Holden Astra Engine Problems

The recommended fuel for the 1.8-litre AH model Astra is 91-octane regular unleaded.

Getting to the halfway mark on the gauge in five minutes doesn’t sound like a problem, providing it sits there and doesn’t go any higher. The gauge will move up relatively quickly while the thermostat is closed during warm-up, but once the thermostat opens the gauge should remain steady. If it continues to climb it could be that the thermostat is stuck and not opening.

Others things to check are the coolant level, coolant leaks, and make sure the thermo fan is working.

It is 90,000km. The service interval was reduced from 100,000km to 60,000km in the preceding TS model after a number of serious engine failures caused by broken or loose belts caused by a problem with the belt tensioner. In AH the service interval was increased to 90,000km. When it's replaced mechanics usually find that the water pump is leaking, and they replace it, which adds to the cost of the job.

Holden reduced the service interval on the cam timing belt change to 60,000 km to get over the problems they were having with the belt breaking and causing major engine damage before the original service point was reached. They later changed it again to 90,000 km. A 2004 model should have already had a belt change, if not on the basis of kilometres done, then certainly on the basis of time. If in doubt have it changed.

The recommended fuel is 91-octane unleaded petrol.

If it’s a regular model it will have a 1.8-litre engine, but if it’s a SRi it will have s 2.2-litre.

It’s recommended that you use 95-octane Premium unleaded in the RS, and that’s what I would use. You could damage the engine using 91.

The VE sounds like a good car that's been well looked after and would be a good car for a growing family such as yours. I will assume it's a V6, in which case the main thing to be concerned about is wear to the camshaft timing chains. They're a known problem and cost $2000 or so to replace if they do wear. You can tell if they're worn as the engine runs poorly because the cam timing is thrown out. Other than that the VE is quite sound.

A ticking noise is often a sign of a problem with the starter solenoid. If it were the neutral start/safety switch, you wouldn't hear anything because there would no power getting to the starter.

Putting Premium unleaded in it won't help. The problem is likely to be partially blocked fuel-injectors and I would suggest you have them cleaned.