Holden Problems

It’s most unusual for a fuel-injected car to suffer from fuel vaporisation as you suggest your daughter’s does. Check the fuel pump, make sure the fuel return line is not blocked, and check to see the fuel lines are not too close to the exhaust. It can also be affected if the car is running hot for some reason, so make sure the cooling system is up to scratch.

The VX had the old 3.8-litre V6; the VZ had the later Alloytec engine. I expect it would physically fit, but I would also expect the radiator and thermostat to be different. I wouldn’t recommend it.

The best option would be to contact Holden (1800 033 349) and ask them to fix it. They will most likely come to the party for at least part of the cost, which would be much cheaper than if you were to have it fixed yourself.

Barinas were noted for their electrical problems. It could be an earthing problem, or a wiring problem, the only way to find out is to trace it through the wiring loom, or enlist the help of an auto electrician.

You’re not alone; the auto transmission in that model is well known to give trouble. As the car is now seven years old and has done 116,000 km it is well outside the warranty on both counts, so you’re not likely to get much of a hearing from Holden. But it is worth approaching the company about replacing the transmission for you free of charge, or at the very least, at a discount. Tell then that you know there is a problem with that transmission, and that you understand that they have replaced transmissions free of charge in the past.

Clean the throttle body and check the throttle position sensor.

It’s recommended that you use 95-octane Premium unleaded in the RS, and that’s what I would use. You could damage the engine using 91.

The cap has a hex nut on it and you can unscrew it using a regular hex socket. It’s a regular right hand thread. If it’s really tight just go easy, don’t apply too much force.

It’s hard to diagnose from a distance. As the engine appears to be running ok, the noise and black smoke might well be a particulate filter burn-off event, but you wouldn’t normally expect to see smoke or hear what sounds like an explosion. The dealer can check the filter and the burn-off history, so they should be able to see if there has been an event. I would think the transmission problem is a separate issue, and the transmission might need servicing.

It is quite common for a carmaker to offer to pay for parts, i.e. the transmission, and charge the owner for the labour. While you would like to think Holden would pay for everything the car is eight years old and well beyond its warranty period. If you would like to pursue Holden for the total cost contact its customer service (18000 033 349).