Major Service at 100K - Success!

[TheGanzman]

Well, I just picked up my beloved 2001 Proton today, after having my trusted European specialist (Ferraris & Porsches mainly) do a 100K service - Timing Belt/Water Pump/Tensioner, Drain (NOT flush!) and refill the transmission, bleed brakes, flush/refill cooling system, new spark plugs, Oil/Filter, new transmission pan gasket/filter; as well as sealing the front differential (BIG job, actually - full "in & out" of the front differential, including R&R'ing the axles) and sealing a weeping RR axle seal. $2,500 later, but it's driving like new, and dry as a popcorn fart underneath; man I LOVE that Vehicross, even though I've owned it for 5 years! I usually get tired of a vehicle about now; still as happy with this as the day I bought it! Guess I'm lucky though, in that NONE of the usual problems have bitten ME in the azz - windows work great, virtually no oil consumption, still got 40% left on the original brake pads! Not a spot of rust ANYWHERE, and the paint still looks new - garage-kept pretty much since new, and always in SoCal. Had a buddy wet-sand and polish it a few years ago - no orange peel and not the least dent anywhere! Wouldn't take $15K for it tomorrow...

[Cobrajet]

I love a good success story! Mine just rolled over 140,000 on my recent trip to Ohio, and I also have suffered none of the usual VX maladies. Most remarkable, I am STILL on my original front rotors and pads! I've had new Isuzu rotors and pads sitting in a box waiting for install since July 2009. Soon, though. No rattles, no leaks, everything works, including windows, CD player, ABS. Garage kept since day one, and every factory service done on time by the same dealer. Only rust is the front bumper bar. Need to replace that!

Congratulations. Money well spent.

[TheGanzman]

I love a good success story! Mine just rolled over 140,000 on my recent trip to Ohio, and I also have suffered none of the usual VX maladies. Most remarkable, I am STILL on my original from rotors and pads! I've had new Isuzu rotors and pads sitting in a box waiting for install since July 2009. Soon, though. No rattles, no leaks, everything works, including windows, CD player, ABS. Garage kept since day one, and every factory service done on time by the same dealer. Only rust is the front bumper bar. Need to replace that!

Congratulations. Money well spent.

It's prolly the color in BOTH our cases, Gregg...

Seriously, the reason(s) I posted this were that I think we need more "Success Stories" on this Forum! If I was an outsider lookin' in and read about this goofy vehicle and its MYRIAD problems & issues, I'd RUN FORREST RUN from considering one! Truth is, there's a PILE of them running like Swiss watches - the flip side of this is that NOTHING "thrives on neglect"! Get them serviced at the regular intervals, and sometimes - even for DIY'ers like me - it's invaluable to have "another set of eyes" look at your vehicle, even if you have to pay for same. In my case, I hadn't noticed the P/S leak (right at the pump - simple o-ring replacement), hadn't noticed the transmission pan leak (I thought it was ALL coming from the front differential), and hadn't noticed the slight "weeping" at the RR axle bearing seal. As you said - Money well spent!

[LittleBeast]

Please triple check the tranny fluid level. I had zero problems with my tranny until my fluid was changed not flushed (by an Isuzu delaership) and then only a few thousand miles later I needed a tranny rebuild. The only people I have heard of that have had tranny issues came up after a tranny fluid change. Mine was around 90k miles when I had almost the exact same things done. Evidently they did not go through all of the gears and get the fluid up to the right temp before finally topping it off. Only takes 10 more minutes but most shops will just estimate, but our tranny's need to be near dead on for fluid levels in the tranny.