Category Archives: Tips

03Jan/16

Licence Towing Limits

Driving, News, Tips

At the last meeting, a discussion ensued on towing a trailer/caravan on a normal car licence in Victoria.
Greg Moore has supplied the following extract from the VicRoads website:
You can drive a vehicle that does not exceed 4.5 tones Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) and can seat up to 12 adults including the driver.
This does not include motor cycles and motor trikes. You may tow a single trailer (other than a semi-trailer) up to 9 tonne GVM or to the manufacturer’s specifications (whichever is less).

The full page can be found here:
https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/licences/licence-and-permit-types/licence-categories

26Sep/11
Faults Codes

Understanding the MIL fault codes on a Jackaroo Turbo Diesel

Jackaroo Technical Tips, , , ,

The Jackaroo, as with all vehicles intended to be supplied to the USA market, (as the Isuzu Trooper) is fitted with OnBoard Diagnostics (OBD) to enable rudimentary servicing of the vehicle by non dealer mechanics. It was introduced in the USA as a mandatory requirement in 1996 to ensure that air pollution standards could be maintained. The MIL (Malfunction Indicator Lamp) or commonly labelled Check Engine light is located in the instrument cluster.

(Download the full tip here – “How to Read Your Jackaroo Fault Codes” )

14Jul/11

Dangers of using Motor Vehicle Recovery Straps (Snatch Strap)

News, Tips,

People have been killed or seriously injured when using vehicle recovery straps that have broken or when components on vehicles have ripped off and struck the person with great force

Consumers using motor vehicle recovery straps should:

  • always read and obey the product’s instructions and warnings.
  • ensure the strap’s stated breaking strength is appropriate for the gross vehicle mass (GVM), including load weight, of the individual vehicle being recovered (the minimum breaking strength of the strap should be between two and three times the vehicle’s GVM).
  • ensure the strap is suited to the GVM rating of the lighter vehicle in the recovery
  • never attach the strap to a standard tow-bar, tow-ball or standard vehicle tie-down point (they are not designed for this purpose and may result in the strap or a vehicle component detaching and striking a person).
  • only attach a strap to a suitable rated vehicle recovery point or device
  • ensure the strap is undamaged and in a usable condition
  • drape something like a heavy bag or blanket over the strap during use to reduce any unintentional rebound of the strap.
  • ensure that any people outside the vehicles stand far enough from the vehicles – at least 1.5 times the non-stretched length of the strap. They must never stand in the line of recovery.
  • do not use the strap for lifting or conventional towing

For more information visit http://www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au/motor-vehicle-recovery-straps-for-consumers.htm

There are currently three recalls for recovery straps sold in Queensland that do not meet the Queensland mandatory labelling standard for recovery straps. For more information visit:

Anaconda Group Pty Ltd – https://www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/986902

Australian Trading Services Pty Ltd (ATS) – https://www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/987018

Lion (Australia) Consolidated P/L – https://www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/972394

 
Republished from http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/989054
 

19Jun/11

Holden Jackaroo Recall Notice

Jackaroo Technical Tips, News

On June 9, 2011 Holden has issued an alert to owners of Jackaroos of a potential condition to those vehicles fitted with 3.0L diesel engines.
According to the notice, Holden has identified a potential condition which may cause an unintended increase in engine speed whilst the engine is idling.
The following engines are those identified as being affected:

  • 1998 JACUBS73GW7100010 – JACUBS73GW7103492
  • 1999 JACUBS73GX7100566 – JACUBS73GX7104876
  • 2000 JACUBS73GY7100012 – JACUBS73GY7107235
  • 2001 JACUBS73G17101509 – JACUBS73G17102996
  • 2002 JACUBS73G27100274 – JACUBS73G27107074

“Owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted by letter outlining the process for arranging a free of charge inspection and rework of the wiring harness.

If you require any further information please contact your nearest Holden Dealer or call the Holden recall and rework assistance line on 1800 632 826. This service operates 8am to 7pm EST Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm EST Saturdays except National Public Holidays.”

see http://www.recalls.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/1003878 for details.

31Dec/10

Setting up camp

Camping,
  • Set up in daylight – an obvious remark you say, but how often do we not allow ourselves the time.
  • Look over the ground for bull ants nests. There is nothing worse than finding out after you’ve set up that they are there. Be mindful if you find a nice clear spot, clear of ground vegetation (grass etc) as this is often an ants domain.
  • Beware of tree fall and dropping branches. A nice shady spot is wonderful, but the good old Aussie gum will drop branches of considerable size very easily. Better to make your own shade than wake up in an ambulance.
  • Consider where the sun is in the morning – if you’re breaking camp early you will want the site in full sun asap, to dry out the tents.

add comments to this and add to the list

10Oct/10
Recall - poor way to have done

JACKAROO TECHNICAL TIPS

Jackaroo Technical Tips,

The Holden Jackaroo has been generally found to be a reliable vehicle …. provided that it has been serviced regularly according to the factory schedule! Deferring oil and filter changes is a sure way to cause future problems.

