Holden Problems

We have certainly had a lot of complaints about the Captiva pulling to the left and wearing tyres out prematurely. We have taken the issue up with Holden before, but will do so again now that we have had so many complaints.

The new car warranty has expired so I suspect you would have no claim against Holden. It's clearly running out of fuel, and there could be a couple of reasons for that. One, it could be that the gauge is wrong and it's actually running out of fuel when the gauge is indicating that it's quarter full, or two, it could be having trouble picking up fuel in the tank when the level drops. Both possibilities need to be checked.

The main point of impact is behind the B-pillar and as a result I would believe the level of impact wasn't high enough to trigger the airbags. If you believe the system was faulty it would best to consult an engineer qualified to assess crash damage and have your car checked, someone like Laurie Sparke of Sparke Engineering.

With the high number of complaints we have been receiving about this issue there seems little doubt there is a problem with the Captiva. You would have to think the Captiva hasn’t been developed for our high camber roads, and there isn’t sufficient adjustment to get it steering straight. Pedders claims to be able to fix it with their aftermarket camber kit and that’s one course of action for you. If you want to persist with the dealer and Holden I would suggest you have the wheel alignment checked, that could be the problem, but if that doesn’t work you are then on solid grounds to negotiate with Holden.

The harsh reality is that parts fail and cars break down, sometimes with disastrous outcomes as in your case. As the owner of an Astra you should be aware of the problem with timing belt failures and what can happen when one does fail, it’s well documented and has been extensively reported on here at Carsguide. Most mechanics will check the water pump when replacing the timing belt because they often find them leaking and they prefer to change the pump then rather than send the customer away knowing they will be back when the pump fails. I would have expected the mechanic to check the pump when doing the belt and tensioner, and like the previous Holden dealer, change it as a precaution at least.

The first thing is to go over the car and identify anything on it that might be contributing to fuel consumption. Look at the condition of the tyres and run slightly higher tyre pressure than recommended by Holden, remove any roof rack that might be fitted, same with any other body additions you might have made. Don’t carry any extra weight. Also make sure the engine is in tip-top shape regards plugs, leads, injectors, air cleaner etc. Also look at your driving style to see if you can make changes there to save fuel. Extractors, chips and the like can make small improvements, but I doubt it would be enough to cover your costs. The most viable is LPG, but it would take up to two years on average to get your money back.

It is likely to be an engine sensor misbehaving intermittently. Check the crank angle sensor and its connections, or take it to a mechanic and have him run a diagnostic check on it.

A delay of two seconds or more is excessive and needs to be investigated. Try to find another car you could drive to see if yours is consistent with others or has a problem that others don’t. Once you’ve done that approach your dealer and ask for a meeting to discuss the issue and work out what they can do to fix your car. If that fails you could try the new national consumer protection laws and see if they can force a satisfactory response.

25,000 km is not too shabby for a big, heavy car like the Captiva. I wouldn't expect to get more than 35,000-40,000 km at best. If it hasn't been wheel aligned it's probably worth doing to make sure the wheel alignment is correct. If it is and you want to have a suspension specialist check it there are many around who could do it, Pedders being one.

To have the front tyres wear out at such low kays is unacceptable, particularly when the dealer can find no fault with the car that might have caused it. There is little doubt in my mind that the Captiva has a problem. Put your complaint in writing to your dealer and to Holden and request a meeting with a company representative to thrash out a course of action that will address your concerns.