Can I put a transmission from a 1998 Isuzu rodeo 4×4 into a 2001 Isuzu trooper 4×4

Hi, this is Bo, an auto expert on RepairPal's Car Genius team! Ah, the old 'parts bin special' idea – hoping to get your Trooper back on all four singing wheels with a donor transmission from its cousin, the Rodeo. I get wanting to explore options, especially with a potential donor nearby. While they might look like transmission twins, swapping a '98 Rodeo box into your '01 Trooper with its TOD system is tricky. Think of it like trying to get a cassette player from '98 to talk to your 2001 CD player's advanced features – they're both for music, but the tech inside is different. The main issue is the electronics. Your Trooper's transmission control module (TCM) is programmed for specific sensors and solenoids for its year and the Torque on Demand system. The '98 Rodeo's transmission, even if it's the same base model (like the common 4L30-E), likely has different internal wiring or components that won't mesh with your Trooper's brain. You could face wrong shift points, a dashboard lit up with error codes, or the TOD system protesting. It's rarely a simple bolt-in. Your best bet is a transmission specifically for your 2001 Trooper with TOD. If you're set on the swap, have a specialist meticulously compare everything first. If you need any further advice or want help finding a trusted RepairPal shop in your area, please feel free to call us at 877-913-1554