Browse over 9,000 car reviews

Issues with an Isuzu D-Max's SVS dash light

Isuzu Isuzu Advice Isuzu D-Max Isuzu D-Max Advice
...

My Isuzu D-Max’s SVS dash light illuminates about 15 minutes into towing a 2.5-tonne caravan. The light remains illuminated while the engine is hot or still warm. When it’s started again after some downtime, the light remains off until I tow again. The light does not illuminate at any other time, even when the vehicle is hot. The vehicle was recently serviced, but the fault could not be replicated then, as the van was not attached. The vehicle has done 335,000-plus kilometres.

This is a tricky one because the D-Max’s SVS warning light seems to be a bit of an all-rounder. That is, it indicates a fault, but a non-specific one. Certainly not one that can be read by the majority of aftermarket scanning tools. Logic suggests there’s something within the driveline that is getting too hot for the computer’s liking, a theory backed up by the fact that it only triggers when you’re towing a big load and the car is working its hardest.

The solution seems to be to present the car at an Isuzu dealership as this may be the only workshop that will have the D-Max-specific scanning gear to determine the cause or even narrow it down.

For the record, the SVS stands for Service Vehicle Soon, but I’m afraid even that’s a fairly generic recommendation and doesn’t get you any closer to the cause. That said, when engine oil or transmission fluid gets beyond a certain temperature, the computer will often detect this and call for a change of fluids as a means of driveline protection. This could be what’s happening every time you tow.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

Comments

Have a new question for the CarsGuide team?
More than 9,000 questions asked and answered.
Complete guide to Isuzu D-Max
Complete guide to Isuzu D-Max CarsGuide Logo
Reviews, price, specs and more