Are you having problems with your Holden Commodore? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest Holden Commodore issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the Holden Commodore in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.
On the day it was named as Australia's top selling car in 2007, Holden has recalled 86,000 current model V6 Commodores and Statesmans because of the risk of an engine bay fuel leak that could cause a fire.The recall affects all V6 VE Commodores and WM Statesman and Caprice long-wheelbase models built by the company since the new generation model was launched in mid-2006, following a $1 billion development program.Holden spokesman John Lindsay said the recall was a precaution to prevent a potential fuel leak under the bonnet."We've got a condition where one of the fuel lines in the engine compartment has the potential to rub against a clip on an adjacent hose, so over a period of time this could potentially - and I emphasise potentially - result in a leak in the hose and a fuel smell may become evident," Mr Lindsay said."The chances of this happening are very low but obviously we are erring on the side of caution and we are administering a recall of all (V6) VE and WM Commodores since the start of production..."The fuel leak problem had affected about 20 of the 86,000 cars affected by the recall, Mr Lindsay said.The recall includes about 53,000 Commodores and Statesmans sold in Australia, about 5000 in New Zealand, 27,000 sold in the Middle East and 784 in Brazil.But the lucrative export of its Pontiac G8 version of the car has not been affected because the US models use a different layout under the bonnet.Holden will launch a national advertising campaign to advise owners of the recall. The company will also write to owners individually.They will be asked to contact their Holden dealer's service or Holden's recall advice line - 1800 632 826 - to arrange for a simple repair to re-route the affected fuel line.A similar recall of 1850 V8 models of the same car was announced in October 2006, because of a fuel line in the engine bay that was supplied to Holden by an outside company that could, under certain circumstances, be torn.Then, a month later about 13,000 cars were recalled because of a minor fault in the rear seatbelt buckles on some cars.The recall comes as the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries officially announced the Holden Commodore was Australia's top-selling car last year.Last year was a bumper year for car sales, with more than one million cars sold in Australia in a single year for the first time.
HOLDEN uses a dual-fuel gas-injection system developed by Impco. I am a fan of gas-injection systems because they are less prone to the driving problems that can plague the older venturi-mixer systems and make them a nightmare to drive. The dual-fuel Holden hasn't been a big seller mainly because fleets prefer the dedicated LPG Falcon. The dedicated LPG system means drivers can't switch over to petrol to get better performance and driving capability. But if you are a private owner, I would choose Holden's gas-injection system.
YOU'RE probably right and it is a faulty fuel sender, but Holden has told you they will consider your claim once it's found that yours is a problem, so they have in fact come to your aid. Do what they have requested you do and you should be taken care of, if, as you believe, your fuel sender is faulty.
DRIVING around Australia today is a very different proposition to what it was in the 1970s. The roads are much better, communication has improved out of sight, and there are more dealers and service agents on the route you're likely to take. Back in the 1970s you went in a big Aussie six because they were tough and unlikely to break down. They were also easy to fix on the side of the road, and parts were relatively easy to get in the middle of nowhere. Today, if you're sticking to the blacktop, I would take a Commodore or Falcon and there are plenty available within your budget. But if I were going off the beaten track I would think about a four-wheel drive with its higher ride height for ground clearance, its ruggedness, and its drive system. Early Nissan Patrols, like an MQ, or early LandCruisers would be good, reliable and tough transport.
THE VYII had the old Buick-derived 3.8-litre ECOTEC overhead-valve V6, which dated back to the VN Commodore. It was a pretty tough old nail, with good torque characteristics and good fuel economy. The VZ has the new 3.6-litre quad-cam Alloytec V6, which has more power and torque than the ECOTEC engine, but I don't think its torque characteristics are as good. It's also a little thirstier than the older engine. I don't see a lot between the resale values of the two, but being newer the VZ will command a higher used price for the foreseeable future.
FUEL consumption is mainly determined by how you drive and 17.5 litres for 100km out of your 5.7-litre LS1 V8 ute suggests you have a heavy right foot. The 14.0 litres per 100km you quote sounds like the official ADR fuel consumption figure and not real life, so it's not comparable with your own experience. I reckon you would get slightly higher fuel consumption out of the 6.0-litre LS2 V8. Higher torque can help fuel consumption by making it easier to drive the ute with less throttle opening. The 6.0-litre LS2 went into the ute in February 2006.
HOLDEN by Design was a range of accessories and options developed for Holden by HSV and fitted at the Woodville factory. They ranged from dual-fuel systems to body kits, wings, wheels and other things that set them apart from the regular run of Commodores. I don't believe they make a car any more valuable.
YOU really should decide if you want performance or economy. If you want economy, go for a Corolla, Civic, 323 or Pulsar. You will find they have pretty good performance anyway.
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.
I'M AFRAID it's dead. It was dropped from the range almost two years ago when Holden was gearing up for the VE. The company is only producing models on the VE architecture, and the one-tonner really can't be done on that platform.
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