1998 Holden Jackaroo SE 3.5 DOHC V6 from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Very underrated and solid - ages well

Faults:

Slipping out of gear and broken drive shaft at 65000km (warranty fix).

Manifold inlet gasket at inlet; 80,000.

Nothing wrong since I stopped taking it to Holden and doing it myself.

General Comments:

Reliable, great performance, great vision, comfortable, relatively economical - handling a little sloppy, but it is a 4WD.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 9th July, 2009

1999 Holden Jackaroo SE 3.5L from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Great vehicle, comfortable and safe

Faults:

Radio/cassette at 60,000

Oil sensor at 120,000.

Replaced timing belt + idle pulley at 145,000.

General Comments:

The Jackaroo is an excellent vehicle, great on and off road.

I tow a Jayco camper with ease and no added fuel costs...

Best car I have owned, and would buy another if they were still manufactured.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th January, 2008

28th Jun 2014, 07:29

The best thing to do is buy a good used one again.

2001 Holden Jackaroo 3.0 turbo diesel from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Average build quality and comfort levels, but becomes expensive to own as it gets past 100,000 km

Faults:

Rail oil pressure sensor failed at 115,000 km $1400 repair.

Head cracked 118,000 km $7000 repair.

Gearbox (manual) is noisy.

Ignition switch/steering lock must be wiggled to operate.

Radio reception has been mediocre on open road since new (crackly/buzzing) despite many attempts by dealer to rectify it.

Windscreen cracked without apparent cause - vehicle doesn't do serious off-road work.

Plastic molding around base of driver's seat broke.

Cruise control produces "surging" at 95-100 km/h - dealer says there was nothing that could be done about it.

General Comments:

Requires expensive repairs as it ages

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 30th November, 2007

1999 Holden Jackaroo SE 3.5 V6 petrol from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Really like the car otherwise, wish could solve the problem

Faults:

Clutch shudder.

Intermittent now daily problem with revs dropping to zero at idle, stalling, running rough.

General Comments:

Starts OK, after driving for a period of time (varies), slight missing, revs dropping at idle (from 1000 to 100rpm or less, up and down), occasionally stalls, bad smell (unburnt fuel?). Then will drive OK for a while.

Engine check light comes on and off randomly. Test shows air flow meter fault, replaced air flow meter twice, new oxygen sensor, computer sent interstate - tested OK, connections between air flow meter and ECU tested OK, fuel found dirty, cleaned tank and fitted new fuel pump, new coolant sensor, fuel line connection on chassis tightened as was loose, new idle control solenoid fitted, no better.

This has been going on for 3 years, getting worse, happens daily now. Any other suggestions.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 25th October, 2007

6th Sep 2008, 07:11

I own a 3.5 98 SE and had the problems of erratic idle etc, turned out it was the intake manifold gasket, which had spilt. Now running superbly again, lucky my mechanic is very good on Jacks.

Cheers Pete.

In reply to 6th Sep 2008, 07:11

20th Apr 2011, 23:05

I have the same model Jackaroo, and it is doing the same thing as what your Jack was doing. Erratic idling, as in bouncing up to 2500-3000 revs, then back down, then back up again. Sometimes falling to 100 revs, and even in the odd case, stalling.

Does this sound like what you experienced? Because I'd like to find the problem without having a mechanic earn his yearly wage trying to find it..

In reply to 20th Apr 2011, 23:05

21st Apr 2011, 12:06

Don't know much about the car you have, but I have had cars throughout the years that had similar problems you have but on different cars/SUVs. One car I had that had similar problems to yours was a crank positioning sensor that was bad. That was a GMC SUV. Another car I had that had similar problems to yours was a Honda that had a bad distributor with some bad electronic modules in the distributor cap (two problems). Also I had a Nissan car that had problems in the intake back to the air cleaner. As I remember it was the mass air flow sensor and the throttle body was either damaged or gummed up with debris and old gas.

In reply to 20th Apr 2011, 23:05

30th Sep 2012, 02:38

Had the same erratic idle problem. Mechanic cleaned out carbon build up inside throttle body and problem fixed; runs like a clock now.

2002 Holden Jackaroo 3.0 turbo diesel from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Great when it is going

Faults:

Since moving to Defence Canberra from Brisbane, the car won't easily start. It takes some serious turning over before it runs. Once going and warmed up it is very good. Glow plugs don't heat sufficiently to help motor start. Army engineers state this is a general ISUZU problem.

I took my car to an Auto Electrician to have the glow plugs checked. Auto elect stated that the glow plugs and batteries were faulty. In the process of taking out the plugs they found the rear one cracked at the base. Car was then given over to diesel experts to extract and repair. Plug subsequently broke and head given over to a local engineering expert to extract.

Diesel repairers and local GM service personnel state that this particular motor from this model is a lemon. Aluminium block has problems. Finding replacement heads is a problem. General diesel repairers won't touch them. GM want over $3200 for a bare replacement head.

My problem indicates that the manufacturer did not QC the motor build. Glow plug allowed bypass of gases which carboned up and ate out plug seat. New plug sits 3-4mm lower. Head now unserviceable.

Car is just outside warranty. Sydney GM refuse to assist. My original glow plug service and new batteries of probably $600 has turned into a probable $5000 bill if and when I ever get my car back.

General Comments:

Must have the correct oil in it. Preferably less than 10w 30, ideally 5w 30, otherwise it won't accelerate enough to change gear. Check handbook.

Holden have issued a recall on the motor, faulty injectors, mine is a VIN of JACUBS73G27106620.

Comments from local GM and more than one diesel experts indicate that this 2002/3 model 3 Litre diesel intercooled turbo is a lemon. Buyers beware.

I bought it from Doug Barton Holden in Queensland as a second hand probable ex Q fleet in November 2005. No service records.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 21st August, 2006

25th Aug 2006, 00:24

Owners further comments:

Today, three weeks and one day later, notice was received that the Bill for repair is to be $5113 plus the Auto electricians cut of two new batteries,4xglow plugs and two hours labour. Hope it is worth it. Time will tell.

29th Aug 2006, 21:20

Owner: One week later, the 4x4 seems to be more powerful with only a few minor ailments needed after a small run-in period. After driving the courtesy car my Jackaroo feels and drives like a limo. Comments by repairer indicate the motor after the mandatory injector fix should go forever. Other comments revealed that other makes of 3.0 L Turbo deisel are having similar probs except maybe Toyota. Food for thought. Will report again in a few months and 15,000KM.

14th Sep 2007, 04:35

The diesel engine has had lots of trouble (State the obvious!). The engine uses a oil operated injector system. The injector oil system uses its own oil pick up... this is the one that broke in your case. Seen it before. If your engine ever gets called for an engine recall, make sure it gets done. Injector leaks will cause engine failure eventually. Big bucks! 5w-30 is the only oil we use at work now as the injector oil system takes too long to prime on cold starts otherwise.

I've had a Nissan Patrol for a couple of years now. 3.0 ltr engines had trouble initially too. Mine's post trouble. Very smooth and reliable so far. Not a toy underneath in comparison to the Jackaroo. More purchase price tho. Good luck.