Bernard's Isuzu MU Wizard Journey

So I’ve started cleaning the interior beginning with the driver’s seat. The seats have collected dust over the years and I frankly not healthy for use. The interior is very dirty and will require a lot of cleaning. Anyway, I have started with the driver’s seat and I’m working my way around. I had initially wanted to have it vacuumed but after seeing this video I decided to give it a try. The seats are not in spectacular condition, but I have gotten rid of the dust and it is much better than it was. I also had to clean the bottom slider so the seat would move freely. It had hardened dirt could hardly move. I clean it using a carb cleaner which was a mistake. It turns out carb cleaner has paint thinner and stripped some of the paint. Driver's seat is much cleaner now. This was easily fixed with a bit of sandpapering and a coat of paint. I plan to have all the seats cleaned by the end of the week. Unfortunately, I have just met another obstacle – a dead battery.

When I purchased the vehicle, I was given the keys but not the registration papers. This meant that officially I was not yet the owner. In order to go through this process, two basic documents are required: The official registration documents, and; A statutory declaration regarding the sale of the vehicle. Registration papers The documents were actually ready a few days after I got the keys. However, I did not have the time to pick it up. That changed recently and I have acquired the legal papers from the previous owner. Unfortunately, the current registration expires in 2018 and changing the ownership still costs the same as a new registration /renewal. Hence, I have decided to wait until it expires to get a new one. According to the registration documents provided by Dario, it costs K280 for registration and K617.30 for insurance – a grand total of K897.30 for this particular vehicle. I will also be requesting for new number plates. This is mainly to indicate that t...

Trying to find replacement parts for the Isuzu MU Wizard (UCS69GW) is like finding a needle in a haystack and is proving more difficult than I had initially anticipated. The most obvious place was to go directly to the local Isuzu dealer which happens to be Boroko Motors . However, when I get to the Parts and Accessories section I am told that they do not have parts for this particular model because they don’t sell it. The other 3 dealers I have been too have also said they do not have parts for this vehicle. Although I have not exhausted all the automotive dealers in Port Moresby yet, the initial response is not very encouraging and I’m beginning to think the person who sold this unit to me did it because he is unable to maintain it. If I am unable to acquire parts for the Isuzu MU Wizard then I believe I might be able to swap some parts from an Isuzu Trooper /Bighorn. However, if that fails then I will have to order overseas. The main things I need at the moment are: CV ax...

So I’ve decided to publish a list of things that need to be done on the Isuzu MU Wizard. I started the list on initial inspection of the vehicle but after removing the tires, I’ve noted a few other things that need to be done. There is a tilt so the torsion bars need to be adjusted. Brake cable . The most obvious work that needs to be done is to get the parking/emergency brake cables replaced. I might also replace the rotors and brake pads.  The windows and doors need to be fixed .  Suspensions . The rear sway bar is broken and also bushings might need to be replaced. I also felt like weight was being shifted too much to one side when turning. This is not good.  CV axle . These have been removed for both sides so I will have to have them replaced.  Wheel hub assembly? I plan to have this done but it’s not a priority yet. Seats and interior. I will also have to get the seats fixed and the interior cleaned. It is a mess at the moment.  Torsion bar ...

We had the tires replaced today with the help of Uncle Aume at Dunlop Alotau. He managed to get us a staff discount at their Port Moresby office and we paid K260 (US$68) for 245/75R16 tyres. A pretty cool deal! Our cost for the 5 tires totaled to K1,460 (US$380) – much less than I had initially anticipated. However, while the tires were off I discovered a couple of problems. The Isuzu MU Wizard raised up and ready for new tires. It turns CV axles on both sides of the vehicle have been removed. It is not really necessary in a city environment but is required for 4 wheel driving. However, I also discovered that the rear sway bar is broken. We had to break the wheel stud in order to remove the tire. A broken rear sway bar. The CV axles are also missing. I also confirmed the park/emergency brake cables are broken and we had to brake one of the wheel studs because it was stuck. The next thing on my list is to fix the passenger and drivers seats, clean the interio...

They say people chose vehicles according to their personality so my choice to buy a banged up 1996 Isuzu MU Wizard (UCS69GW) could have been a reflection of my need to fix/repair things. The Isuzu MU Wizard I bought. I had actually been eyeing a Toyota Hilux Surf (KZN130) on a Japanese used car website for a while. However, I was unable to get the money in time before it was taken. So when I saw an advertisement in the newspaper for a used 4WD Isuzu Wizard, I jumped at it. The vehicle has personality traits like dings, scratches and bumps all over. The power windows don’t work, the tyres are bold, the back seat doors don’t work, the parking/emergency brake cables are broken, the front seats are stuck, the interior is dirty, the CV axle needs replacing and a whole bunch of other issues. However, I felt drawn to the vehicle as soon as I heard the engine start. It has a lot of personality traits but the 3.1 diesel engine growls like a beast.   I bought the vehicle f...