Owners of 2000-02 Rodeo, Rodeo Sport and Amigo Sport models may complain of a popping sound when either front door is opened.
According to Isuzu, one likely cause is a worn or damaged door check arm bushing. Replacing the bushing and, if necessary, the door check arm itself, should help eliminate the noise.
Begin the fix by removing the door check arm pin. Next, pull the door check arm from the retaining bracket and examine the existing bushing. If the bushing is made of white plastic or gold metal, replace it with a new-design black metal bushing, part # 8-97324-784-0. When installing the new bushing, lubricate the door check arm, the top and bottom of the bushing and the bushing pin hole with molybdenum grease, or an equivalent. When tapping the retaining pin back into place, make sure its slot faces the door. If the existing pin doesn't fit snugly in the bushing, replace it with a new pin, part # 8-94111-468-0.
If the door check arm has no bushing when you pull it out of the retaining bracket, you'll need to replace the entire arm with a revised component, part # 8-97325-331-0, which includes an integral bushing. To remove the old arm, first remove the speaker grill. Then remove the four speaker retaining screws, pull the speaker out, disconnect the electrical connectors and remove the speaker from the door. Tap out the retaining pin and pull the door check arm from the retaining bracket.
Continue the job by removing the two 10mm retaining nuts that hold the door check arm to the door. Reach into the door panel, then guide the door check arm out of the door through the speaker opening. Reverse the sequence to install the revised arm, tightening the two retaining nuts to 180 in.-lbs. To complete the repair, lubricate the arm, bushing and pin liberally with the molybdenum grease.