Holden Commodore Problems

The reasons why a lamp may not be working can be varied. The most common cause is the use of poor replacement globes. Like all components, globes have a set life span and will need to be replaced. When one globe does go, replace both because they will have the same life span and the other one will probably fail soon after the first. Also use quality globes, which are normally available from an auto-electrician and will last longer. Heat can be a problem affecting globe life. Globes heat up quite quickly when in use, and can fail if there's not enough air flow around them to dissipate the heat. It's a particular problem with high-mount stop lights which are often contained within small, tightly sealed housings with little cooling air flow. Added to which it is not uncommon for owners to fit incorrect globes, usually globes of too high a wattage, and these can overheat more easily in the stop-light environment, sometimes to the point of melting the socket. Water is another cause if there's a poor seal around the lamp.

It's a question of how much oil is being burnt. Too much will foul the converter and inhibit its ability to turn harmful emissions from the engine into largely harmless gases emitted into the atmosphere. Excessive oil in the exhaust gases will affect the converter, but Holden assures us those engines that do show high oil consumption -- and Holden says these are few and far between -- don't consume enough to be a problem in terms of converter operation.

Reliability and resale should be the key factors in your decision, given you're doing about 30,000km a year. That's considerably more than the average, and in three years you'd be clocking up close to 100,000km. With that in mind I suggest you go for a Japanese brand with a reputation for quality and reliability. That way you are more likely to have a trouble-free run and have a car that will be highly valued on the used-car market when you come to sell it. The Lanos and Accent are both built in Korea by companies whose credo was cheap, cheap, cheap. While the reliability of their products wasn't necessarily poor, their cars weren't built as well as their more expensive Japanese-made rivals. The Korean makes don't hold their values as well as the cars from Toyota, Mazda, Honda and Nissan. I'd consider a Nissan Pulsar, a Mazda 121, Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla, all of which are good, robust cars with good resale potential.

I assume the VH Commodore is a six, which was a new updated XT6 version of the venerable pushrod Holden six. While it was improved over the previous versions of the engine it was still quite inefficient even by 1982 standards. The Trimatic three-speed should have plenty of life left in it, but check the oil and make sure it's nice and red. Also make sure the shifts are smooth and precise with no sign of flaring on part or full throttle. Check the body for rust, particularly in the lower sections of the front guards, the lower sections of the doors, around the rear side windows and around the tail gate and rear window. The Camry has lots of life left in it, but it is near the mileage where major servicing could be needed. The Camry is most likely to be in better condition overall than the Commodore, which can be expected to be riddled with squeaks and rattles in the body.

The supercharged version of the ECOTEC V6 is an option in the Commodore S and produces 171kW compared with 147kW produced by the normally aspirated V6, which is the standard engine. One thing you might want to consider is that the supercharged engine is only available with the four-speed auto transmission where there is a choice of manual or auto with the standard V6. The auto tends to dull the driving experience of the supercharged V6, but it is still a lively engine and fun to drive. The VT Series II saw the introduction of the 5.7-litre Gen III Chev V8 which is a relatively high-revving V8 compared with the old Holden V8 it replaced, but it is also a fun engine to drive and comes with a choice of auto or six-speed manual. There is no significant difference in servicing or parts costs with either the S or the SS, but we are aware that some Gen III V8s have had problems with piston rattle and high oil consumption and you should carefully check for any sign of these problems with any car you are considering buying.

The VS 2 is already an old shape so it's not likely to fall in value because of the arrival of the VY. The VS 2 is a good choice for a solid, competent used car, so I wouldn't wait in the vain hope of lower prices. The VS 2 is a popular car with used-car buyers and will continue to be so.

I don't like the VY styling either and agree that the VT and the VX are the best-looking cars in the recent series of Commodores. I would have to recommend the VX Series 2 if you can afford it. It's the newest model of the two, so it is a better bet. The VX also has the benefits of the development that takes place over the life of a car. Build quality is at its best, and any problems have usually been fixed. The VX 2 will also have a lower odometer reading, which means its useful life to you will be longer and it will have a better resale value when you sell it. But there isn't much wrong with the earlier model, so it really comes down to what you can afford. In terms of reliability there isn't much between the VT and the VX, so I wouldn't worry about that.

Leakage from the rear main seal has been a a problem with Holden engines for many years, but its the sort of problem that will cause an annoying stain on your driveway rather than a breakdown. In some cases, if the leak is excessive, it can effect the roadworthiness of your car. We contacted Holden, and this is what a spokesman told us: ``The issue outlined by your reader tends to happen more with cars that aren't driven very often. They are most likely used for small trips, and the materials (iron and aluminium) are expanding and cooling at different rates. ``In late 1997 Holden offered a new seal on the 3.8 V6 and in March 2000 we further developed a new non-stick gasket. ``There has been no change to the assemblies themselves during this time, only the gaskets.''

I don't want to doubt your claims, Robert, but it is hard to believe you've done almost a quarter of a million kilometres on the original pads and shoes and they are only a quarter worn. If you're correct I'd say you're on track to set a world record. I'd be phoning the Guinness Book of Records and getting them prepared for a new entry. Seriously though, commercials do have different braking requirements from passenger cars. They have to carry loads and they are not expected to stop on a 5c piece, as we expect our passenger cars to do today. Also, commercial vehicle operators would not tolerate the wear rates of some passenger cars and there would be an outcry if their utes and vans chewed up brake linings like some passenger cars do.