Holden Astra 2000 Problems

IT SEEMS to be a fact of life that brake pads and discs wear more quickly than they once did. Think for a moment, though, about the fantastic braking performance we enjoy and where that comes from. Softer pads and discs are a part of the modern braking package, and you replace them more often. The distances you quote are normal.

It's not uncommon to have to replace disc rotors on today's cars and your experience with the Astra is well known. European carmakers, remembering that the Astra comes from Europe, tend to use hard pads for increased braking performance, but they wear the disc rotors quite heavily and will eventually need to be replaced. But, before you rush out and buy Holden-supplied discs, check with your local brake service outlet becasue they will have locally sourced rotors that will not only be cheaper, but will also last longer when fitted with softer pads.

Have the timing belt changed, it is well beyond the time it should have been changed even though it has only done 55,000 km. Have a mechanic check the oil pressure at idle, it could be that the oil and oil filter require changing.

AT that sort of mileage the fuel injectors could need cleaning. Dirty injectors can cause the sort of problems you describe -- rough running, stalling and misfiring. Have your mechanic check if that is the problem.

Your Falcon would have tested about 13 litres/ 100km when new. For comparison purposes, the Commodore V6 would return about 11.5 litres/100km, the 3.5-litre V6 Magna about 10.5 and the Camry closer to 13. Clearly, on that basis the Magna is the car for you.

It is likely to be an engine sensor misbehaving intermittently. Check the crank angle sensor and its connections, or take it to a mechanic and have him run a diagnostic check on it.

HOLDEN has identified a problem with the camshaft timing belt tensioner, which has failed on some vehicles. The result is the belt has broken or skipped a tooth or two on the gear, with the potential for serious internal damage to the engine. To get around the problem, Holden reduced the service interval for replacement of the belt from 125,000km to 60,000km. As Holden sees it, you would have paid the service fee when the belt was changed at 125,000km anyway. Like you, I would have preferred Holden to come up with a proper engineering fix that would last long enough to maintain the longer service interval.Take it up with your dealer if you feel so aggrieved.