The turbo diesel Jackaroo with the 4JX1 engine is a very sophisticated design and requires special care to maintain performance, nevertheless with care, engines have been known to go to over 300,000 km and still continue to provide satisfactory service. Unfortunately this reliable performance has had the effect of few mechanics gaining exposure to the vehicle. The larger Holden dealers should have the resources to solve any problem. That is, people with knowledge, test equipment and access to Holden service bulletins and factory support personnel (who are very experienced!). Unfortunately the Holden Dealer service charge rates are more expensive than your local mechanic but the upside is that they may be able to identify problems quicker than someone starting afresh without appropriate knowledge and experience with the Jackaroo.

Above all, we would recommend that the Factory Service schedule be followed. The service schedule is contained within the Driver’s Handbook supplied with the vehicle.

The following tips are offered to assist 1999-2003 Jackaroo owners in understanding their vehicle (and perhaps guiding local mechanics) in servicing and determining possible causes of poor performance. They are downloadable separate pdfs and you might consider putting a copy of the MIL Fault Codes (Tip 10) in the glove box. There are a number of “common” problems that might be experienced with the Turbo Diesel that can be identified reasonably quickly to allow you to get moving again.

Disclaimer: The Jackaroo Club Victoria and the document authors offer this information in good faith, however they accept no liability for any misinterpretation of the information or damage to a vehicle that might result from application of the procedures contained therein.

TOPIC – model EFFECT on…. TIP NO.
Tailgate rattles – All models Driveability, Noises 1
Steering Wander – All models Driveability 2
Handling diesel fuel – Diesel Cleanliness 3
Driving in dust and insects – All Cooling 4
Radio antenna replacement – All Entertainment, communications 5
Jackaroo Lighting Lighting, driveability 6
Fins on Diesel Intercooler – Turbo Diesel Cooling 7
Air Filters – Turbo Diesel Engine life, driveability 8
9
Understanding Check Engine Fault Codes – all Fault finding 10
11
Turbo Diesel Air Trunking – Turbo Diesel Maintenance 12
Shock Absorbers – All Driveability 13
14
Throttle Position Sensor TPS – Turbo Diesel Driveability 15
Choice of Oil – Turbo Diesel Starting, engine life 16
Oil Rail Pressure Sensor ORPS – Turbo Diesel Driveability, starting 17
Trailers and wiring – Turbo Diesel Starting, ECM failure 18
Rail Pressure Control Valve RPCV – Turbo Diesel Driveability 19
Injector harness – Turbo Diesel Driveability 20
White Smoke Exhaust – Turbo Diesel Driveability 21
Black Smoke Exhaust – Turbo Diesel Driveability 22
10Oct/10

JACKAROO TIP – #1 – Tail Gate Rattles – by Philip Johnstone

Jackaroo Technical Tips

Do your tailgates rattle on your Jackaroo?  If so, maybe it is time to check the adjustment.  The right hand gate essentially provides the only tension in holding both gates tight against the body as the left side is locked onto the right.  So simply, if the right is not tight then the left will tend to rattle.  But the clever people at Isuzu recognised this problem and fitted an anti-rattle device at the bottom of the left gate.

The anti-rattle device operates as the body flexes and the gate moves, gradually making the gate tighter.  This is achieved by a sliding spring loaded wedge rubbing on a ramp.  It is desirable that the wedge be able to move easily.  Now take a look at your gates and check the operation of the wedge.  It is still there, isn’t it?  In many cases dust and muck have effectively jammed the wedge from moving and causing the steel ramp on the frame to wear – even to the degree of creating a flat spot without ramp.  Now check the rubber seal around the door opening for wear.  This will generally suffer along the bottom edge where items are slid in over the sill.  If the seal is worn or broken in places then maybe you should consider getting a replacement – yes a new one is still listed by Holden but somewhat expensive!

Adjustment: Set up the right gate by adjusting the position of the catch on the bottom of the door frame to give a snug fit.  Then adjust the steel ramp to ensure that it provides maximum effect.  If the ramp or wedge is worn then you might consider replacement although it is possible to build up the ramp by either a spacer under it or by brazing with bronze and grinding or filing back to shape.  You can check whether the wedge is sliding in tight by smearing the ramp with petroleum jelly and driving over some rough patches and opening the gates and noting where the wedge has slid up the ramp.  If the wedge has moved into the limit of its travel then maybe you will need to fit a spacer under the ramp.  Regular cleaning and some petroleum jelly on the ramp will be effective but the down-side of the lubrication will be dust collection so some dry lube, such as graphite dust is preferred.  Keep some lube in an accessible place so that each time you open the gate you can check the ramp.

A final comment, higher tyre pressures will improve your fuel economy but may highlight any looseness and rattles in the gates.