2000 ISUZU TROOPER
TORQUE ON DEMAND DELIVERS WORLD CLASS "GO FARTHER" ABILITIES
AutoWorld.com
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Autoworld.com - David Lee - As the world's
SUV specialist Isuzu has spent the last fifteen years taking the Trooper to the top of the sport utility world. The flagship
of Isuzu's SUV lineup the 2000 Trooper continues to offer world class drivetrain credentials that include a
215 horsepower aluminum V -6 engine, a new grade sensing automatic transmission and
TOD 4WD system. Get
A Quick Quote HereAt the heart of every Trooper is Isuzu's sophisticated all-aluminum DOHC 3.5-liter V6. The high performance engine was given a complete rebuild in '98, the result of over five years of research and development time and some 4000 hours of bench testing. The engine's all aluminum block features a 75-degree cylinder bank layout and provides a compact, lightweight powerplant. Providing the engine with a highly rigid bottom end are six-bolt main bearings. All four of the engines main bearings are secured with four ertical bolts as well as a pair of horizontal "cross" bolts. This 6-bolt design produces a very stable and durable bottom end that assures the bearing clearances remain consistent during hard acceleration or hard usage. In addition the engine features a unique cast aluminum crankcase and a steel oil pan design in place of a traditional one-piece oil pan. As an additional benefit, the aluminum crankcase features a series of cooling fins that assist in keeping oil temps under control without the added cost of an external oil cooler.  The engine makes an impressive 215 hp @ 5400 rpm and 230-ft.lb. torque @ 3000 rpm. The cylinder heads are state of the art design and have pent-roof type combustion chambers. The valve angle is 19ø, making the combustion chambers very compact and efficient. Squish areas are provided to allow reliable combustion at low rpm. In addition, valve lift and timing have been optimized to improve torque at low and intermediate engine speeds. Eliminating the rocker arms, rocker-arm shafts and hydraulic valve lifters diminishes noise, vibration and harshness, while simplifying the system and reducing costs. Isuzu direct valve activation system is driven off an auto-tensioned serpentine timing belt. This belt drives a center gear that meshes with a timing drive gear for each of the cams of the DOHC V6 engine. Of particular interest is the engine's sophisticated induction system. The variable air-intake system employs a butterfly valve that effectively lengthens or shortens the length of the intake track depending on the operating speed of the engine. Below 3600 rpm the valve closes. effectively lengthening the intake track. The longer track increases the volume of air, providing high torque at low and intermediate speeds. As engine speed increases over 3600 rpm, the solenoid switch turns off, shortening the port thereby increasing volumetric efficiency and providing high torque at high engine speeds. Attention has also been focused on maintaining low intake air temperatures. The air intake duct has been moved from under the hood to a position inside the left front wheel well outside the engine compartment. Phenolic plastic gaskets further isolate the intake chamber from the cylinder head, reducing intake air temperatures and contributing to the overall power increase. Consistent and powerful spark is provided by a direct ignition system. This ignition system utilizes technology borrowed from Forrnula-1 racing. The system utilizes an igniter to operate a transistor that is built into the plug-top coils of each of the cylinders. This provides improved ignition performance and eliminates the need for a conventional ignition control module and ignition wires. A major effort was also placed on reducing friction as a means to increase output and improve efficiency. For example, camshafts have been micro-polished to reduce frictional resistance. Low-tension valve springs are employed along with short skirt pistons and groove bearings for connecting rods and main bearing surfaces. The direct valve actuation system further contributes to the reduction of internal friction as well as assisting in the engines overall weight reduction. Engineers also placed a substantial effort on operating noise control. The engine's two-stage aluminum crankcase and steel oil pan also helps reduces noise and vibration. Rubber is used to isolate the cylinder head and timing belt covers, further reducing noise and vibration. Additionally, a combination two-stage reduction drive gear and a backlash-free configuration for the camshaft drive gears reduces noise while giving precise valve timing. The engine features 100,000-mile tune-up intervals due to the application of platinum-tipped spark plugs and a polyester serpentine automatic tensioning auxiliary drivebelt. Offered across the Trooper lineup is Isuzu' s superb electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. Isuzu improves the transmission for 2000 with the addition of Intelligent Grade Sensing logic. The program is designed to prevent the transmission from "hunting" back and forth between gears while climbing or descending steep grades. Another transmission highlight is the driver selectable power and winter operating modes. The power mode raises the transmission up-shift: points allowing the engine to rev slightly farther up its peak power range thus providing improved acceleration. The winter mode redirects the transmission to start in third gear reducing the torque delivered to the wheels and preventing wheelspin and loss of traction on slippery surfaces. Four-wheel drive Troopers equipped with the automatic transmission further benefit from Isuzu's exceptional Torque On Demand (TOD) 4WD system. Developed in association with Borg-Warner, TOD is a revolutionary variant of full-time four-wheel drive that maximizes cornering stability , high-speed stability and take-off performance on low friction surfaces. The system receives signals from front and rear wheel speed sensors, throttle position sensor, brake and ABS, which controls an electromagnetic multi-plate clutch located in the transfer case to deliver precise amounts of torque to the front wheels. The ECU checks these sensors every 20 milliseconds (.0020-sec.); to adjust how much torque is delivered to the front wheels. Undetectable to the driver and passengers, the TOD system provides the optimum driving force according to computations made by the electronic control unit (ECU). As a result, the TOD system allows the driver to always drive the vehicle with the best handling and traction. In addition, a floor-mounted lever allows the driver to select 4WD-Iow for extreme low traction conditions.  Manual transmission 4WD Troopers are equipped with a push button part time 4WD system. Activating 4WD-high is as simple as pressing the dashboard mounted button. This simple action causes transfer gears and axles to be connected, or disconnected into or out of 4WD-high at speed of up to 60 mph. In keeping with the true 4WD heritage of the Trooper, a floor mounted gear lever has been retained to make the change from 4WD-high to 4WD-low. Isuzu' s Concierge desk staff contact retail customers within 30-60 days of leasing or purchasing a Trooper. The Concierge staffwi1l confirm these customers are satisfied with the product, explain vehicle equipment. warranty coverage, and, if needed maintenance issues; even set appointment with their dealer if there is an issue that needs attention. The Concierge will also arrange towing to an Isuzu dealer or for alternate transportation if called for, as well as resolve basic customer vehicle concerns and coordinate assistance to customer through the Owner Relations staff. -Torque-On-Demand is a registered trademark of Borg-Warner Automotive Inc |
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