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I am not familiar with Australian regulations. I believe up to 20% power increase is okay. So if you have Ecotec, one can replace with L67 or non-HSV 5-litre, as it is within that band. However a 5-litre roller engine, although it was factory option (in Series III) is too powerful, so will need...

This one has been driving me nuts. Ecotec done about 300,000 km (odometer display died). When you start it first thing in the morning, misfires on 2 cylinders, and spews white smoke, smell of unburnt petrol. Seemed like bad DFI coil, replaced them and DFI module - no change. White smoke suggests...

My mum's old wagon conked out suddendly, and it got towed to a workshop. I looked over the invoice and it had the generic stuff like change spark plugs and air filter, plus one item "retension PCM pins". So is this a common problem for contacts to become loose after 20+ years?

I just got a new DFI module. I know it is pretty simple job, but just wondering is anything needed between the module and mounting plate, such as heat sink paste or high-temperature waterproof grease?

A mate has a VX that has clocked up just over 400,000 km. But it's one owner, well maintained and has transmission cooler fitted. About a week ago, he was going downhill, put it into 3, and tacho only went up by 200, didn't slow down at all. Seems like something has failed. Apart from that it...

A high-mileage VT is hard to start from cold, and idles pretty slow. But when you put foot on brake, the idle goes up to normal RPM. I would suspect a vacuum leak. But I check all the hoses - PCV, fuel regulator, purge valve, ventilation controls and brake booster. All looks okay. So what else...

A VU ute, Ecotec motor. On really cold morning, driving down the freeway the needle only goes to the first mark. Does that mean the thermostat is stuck open? Or that freezing cold air whizzing around the engine block is enough to cool it while crusing? Middle of the day, stop-start driving, the...

I got a low-mileage Ecotec from a VY. Was thinking about increasing compression ratio. Would 10.1 get by on 95 RON, or would 98 be needed? That is assuming no tweaking the engine map to reduce spark advance....

In VZ utes, one got EBD and seat-belt tensioners, but no side airbags. The dual-cab Crewman did get side airbags. I am aware that side airbags require a lot of R&D (computer modelling and crash tests) to get right. But why did Holden only offer them for the Crewman, which would have been a...

My sister bought an Astra. Under the bonnet is a sticker (from a company I never heard of) claiming timing belt was changed at 54177 km. For this engine, change is due at 90,000 km. The older Z18XE was 60,000 km. Curious why it would be done early. Unless something else crapped out, and they...

I have a VT series 1 V6 with 274,000 km. For at least a month, it has needed topping up coolant more than a litre a week. I have checked everything, even the heater core, and no leaks. So I start to wonder if coolant is going into the engine. Second problem: for about a week, it is hard to...

I have been trying to remove a harmonic balancer from an Ecotec. I got some M6 bolts to attach a gear puller. I can only get the bolts in 3 turns. I put some paint on one of the bolts and screwed it in, and counted how much paint was off. Now when I screwed in the threaded rod on the puller...

I looked up a radiator catalogue and it only shows 25 mm thick for the standard Ecotec. Strangely it didn't show size for V8, but I have seen 38 mm thick for the basic 175 kW motor. So I would guess you need 35 mm for the supercharged donk?

I remember reading in a Kings catalogue that they make springs for Commos which are only lowered half an inch. Would these be equivalent to FE1.5? (based on FE2 being an inch lower)

I saw this on a locksmith website: Adelaide Car Keys and Remotes, The Original Port Adelaide Locksmiths Why are all keys needed? I know VZ, VE, VF have personalised keys, so a third key is programmed with a new number different to the 2 that came with the car. Does the VY also have...

I presume that is because there are lots of them around, and the usual method of stealing cars nowadays is to break into house and find car keys near front door.

I was test driving a VS II Berlina offered for sale by a pensioner - low milage, one owner. Only one problem. When cold, the auto transmission is not shifting up until high revs. This lasts about a minute, then settles to normal shifting. ATF level seems OK. What's likely cause - dirty fluid...

This page: VN Commodore Specifications claims the VG ute has 10.4 m turning circle, same as VN sedan. I would expect it would have similar turning circle to a Stato, unless Holden increased the steering angle on the utes. I know Ford did with some Falcon utes to compensate for the longer...

I was looking online for exhaust oxygen sensors. I notice one vendor list a sensor as suiting VS to VE, while another has one specifically for supercharged L67. Another lists theirs as fitting Holden and Daewoo. I presume they all have the same thread. Zirconia elements have pretty much the...

Had problems starting: the immobiliser LED still flashing. Okay first thing in the morning, then once warmed up, had to pull key out and push in again, then wiggle to start. Numerous threads suggest the key reader, so I fitted a new one. Old one had the two quadrants, the replacement has the...

The cable to the exhaust oxygen sensor has a grey clip on it, that would push into a hole somewhere to stop cable flapping around, but I can't see where it clips into to. That is on the right side. I looked at another similar VS (V6 automatic) and it also had the loose clip. So where is is...

I got a Commodore fuel tank from wreckers. I fitted a new fuel pump and filters when I installed it. After a month or so, it began losing power and eventually wouldn't start (did not hear the pump priming). So I removed tank. I found the filter bag was clogged, and there was a fine dusty...

I went to one of those old Holden club showdays. I spied 3 VS Maloos in the visitor carpark (not on show). Two of them the top of the wheel arch was about 1 cm above the tyres. The third I saw was ultra-low, I presume one of it's owners had fiddled with it. I can't find any specs on the Maloo...