NHTSA Complaint #721203 — 1989 ISUZU I MARK

THE FIRST ECU FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER WARRANTY AND CAUSED THE CAR TO BARELY RUN. IT WAS REPLACED BY JOHN KRAFT CHEVROLET (THEY NO LONGER SELL ISUZU'S). DURING THE PAST 3 YRS/30000 MI I HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: ERRATIC IDLE, IDLE REVVING AND DROPPING (MOST COMMON), IDLE HANGING HIGH ABOVE 2000 RPM, AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, IDLE DROPPING WITH CAR OFTEN STALLING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED FOR A STOP. THE CAR SEEMS TO PICK BUSY INTERSECTIONS TO STALL. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AC DELCO ECU USED IN THIS CAR. AC DELCO USED AN INSULATIVE SPRAY ON THE CIRCUIT BOARDS WHICH SHRINKS OVER TIME WHEN EXPOSED TO WARM AND COLD TEMPS. THE SHRINKING INSULATIVE SPRAY CONTRACTS AND PULLS THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FROM THE CIRCUIT BOARD, BREAKING SOLDER CONNECTIONS AND CAUSING SHORTS. GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS FAULT AND HAS SINCE 1996 USED A DIFFERENT SPRAY ON THEIR ECU'S. ISUZU HAS REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE ANY PROBLEM AT ALL. I FEEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THESE DEFECTIVE ECU'S SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THE DEFECTIVE PARTS REPLACED. MY CAR DYING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK TO MY FAMILY AND TO OTHERS AND GM/ISUZU SHOULD REPLACE THEIR DEFECTIVE ECU'S.