Holden Vectra Engine Problems

Yes, you can use E10.

The crank angle sensor was prone to giving trouble on Vectras, so I would check that to make sure it was doing what it should. You could also check the electrical system generally as it too was prone to the odd gremlin.

If it hasn’t been changed already I would change it now that it is going on six years old.

It has a timing chain, not a belt, so it doesn’t need changing.

Our information is that it needs to be changed at intervals of 120,000 km. If you want to confirm that, I suggest you contact Holden’s Customer Assistance Service.

As I often write in this column tracing intermittent or odd problems can be difficult, and mechanics today are trained to replace parts rather than spend hours searching for the cause, often without finding it. Finding a mechanic who is keen enough to dig deeper into a problem is a blessing.

Your car has a timing chain, not a belt, so doesn’t need servicing.

No, there is no need to do the head gasket while replacing the timing belt, that would have been done for some other reason.

The guys at the LPG Warehouse have just fitted an EMER vapour-injection system to a similar car to yours and it’s working a treat for the owner. In that installation they used a toroidal LPG tank and removed the spare wheel; the owner was happy to keep his boot space and use a puncture repair kit should he encounter a flat tyre. They can also use a smaller cylindrical LPG tank if you wanted to retain your spare. Contact the LPG Warehouse on 03 9770 2287 for more info.

I would be checking the idle stepper to make sure it is working as it should.