Holden Reviews

Holden is one of the oldest names in the Australian car market, first as a body builder and assembler of various imported American cars, then as a carmaker in its own right from 1948-2017. Sadly, it was announced in February 2020 that the brand will cease trading by the end of the year. At the time of this announcement, the Holden range was comprised of Trax, Equinox, Acadia and Trailblazer SUVs, along with the Colorado light commercial ute range. Even after shifting from manufacturer to importer, Holden continued to tune its line-up for local conditions via its legendary engineering team at the iconic Lang Lang proving ground in Victoria.

For much of the post-war period Holden was the Australian market leader, but sales have fallen dramatically in recent years. Holden manufactured the locally-designed Commodore Evoke, SV6, SS and Calais V6 and V8 sedans, wagons and Utes, and Caprice luxury sedan, along with the Cruze sedan and hatch, and imported Cruze wagon. Other models that have disappeared from the local line-up in recent times include the ZB Commodore, Barina hatch, Astra hatch, sedan and wagon, Captiva SUVs, and mid-sized Malibu sedan from Korea. The ZB Commodore, Cascada convertible and Insignia sedan were built in Europe, and Colorado 7 SUV and Colorado utility from Thailand.

Holden FAQs

How do I change the system language in my 2014 Holden Captiva?

Here’s how the owner’s manual describes the process:

  • Press the Menu button on the steering wheel (or the indictor stalk depending on your car).
  • Scroll down to the Toolbox or Settings icon.
  • Press and hold the Enter or Set/Reset button.
  • Hit the Language icon and press Enter.
  • Select English and press Enter again.

That should do the trick, but you can also switch from Korean to English from the infotainment screen via the same process, starting with the Settings menu.

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Why do my 2016 Holden Barina brakes grab under acceleration?

The brakes shouldn’t be applied at all if you’re trying to accelerate. What’s probably happening is that the brakes (likely the front calipers) are not releasing as you stop and take your foot off the brake pedal. Then, when you try to take off, the brakes are still applied somewhat and only break free once you hit the accelerator and convince the car to move.

Rebuilding the calipers should do the trick, but you may also have brake pads that are worn beyond their serviceable limit and need to be replaced. You should also check the rear brakes and the parking brake for poor adjustment and dragging.

This is important stuff, too, as driving with dragging or sticking brakes can overheat (and actually boil) the brake fluid, leaving you with no brakes when you need them most. And this sort of problem will only get worse over time, not better.

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I can't start my 2010 Holden Barina after I hit something underneath the car

Is the engine turning but not starting, slow to start or not turning over at all? The answer to this question will determine where you look first. Hitting something lying on the road is more common than you might think. And it can cause absolute chaos, even causing enough damage to write the vehicle off in some cases.

If the car won’t turn over at all, your suspicions should first turn to the starter motor and its wiring. The wiring is pretty easily dislodged after an impact, so it could be something as simple as reconnecting that wiring.

If the engine is slow to turn you could have damaged the charging system that has allowed the car’s electrical system to stop charging properly, gradually flattening the battery which now struggles to turn the engine over. And if the engine turns over but won’t start, you could have any combination of wiring or mechanical damage that is preventing the thing firing.

The best advice is to get the vehicle on a hoist where you can safely and easily examine its underside with a torch. Look for any freshly exposed metal (which could indicate where the impact occurred) and take note of any oil, fuel or coolant leaks. From above, check the battery connections and other wiring and see if there’s anything loose, dented or smashed that could be cutting off the supply of fuel. Even a smashed-in or crushed exhaust system that is preventing the flow of gasses can cause problems like this. The problem could even be something as simple as a high-tension lead or crank-angle sensor wire that has come adrift from its proper attachment point as a result of the impact.

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