Yes i have a 97 Isuzu Rodeo it's a 3.2 And it idles real high and somtimes it won't crank cause the battery will be dead

I would check the cable connections depends how the lights were wired into the circuit there may have been either a live or a neutral connected straight into the battery which came off on disconnecting the battery terminals or one of the cables may have been disconnected on removing the battery for replacement I hope this helps

auto or stick shift transmission?
correlation is not always causation.!!!
example: if I open the glove box, and the engine stalls, It probably is not the glove box lamp doing that.

The 97 cars have very few learn modes.
in fact, none kill engines dead, ever.

the trouble with your post is it says nothing useful. sorry.
1: cranks robustly but will not start?
2: will not crank, or just clicks, or the starter motor is silent.?
the starter can also chatter, or free run, spin fast but engine not.
if it wont crank ,
jump start it, if it will not cranks still , crank in NEUTRAL.
PRNDL move lever to N per the steps in the operators guide.
3: cranks ok, there are 50 reasons for that.
if your car reads statistics, the spark plugs are bad, ignored.
do say this time what the engine did. exactly , you did not.

4: cranks ok , do so with wide open throttle to clear floods
this is secret mode in the op. guide that cuts off the fuel injectors.
V6, 3.1., 3.2 , 3.5Liter?

Have the starter checked.

3.5liter v6, 4 cams. is my guess
hot and cold engine,this?
doing that ,causes (removed MAF) cause the ECU
to go to limphome ,mode (read rich)
and yes can hide real problems. (if was too lean)
i guess you have no real scan tool?
to see if all sensors work right,?
if the engine runs super lean, due to huge vacuum leaks
this happens.
so will a dead maf.
i can name lots more. but id need to do tests with real tools
guessing is expensive, why more than cost of good scan tool.

there can be no air leaks at all
from the head intake valves all the way to the MAF
if yes, it goes lean,due to allowing unmetered air into the engine.

1998 rodeo
what lights, you wean the cluster warning lights are dead.
or the cluster park , illimunation lights are dead.
are parks working (outside)
are head lights bright? outside)
wont start, does that mean it wont CRANK?
that means the starter is silent or is just a click

nobody can answer (correctly) lacking those facts.


1: check all fuses.
2: head lights work if not battery terms are rusty clean them.?
3: key on.
4: CEL lamp must glow, (check engine light) if not fuses blown or battery is dead. for sure.
4: tune key to start, does starter spin crank shaft fast?
ill stop here. my wild guess is you will not get this far.

is engine running?
if yes>?
got ABS?
1: charge system failure.
2: brake failed or fluid low, or other brake failure. (up to 4 on light)
3: the blower in the dash is dead? in all modes, heat and A/C?
do tell.?
does the blower work in High.
did all this happen in 1 day, or a year, or just bought this sick car/?

check fuses yet?
blower fuse.

stalls, is the word.
here they all, each takes, simple tests.

1. battery weak.,and dischaged for 3 possible reasons, 12.6v id good 13.3-15v good running. not less.
2. A/C compressor seized.
3. ISC/IAC bad on the engine, idle controls totally dead. RPM low.
4. Horrid loss of engine power, if car will not move fast , this be it.

i think that is it.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HOLDEN-COMMODORE-VL-3-0L-RB30-TURBO-RODEO-TF-4ZE1-CRANK-ANGLE-SENSOR-RSB04-RSB10-/190757208979?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c6a040393

fuel filter, fuel pump