Holden Commodore Problems

No, you should keep going back to the Holden dealer and demand that they fix it. Your previous visits and any checks and repairs would be on record, so they are not starting from scratch, as another repairer would have to do. If you don't think you are getting good service, and I don't you are, escalate your complaint to Holden's customer service department.

The cold-start rattle seems to be something that Holden V8 owners must accept as part and parcel of the engine.

It's hard to suggest what might be wrong without seeing the car, so I suggest the best thing is to have an LPG specialist look at it. Give the people at Impco a call on 03 8788 1000 and ask them to check the car for you.

That it starts fine when it's cold and enriched, but not when it's warmed up and not getting any extra fuel suggests it could be a fuelling issue. Have a mechanic check the fuel pressure; it might not be getting enough fuel on hot restarts.

While oils are better now than they once were, so to are the demands placed on them. Regular oil changes are wise to keep your car ticking over at it should, don't hesitate to do the servicing.

Hopefully you will receive the attention you need to fix the oil consumption problem. It's good to hear of a satisfactory outcome.

Holden has an obligation to fix your car if it has a problem, and while you might disagree it would seem that they have attempted to fix it. They fitted a short motor, then offered to fit another one, and they have done an oil consumption test to determine if it does have an oil consumption issue. Most Holden V6s do have an issue with oil consumption, so I wouldn't be surprised if yours does as well, but it comes down to how much oil it uses as to whether it has a problem. If you doubt the results of the oil consumption tests, do your own.

Wheel alignment is clearly not covered by the warranty, so you won't get Holden to show any interest in your claim for new tyres. Remember that it was the dealer who did the servicing work on your car, not Holden itself, so if you think the dealer was negligent in not discovering that the wheel alignment was not correct you should pursue your case for tyres with them.

We haven't had any other reports of this issue, but we have seen reports of the radiator failing. The plastic fitting in the radiator breaks away and you need a new radiator. The problem seems to occur when the car has done around 70,000 to 80,000km. I would be pressing the dealer and Holden for a replacement radiator.

Without driving your car it's hard to make a comment, but I would suggest you find other cars of the same specification and drive them. That way you'll know if it is "normal". You could also take it to a transmission specialist for an independent assessment.