Thread: Isuzu Wizard. The Good,Bad and Ugly

Righto....down a vehicle at the mo, looking at a cheap fill in ute til the Hilux is either repaired or replaced.

98 Isuzu Wizard. 3l turbo diesel, Manuel, 200km.

What's the bad, since we only hear what's wrong with vehicles.

What's the good, and what to look for.

Bound to be a couple on here that've got/had or know of someone that does/did have one.

Couple of cheaper Terranos floating around to......

Only 2wd though?...if that’s important to you


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Originally Posted by tiroatedson

Only 2wd though?...if that’s important to you


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Looking through the window, and on the card it tells me 4wd. There’s some Isuzu motors to avoid, but I can’t find or recall which ones.
Had a work ute about the same vintage which I took to 300 km and it never missed a beat. Can’t for the life of me remember what model motor it was though.
Ran on an oily rag as well.

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If its a 3.1 (4JG2) then its quite a sturdy old diesel. If its a 3.0 (4JX1)... run! A very bad diesel that can give endless probs. That's the trademe dollar auction model.

Bighorn and Wizard 4wds with 3.1 good steady old trucks. Just bought another one and with a bit of mod (lift, 32" muds, tune) its a good truck - on and off road.

3.0 4JX1 = don't touch it. An engine they only kept for about 2 years then biffed.

Similar story with Terranos, the 2.7 and 3.2 diesels are solid reliable engines but the 3.0 ZD30 has a hand grenade reputation.

Originally Posted by mudgripz

If its a 3.1 (4JG2) then its quite a sturdy old diesel. If its a 3.0 (4JX1)... run! A very bad diesel that can give endless probs. That's the trademe dollar auction model.

Bighorn and Wizard 4wds with 3.1 good steady old trucks. Just bought another one and with a bit of mod (lift, 32" muds, tune) its a good truck - on and off road.

3.0 4JX1 = don't touch it. An engine they only kept for about 2 years then biffed.

Cheers. Without lifting the bonnet, I think it's the grenade model.
Terranos with the 2.7td. I've heard positive about them. Rust and trans were the problems from memory?

we have had a couple of isuzus.
the mu would go anywhere but started to use more oil than diesel, we should have kept it and reconditioned the engine but theres afterthought

The Nissan Terrano 2.7 is the motor to go for. Possibly the best diesel Nissan ever made. Gutless unless turbo’d but reliable. Those Terranos and sister vehicle (mistral) are known for rust in the floor pan where two sheets of metal are laid one on top of the other in places. They also have a gearbox issue I believe, in that one of the bearings sh*ts itself. That said they are a robust vehicle.

if you are considering a terrano always look under the bum end of the rear seats, that where they rust out big time

Yep best of the Isuzus were the 87-92 2.8TDs. Did getting on for 200k in two an loved them. Modded them heavily for years of club offroading and they were very strong.

Next 3.1 model not quite as good motor but still surprising me with all round competence offroad and nice drive onroad. Very smooth old girl. Good value for the buck if you find a super tidy one.

TD27 an TD42 good engines. I had a newer Navarra STX 2.5 for work and that was another dud. Drove nicely but too highly stressed and gave all manner of probs.

All there is to honestly say about them is they are one of the biggest pieces of fukn shit ever made we fix just about anything but if you turn with one of those we wont touch it

I got a 97 Wizard 3.1. 210K. Great wee truck. Pretty standard looking at lifting it a bit and putting slightly larger tyres on it. Tows boats well all over the country.
Rebuilt front ball joints and did CV covers recently for warrant. Due a timing belt which I will do myself.

Mines an auto.

Originally Posted by gonetropo

if you are considering a terrano always look under the bum end of the rear seats, that where they rust out big time

^^^ What he said!
When I traded mine, the Nissan place said it was rusting, figured they were trying it on until they lifted the rear seat and showed me - areas of rust where the bolts (for suspension I think) go through the floor. It was a good reliable vehicle otherwise (2.7td).

Its usually around the seatbelt mounts