, which didn't work anyway.
Seems like we always have at least one flat tire in Mexico, so I'm bringing a
mounted spare. I bought a 300 ft lb 1/2 inch electric impact driver (an idea I
picked up on Trek Tracks) and ordered the special 2 way socket from Snap On that
fits the lug nuts and the studs. The plan is to loosen each lug and stud with
a 3/4 drive air impact at a local shop and then use the electric impact and the
Treks inverted house current to tighten them up. I know Isuzu recommends 325 ft
lbs but I'm willing to chance it at 275 or whatever the electric wrench actually
puts out. I'll let you know how it goes.
Cruise Control
Mel (MELVYNBS at aol.com)
says,
Read the new edition of the I-Trek Infoletter. Really
appreciate your efforts. Here's a brief note for you: My cruise control works
in my 94 I Trek IF I press the button on the steering column....count
three.....then release the accelerator. If I hit a solid bump in the
road it vibrates my cruise control back to "off" and I have to re-set it!
(How I discovered the three second delay I don't know....)
Editor’s note: What you described is normal for a properly
functioning cruise control. To set, I bump the ‘set’ button 3 or 4 times
quickly, which takes care of the 5 mph slow characteristic, while keeping my
foot on the fuel pedal. When I feel the cruise control take up the slack on the
pedal I can take my foot off.
The cruise control disconnect on the brake pedal, due to
the geometry of the area at the bottom of the pedal, is activated with the
slightest movement of the brake pedal. A good bump will move the pedal enough
and that's what causes the disconnect. I have asked two different, good
mechanics if they could adjust the disconnect switch so it allowed more pedal
movement before activating....no was the answer both times, with good
explanations as to why. Sometimes, when I am alert enough to see a bump coming
up, I put my foot on the pedal to keep engine power up while I reset the cruise
control, using the ‘resume’ feature.
Propane, exhaust system, tranny cooler, K&N air filter,
heated holding tanks
Lonnie (Lonwill310
at wmconnect.com ) writes:
I have done the following myself which I think are covered
one or more places in the newsletter, but I will write any of these up if you
think there is any value:
a. Installed the Powershot 2000 propane injection.
b. Removed the stock exhaust and muffler and ran straight out - 2.5 inch
diameter from the exhaust brake. I don't know if this is legal but it doesn't
sound half bad.
c. Installed transmission cooler, filter, and transmission temp. gauge.
d. Currently installing K&N air filter and rerouting air intake to minimize
obstructions.
e. Enclosed and provided for electric heating of the holding tanks.
By the way I bought a DeLorme GPS device ($100) for my lap top and use it in the
Trek. This is the first GPS device I've had and its way too cool.
Roof Leaks - A Final Solution
Al Readdy (areaddy at escapees.com)
offers this roof solution:
A while ago I read a letter in the Family Motorcoach magazine from an individual
who needed a new roof on his Safari motorhome.(model not stated.) He went to
the factory, and was quoted $15,000 (yes, no typo) for a new roof. When he
asked about other options, they suggested a bedliner place in Eugene, OR. He
had his roof coated with bedliner for $2,500. He waited about six months to
see how it was working out before he wrote the letter. He also said the liner
added 20 lbs. to roof.
I had been thinking about using Rhino bedliner on my 1993
Trek (24') roof but there was no dealer where I live with whom to talk. So this
year on our trek to the Northwest, I talked with a Rhino liner dealer by the
name of Greg Miles (800-889-8752) near Portland, OR. I had them do my Trek roof
at a cost of $2,000. . It looks great and, as of this writing, the roof has
been exposed to two rather rainy days with no leaks detected. (Guess where I
live!!!)
The person that wrote the letter mentioned above did not state what brand of
bedliner was used. The dealer that did mine showed me samples of Rhino liner
and other brands. The Rhino liner sample was much more flexible than the other
brands. I assume I was shown real samples from the competition. The basic cost
was $9.00/sq ft. The basic color is black. Many colors are available (usually
special order) and cost extra. In my case $500 of the $2,000 I paid was for a
sand color, the nearest to the color of my Trek that the dealer had on hand.
This is a supplement to #15 in a series of info-notes for
Isuzu Trek owners. Rather than waiting until the next Infoletter, I felt that
this was important and timely information for Trek owners that have EMB beds.
It should increase your knowledge regarding the bolts (screws, if they are
factory installed) and one easy way to solve any problem with them.
Dale DeRemer, editor
EMB bed rail bolts, a fix
Dutch (
dutch_98221 at yahoo.com) writes:
I replaced 16 of the 24 rail bolts. using 5½ inch long
carriage bolts, 1/4 inch diameter, galvanized.
It was easy to do, just drill all the way through from inside to outside using a
1/4 inch long drill bit. Then square the outside hole for the carriage bolt. I
used lock washers and I cut the excess bolt end to be even with the nut.
I replaced 4 bolts on each bed rail segment, leaving the two existing screws at
the top of each rail segment. The upper screws I left as drilling them would be
into the roof lip. Installing the 16 bolts took about one hour.
The old screws were not very beefy. I think the 1/4 inch
bolts should be fine, at least much better than the old screws. By the way, I
did not find any broken screws. All looked OK but the screws installed by the
manufacturer are only threaded into one side of the square aluminum tubing, so
they are not very sturdy.
If anyone wants to see photos of what I did, they can
contact me by email.
