Holden Problems

The codes relate to options fitted to the car by Holden By Design, the arm of HSV that designs and installs options on regular production Holden models. It’s now called HSVi. In this case we were able to find out that FWF is the code for the 19 x 8-inch Supersport alloy wheels and FAF is the code for the fifth, or spare wheel.

Try Lumley Special Vehicles or Vigil, they're two other companies that insure classic and modified cars. I can't comment on your driving record, that's for them to decide of the basis of risk.

The diesel is a much better choice for fuel economy, we did have a lot of complaints about the consumption of the petrol version before the diesel was released, but owners appear happy with the economy of the diesels. We have also had a number of reports of issues with the Captiva, more than I would like to see. The most concerning is about uneven and premature tyre wear, with owners complaining about having to fit new tyres after 15,000 to 20,000 km. The RAV4 is a good car and the Toyota brand is generally a safe bet, although the recent troubles with recalls in the US tells you that even the great Toyota is not immune to problems.

Make sure the fuel pump is up to scratch; it sounds like it’s taking too long to get fuel to the engine.

I'm not aware of any reviews of such installations you could refer to. Vapour-injection systems weren't around when the VT was launched, so it's unlikely many have been fitted with them. I've driven a couple of later model Commodores with the Gen 3 V8, like the engine in the VT II, that have been fitted with injection systems and they have driven and performed well. If you want to find out more about them it's best to talk to the system manufacturers directly who should be able to put you in touch with owners who have had the conversion done.

Holden has assured me that there is no problem with the Viva gearbox, so although I can understand you might have lost confidence in the car, I can only suggest at this stage to keep driving it. If you are concerned about the dealer having changed the gearbox then press him to produce the documentation showing that it has been done. It must be there, and there is no reason you shouldn't see it.

No, there isn't once you've exhausted all other avenues as you appear to have done. It's now your word against theirs. The problem you have is to convince VCAT that the crack occurred in the normal course of events and not through any abuse on your part. What Holden has done in offering you part compensation is regular industry practice and I would be tempted to accept it.

Yes, it is worth checking. It could just be leaking and need new seals, but it really depends on the rate of the leak. If it’s leaking at a rapid rate you should be able to see oil on your driveway, if it’s not it might just be that you need to check it once a week and top it up as needed. If you are worried take it to your dealer, or an auto transmission specialist.

If it is a problem with the paint protection you could use a paint cleaner, which should clean it off, and then polish the car. But I suspect it could be a delaminating clear coat that's your problem and not the protection coat at all. I would suggest you take it to a body shop and have them cast their expert eye over it.

There are several issues here. First, the timing belt problem is well known so your mechanic should have looked deeper into the cause of the noise and not taken the word of whoever said it would be ok. The timing belt change interval has moved a couple of times, down to 60,000 km and then out to 90,000 km, but it's such a potentially devastating failure that a "she'll be right" approach simply isn't good enough. Second, your claim would have been stronger against Holden if you were still having your car dealer serviced. Third, Holden will possibly cover part of the repair cost, which is a normal industry practice, so go ahead and have it inspected as they suggest.