Holden Problems

Holden hasn't announced a final date for the closure of the Elizabeth plant in South Australia. All it has said to date is that production of the Commodore will cease towards the end of 2017.

It's most unlikely that the problem is related to the belts. Have the throttle body cleaned and the idle speed checked.

You don’t say why you want to convert your Captiva to LPG and I think it’s important to establish that before you rush into something you might regret. I wouldn’t do it; I don't believe the systems have been developed to the point of acceptable reliability. If you are really intent on doing it I would suggest you talk to the people at Diesel Gas Connection.

No, we haven't had this reported to us before, and being so random it's unlikely to be a common problem for Commodore owners. It sounds like a computer glitch, perhaps a faulty signal from a sender, or a poor connection. Unfortunately, until it happens regularly your mechanic will have trouble finding the cause.

You will get great value and a classy car in the Suzuki Grand Vitara. The CR-V also goes well and is slightly better value than a RAV4.

Thanks for the tip, it's a good one.

If you are not sure about the van you're buying then back out of the deal while you have the chance. The next time you decide on a van have it checked by a mechanic.

No, it's not normal. Holden recalled a number of Trax SUVs in 2014 for problems with the ignition barrel. Although the recall doesn't specifically mention then problem you are reporting I suspect it could be related.

Two choices that get The Tick from me are the Toyota Camry sedan, which can be quite punchy with the 2.5-litre petrol engine and is great value, and the Kia Sportage SUV with turbo diesel.