Holden Barina Engine Problems

It’s hard to suggest where you might look from your description, but you obviously think the rattle is coming from the suspension and is not an engine-related rattle like pinging. If your suspicion is correct I would be looking at the front shock absorbers, but you really have to try and identify the area the rattle is emanating from.

HAVE you switched fuel recently? A change of fuel can have the effect you complain of. Of course, it's worth checking the basics to make sure the engine management system is doing what it's meant to be doing, particularly during the cold phase.

The Barina will run happily on E10 and I doubt the dealer's advice about the "emission light". Ford, on the other hand, recommends you use the higher octane rating premium fuel, hence the advice not to use E10. Your Focus will run on E10, probably without any trouble, but it will run better on premium unleaded.

The jury is out about E10 at the moment; it is supposed to be satisfactory for modern cars, but there are too many reports like yours that suggest that's not quite right. You could run the Barina on premium unleaded and not have a problem and that's probably the best thing to do if you are concerned about ethanol.

BEFORE the introduction of the Opel-sourced Barina in 1994 the Barinas were rebadged Suzukis. They are generally a good engine and the compression numbers are about right. Make sure it's not rattling or blowing smoke from the exhaust. If it is in good condition it's well priced and should be a reliable little car.

You're correct; it is being phased out in NSW in 2011. It is likely that it will also be phased out in Queensland once legislation is passed by the parliament there, but there's no timing for that yet. In all other states the situation will remain as it is at the moment. The changeover is going to be similar to that which happened when unleaded fuel replaced leaded fuel. BP guarantees its E10 fuel for all vehicles regardless of age; they say they find the additives   make no difference to the fuels. Caltex and Shell are likely to follow with similar guarantees.

HOLDEN recommended 91 RON regular unleaded for the SB Barina GSi, so it would run satisfactorily on E10. The main issues are regular servicing and hard driving.