Jackaroo UBS (2nd gen) inspection checklist

Look for: The ladder frame can crack around the front suspension mounting points, especially on examples worked hard off-road or used for heavy towing.

Look for: The 4-speed auto shows the usual high-km symptoms (flaring, sluggish engagement, reluctant overdrive) and can overheat when towing near the 2500kg limit in heat or hills.

Look for: Generally long-lasting bodies, but watch for rust in cars that have been off-road-abused, rolled and repaired, or submerged; check floors, doors and chassis on coastal cars.

Look for: Like most older diesels it is reliable only while the cooling system is healthy; a tired radiator or fan clutch, or hard towing, can cook the head gasket.

Look for: The mechanical injection pump and injectors wear at high km, causing hard starting, heavy smoke and lost power.

Look for: The HEUI injectors sit in sleeves sealed by O-rings; when these fail, diesel leaks into the oil and the sump level rises. This dilutes the oil that also actuates the injectors, causing rough running and, in the worst case, runaway/involuntary running. A factory recall covered early (1998-2000) injector seals.

Look for: The alloy head can crack or be porous and the head gasket can fail, mixing coolant and fuel/oil, causing coolant loss and overheating. Combined with injector issues this is the failure that gives the 4JX1 its bad name.

Look for: A glow plug tip can break off and fall into the combustion chamber, hammering the piston top and bore - cheap to prevent, catastrophic if it happens.

Look for: The 4JX1 runs a second oil pump to pressurise the HEUI injectors; a worn/loose pump, broken oil pickup or failing rail-pressure sensor causes hard starting (especially on hills), rough running and low power.

Look for: The chain-driven cams are durable, but the chain and tensioner are the main wear points with age and neglected oil changes, eventually causing rattle on start-up and timing slop.

Look for: The quad-cam 6VE1 uses a timing belt that must be replaced on schedule (and the tensioner with it); an overdue belt is a real engine-damage risk on this interference design.

Look for: Some 6VE1s consume oil heavily, occasionally from quite low mileage; the engine is sensitive to running exactly the Holden/Isuzu-specified oil grade.