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Holden Problems

Are you having problems with your Holden? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest Holden issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the Holden in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

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Help me convert

YOU don't say whether you want a newish model or an older classic-style car. There isn't a modern convertible capable of carrying five adults in comfort, the roof mechanism usually takes up some back-seat space, making it more cramped than an equivalent five-seat coupe. As far as lopping the top off a Statesman, yes, it's possible, but I wouldn't recommend it. Converting a sedan into a convertible requires engineering experience, and money. It's more difficult in a four-door such as the Statesman than it is with a two-door coupe. If you really want to pursue the idea, consult a VicRoads engineer who could advise you on the difficulties. Rather than that, I recommend you buy an American convertible from the 1960s or '70s. A full-size B-body Chev, Pontiac, Buick or Cadillac would easily carry five adults, and would be a cool cruiser. It would also be a lot cheaper than converting a Statesman.

Rattling along

I HAVEN'T heard of the worry you have, Tim, but I'd doubt very much that it's a bearing problem at that mileage. I would be looking at the clutch rather than the gearbox, but I would recommend you seek the help of a Holden specialist. Happy to hear you aren't having any problem with your Gen III V8. Not all Gen IIIs exhibit the problem. It's really only a relatively small number of the total sold that have the piston rattle and excessive oil consumption.

Two for tow

WITH that, you're looking at either a Falcon or a Commodore. On the Ford side you could look at an AUIII Falcon or a BA six-cylinder which has a towing capacity of 2300kg in auto form. Across the divide there's the VXII or VY Commodore that will handle up to 2100kg. As for which is the more reliable, I would lean slightly towards the Commodore.

Holden Astra 2004: What is causing the timing belt to tick?

Holden has changed the service interval for the cam timing belt to 60,000km. They experienced some failures of the belt and the belt tensioner, which are both replaced at the service. Holden dealers know of the problem and are supposed to contact owners to advise them of the change. I would take the car to your dealer and have them check it out.

Pulp facts and fiction

Holden calibrated the Gen III to run on regular unleaded, so you are paying for a marginal increase in performance and fuel consumption, at best in the order of 2-3 per cent. The best way to check the value of running Pulp is to do a consumption test with both fuels. That way you will know the real benefits, or otherwise, in your own actual driving conditions.

V6 sold short

It's largely prejudice based on a perception that supercharged engines (or turbo engines) are less reliable than normally aspirated engines. Apart from the bearings in the blower, the supercharged V6 in the Commodore and Statesman is quite reliable.

Wagon advice

Without knowing what your criteria is, it's hard to recommend a car to you, George. By all means go for a V8 if you need to tow a trailer for work or pleasure, though there's no lack of grunt with the six-cylinder engines on that front either. I would choose a six, and probably a Commodore, based on its better resale than the AU III, and go for a VX rather than a VT simply because it is a newer model and will have fewer kilometres on it. They are both reliable, so there's no real difference between them in terms of reliability.

Ready for a change

There's no reason the Avalon should be any thirstier than the Camry. They're about the same weight and they share the same V6 engine and drivetrain. The Avalon is locally produced, not imported, so the parts are the same price as the Camry's. On the current market the Magna is the best buy in that its used values have slumped, the Camry and Avalon are standing up well, while the Commodore remains popular and hence has good resale value. In terms of mechanical reliability, it's hard to go past Toyota and I would probably prefer the Camry or the Avalon, but all four have good reliability and will do the job well.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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