Holden Commodore Gearbox & Transmission Problems

IF YOU check your owner's manual you will see Holden recommends using the brake to hold your vehicle on hills. That said, it is unusual to have to use the brakes to stop the car rolling backwards. It's possible the idle speed is on the low side and the torque converter is also low in terms of take-up. If you're not happy with Holden's response, argue your case again. On the face of it I think you have one. You could also consult an auto trans expert to make sure all is well.

I HAVEN'T heard of the worry you have, Tim, but I'd doubt very much that it's a bearing problem at that mileage. I would be looking at the clutch rather than the gearbox, but I would recommend you seek the help of a Holden specialist. Happy to hear you aren't having any problem with your Gen III V8. Not all Gen IIIs exhibit the problem. It's really only a relatively small number of the total sold that have the piston rattle and excessive oil consumption.

YOUR Commodore has a six-cylinder engine bought from Nissan, basically the same that was fitted to the Nissan Skyline here. The engine is a fine unit, but there was an installation problem when it was fitted to the Commodore, and it can give trouble when air pockets develop in the cooling system, causing the engine to overheat. It's important to use the correct coolant if you have to top up the cooling system -- don't use water, and be careful to bleed the cooling system properly if you have to service it for any reason. The auto is generally reliable, but it is expensive if you have to rebuild it. One thing to check is the service history. Older drivers often consider servicing too expensive, especially if they do few kays. Find out if the car has been well serviced, and if it hasn't think about getting it serviced.

REAR-AXLE noise is a problem in both the Commodore and the Falcon, so I wouldn't rush to fit a Falcon diff to your car. Rather I would consult a diff gear specialist who would be able to diagnose the noise and advise you on fixing it.

MY INFORMATION is that this ute has a 3.46 diff ratio with the manual gearbox and a 3.08 with the auto. Going to a 3.73 would have made fuel consumption worse. I'm surprised you changed to this ratio. In any case, before you changed the ratio you should have had the car checked to determine why its fuel consumption was so poor. There is something wrong with it given the air-fuel ratio is so rich. By changing the ratio you have modified the vehicle, which I'm guessing is why Holden is refusing to cover it under warranty. Continue to talk to Holden to find a solution that is going to satisfy you. If you can't,, then think about resorting to legal action. But before you try the latter, have your car checked by an expert such as Mark Trounsen of Dynomotive to make sure it is as it should be.