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    Why won't my 2011 Holden Epica work after using it to jump-start another car?

    Holden Holden Advice Holden Epica Holden Epica Advice
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    My 2011 Holden Epica was going until I used it to jump-start my Honda. After the jump-start, I disconnect the proper jump-cables, parked the Holden and turned it off. After taking the Honda for a drive, I then went to start the Holden, but it wouldn't switch on.

    I got my son in law to give it a jump-start. It was struggling to start so he gave it a bit of a rev, and it still wouldn't start. The Holden was absolutely fine before I jump-started the Honda. I thought it might have blown a fuse, they were fine.

    While I was under the bonnet thought I'd check the water and oil, pulled the dipstick out and it was like pulling it out of a jar of Golden Syrup. And when I removed the oil cap, holy moly, the oil had turned to sludge? I've been told that Holdens these days are always having problems.

    Answered by CarsGuide
    15 September 2020
    David Morley

    Seems like you might have two problems here. The first is that I suspect you’ve may have fried the computer in the Holden in the process of jump-starting your other car. Jump-starting a modern car with on-board computers is something that should only be attempted by somebody who is a specialist. There’s a specific technique that goes beyond simply hooking up the jump-cables and hoping for the best. It’s all too easy to send a voltage spike through the car and send the computers into melt-down. That would explain why the car will not restart.

    As for the milky oil and the sludge under the oil-filler capo, that sounds unrelated but still serious. A blown head gasket can lead to this exact set of symptoms and it occurs when the engine’s coolant is allowed to mix with the oil (and vice-versa). Sometimes in these colder months (particularly in Tassie) it’s not uncommon to get a small amount of frothy, grey muck under the oil-filler cap, but not a huge amount. And if the oil on the dispstick is also covered in oil contaminated with coolant, then you’re looking at a new head gasket at a minimum.

    I’m not sure I agree that all modern Holdens were problematic, but the Epica, which was really a Daewoo (it was built in South Korea) with Holden badges, is definitely on the suspect-reliability list.

    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.
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