Holden Astra 2006 Problems

The new car warranty has expired so I suspect you would have no claim against Holden. It's clearly running out of fuel, and there could be a couple of reasons for that. One, it could be that the gauge is wrong and it's actually running out of fuel when the gauge is indicating that it's quarter full, or two, it could be having trouble picking up fuel in the tank when the level drops. Both possibilities need to be checked.

Flooding is one of the worst things that can happen to a car; it’s often a cause of a car being written off. You really need to check all electrical connections to make sure they are dry and not corroded, check the computer to make sure it hasn’t had any water in it, and check the engine sensors for water damage. I’d be checking the crank angle sensor in particular.

The first thing you must do is to find the cause of the leak. Depending on what that cause proves to be you might then be in a position to approach Holden for help. Until you do that there's nothing Holden can do for you.

I would first question the need to do some of the work he is saying is urgent, and would suggest you have another mechanic check the car for you. If you are in the RACQ you could have them check it for you, at least to give some peace of mind.

I wouldn’t necessarily relate the key failure to the crash repair; I think that’s probably a coincidence. If you still have the key you could take it to a locksmith who handles car keys and have them check it for you to see what has gone wrong with it.

Holden tells us that the service interval for your engine is 10 years or 150,000 km, whichever comes up first. With 142,000 km up you are approaching the service point. Change the belt, and the water pump for safety, and that should be it.

The water pump is usually changed because it’s found to be leaking when the mechanic strips the front cover off the engine to replace the belt. It’s not a regular service item as such, but done because it’s cheaper to do it at the same time the belt is done rather than leave it and have to replace it at a later date. The failure of a water pump is different to that of the belt, it’s usually due to leakage, which doesn’t result in catastrophic internal damage like a belt failure does.

It's odd that there's such a disparity between steady-state highway driving and round town use. If the performance has dropped off I would be checking things like the exhaust backpressure, which might show up a blocked or partially blocked catalytic converter; if the performance hasn't altered look at the oxygen sensors.

First you need to make sure you have all of the documentation relating to your claim, and hopefully supporting it. If the dealer won't come to the party take your claim to the Motor Traders Association of NSW and ask for their advice. You could also consult the Department of Fair Trading. Failing that legal action is always available to you.

The new car warranty has expired so I suspect you would have no claim against Holden. It's clearly running out of fuel, and there could be a couple of reasons for that. One, it could be that the gauge is wrong and it's actually running out of fuel when the gauge is indicating that it's quarter full, or two, it could be having trouble picking up fuel in the tank when the level drops. Both possibilities need to be checked.