Isuzu Problems

None of the vehicles you’ve listed are exactly low-maintenance units. They all have complex all-wheel-drive drivelines (which will be appreciated when towing a heavy trailer across a wet showground) and they use the latest common-rail diesel technology which is fairly intolerant of poor servicing.

As for a power tailgate on a ute, I’m afraid you’re out of luck. But some of the wagon versions of these vehicles can be optioned with powered tailgates. The catch there is that these vehicles use coil sprung rear axles (as opposed to the leaf-sprung ute versions) so they’re not as adept at towing. The Toyota Fortuner, for instance can’t match the HiLux’s 3.5-tonne limit and makes do with 2800kg; not enough for your requirements. The Ford Everest (based on the Ranger) is a little better at 3000kg, but still trails the Ranger’s 3500kg towing capacity and is right on your self-imposed minimum.

From experience, vehicles like the D-Max (and many others) are very hard on front wheel bearings. But you’re right, that’s really because the majority of them are all-wheel-drive while yours is rear-drive. So I would imagine wheel-bearing service intervals would be a lot longer than 30,000km.

The problem with four-wheel-drives is that the front wheels are being asked to do an awful lot. As well as steering the vehicle, they also have torque going to them from the engine. Also, since these vehicles tend to be used off-road, the wheels and bearings are routinely dunked in silty or even salty water. That shortens the lifespan of any components. The heavy turbo-diesel engine sitting over the front wheels also adds to wear in these cars, and could be part of the reason for such regular maintenance.

Or, it may simply be that Isuzu has made a blanket decision that all D-Maxes, regardless of driveline, have their wheel bearings repacked every 30,000km. It certainly won’t hurt to have the bearings inspected every 30,000km, but I’d be very surprised if they needed repacking every time. Some of these vehicles also use a sealed-for-life bearing and require replacement rather than repacking.

The difference would be if your vehicle was still under warranty (which, being a 2010 model, it’s not) at which point you’d need to stick with the factory service schedule to keep your warranty intact.

D-Max models before MY 17 do not have a DPF. The later Euro 5 compliant 4JJ1-TC engine does have a DPF filter.

It’s not a good idea to be towing in fifth gear into a head wind or uphill, or in other adverse conditions. If you do the gearbox will shift back to fourth, or lower if need be. I wouldn’t be too concerned about towing a larger van, providing of course it doesn’t overload the MU-X. You could upgrade the turbo with a chip or other device, but in my view you’re risking trouble by doing it.

See if you see where the belt is stuck, that might give you a clue of how to release it. The easiest way is to call in to an Isuzu dealership and have them do it for you. It should only take a moment, and I’m sure they would help you out.

There are many SUVs that would fit within your budget. I would suggest you try a Toyota Kluger, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Isuzu MU-X, Jeep Grand Cherokee.

You’re unlikely to find a 2014 or later D-Max for under $20,000. If you do it’s likely to have a lot more than 100,000 km on the clock. If you’re looking for a ute then look for the wear and tear that comes from a work vehicle. Look for worn trim inside, bumps and scrapes outside, oil leaks from the engine and gearbox. Make sure you see a full service history to confirm your chosen vehicle has been properly maintained.

I would suspect there’s a problem with the turbocharger, have a diesel mechanic check it for you.

It would only be speculation on my part of I was to try and diagnose the problem; it could be any number of things causing it. The best thing is to continue working with your Isuzu dealer until the cause of the problem is found, particularly as the car is still under warranty. If the dealer can’t find the fault get them to call in Isuzu head office technical staff that should be able to track it down.

It’s average, both in terms of price and kilometres travelled, for that model. If it’s been well serviced and is in good condition it would be worth considering.