What causes a 2001 Isuzu Rodeo to start out fine going forward and then sputter and the RPMs to jump high but to have no problems going in reverse?

Answer 1

I had the same problem and soon discovered that I was out of Transmission Fluid. The way I discovered this of course was the stream of fluid I left right before this happened. I looked beneath the vehicle to find the entire underside covered in transmission fluid, and discored it had been leaking from the Accumulator Piston Cover on the front passenger side of the transmission housing. It is a small round black plastic circle with an indentation in the center which you can see clearly if you cut your wheels to the left and look behind the passenger side front tire at the transmission housing. I ordered a new cover from my local Isuzu service center, $23.00 and some change shipping and part, and you use a snap ring tool, inner type, to remove the old one and snap the new one in place. Then you can use 3/8 inch outer diameter tubing with a funnel held high and pour the transmission fluid into the fill hole on the bottom of the tranny pan until it runs out of the overfill hole up top. Then start the motor and let it get to idle temp, and the tranny fluid will start to circulate and you can continue filling the tranny. According to Oreilly's Auto Parts a fresh fill takes 9 quarts of Dexron III ATF.