Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-65
I have a 2001 V6 2.6 Vectra. It has stalled on me a couple of times when I have been on the open road about to overtake. I have taken it to a Holden Dealer and it has been with them for 5 weeks now. They said they have looked for the fault but it has them stumped and now they're hoping to get an expert opinion soon. To date it has cost me $2000 for them to try and find the problem.
As people have discussed their problems with the Vectras, I've only seen a couple of comments about stalls. Is this a common problem? and what kinds of things would the Holden dealer have had to do that would cost $2000 to try to find the problem. I should add that they are now saying I should look at buying another car (probably one from their yard), unfortunately I haven't finished paying this one off yet.
Sounds like your idle control motor. I had the same problem recently, and if wasn't for my brilliant mechanic who worked it out, who knows what it would have cost.
The motor should cost about 160 bucks to replace, plus about an hour's labour at most.
I read stories about this problem, and mechanics replacing everything from the computer to the alternator at great cost to the owner with the problem not being fixed. I'd be questioning the 2000 dollar bill for sure, and asking exactly what they did before getting the car away from their incompetent hands.
Since I've had it replaced, the performance response has increased greatly also. Good luck! Let us know how you go.
DO NOT BUY A VECTRA - My wife bought a new Vectra back in 1998 and we have spent more on repairs over the past ten years than on the initial purchase price. The usual items - camshaft sensors, crankshaft sensors, new cylinder head, timing belts, multitude of electrical problems, A/C etc etc. If you have got one and it is running (unlikely), sell it before it sends you broke!
JSII CD V6 Vectra - great car for the first 65000k's. This car has been in the family since new, and I can say it has been great until:
First the air conditioning controls died. Luckily this was covered and cost me nothing.
Then the car hit 65000k and all hell broke loose.
First the water leak issue, which I took back to the dealer on 4 occasions. Then the dealership surprised me with a $2200 bill, because the oil cooler was damaged (I think check labour or inexperienced service personnel). I argued and got it reduced by half.
Two weeks later it inherited issues with starting, cranks fine but would not fire. Back to the dealer 2 weeks later and they cannot find the problem, only suggested option is to replace the ECU (computer $3k).
Now when the car fails, I start it using aero-start and it works (the issue probably not the ECU). Still seeking a solution, any ideas?
Thanks.
Holden Vectra JSII 1999 auto
Purchased it 2nd hand with about 125000k on clock. 1 week later my engine had seized and I had to replace it with a $2,750 2nd hand engine. It was the cheapest I could find. Not to forget the labour cost too. Since having it replaced, I had no problems until 9 months ago when my V6 car decided to start running on only 5 cylinders. Still drive able, but not pleasant to do so. As well as the timing belt seizing.
My stereo turns up in volume while driving since I purchased the car 2 years ago.
It is my first car, and despite the problems, it's great with comfort and room. The boot is so big!
And it's a nice looking car.
I will definitely do my research before I buy my next car.
My wife has a late 1999 CD Vectra purchased in January 2000.
We have been having seemingly battery /alternator troubles. Two years ago the car would not start. Replaced battery, then alternator, then air intake sensor, then battery again, finally replaced battery stem and it then went fine.
Now two years later, similar problem. Replaced the battery yesterday, RACV supplied. This morning the battery light came on for 20 minutes and went off. It subsequently comes on intermittently whilst driving this afternoon.
Holden dealer has always serviced the vehicle as per service manual. Does anyone have a suggestion as to a mechanic around the Ivanhoe, Heidelberg, Rosanna area of Melbourne who is capable of sorting out the issue. It would be much appreciated.
I also mention the service manual does not require transmission oil replacement, I suggest owners ask for a change. We had an auto transmission service recently and the oil was black, never been touched in 160,000Klms.
Regards
Pat.
Holden Vectra JS 11, 2001 equipe model.
Purchased second hand from an auctioners in Melb city, with 79K on the clock, came with aftermarket 16 inch rims and lowered suspension. Everything else was standard. When we took it for a test drive, it drove well but had some suspension issues, upon returning to the dealer, we let them know that if they fixed the problems, we would consider purchase. The dealer spent just over 2K to fix suspension and brake rotor problems, with service thrown in. All good.
I've had the car for a year and a couple of months now and it's got around 90K on it with two services done (one by myself, cost relatively nothing, and one by my service dealer) I'm happy to say I've had hardly any problems with it like the comments above, it does have a strange idle when warm, hunting from 550 revs to 750, here and there, I just changed the spark plugs and leads, hoping this would remedy the idle, but it didn't, it did increase the response and performance of the engine, happy about that! Am going to try replacing the idle speed/air control servo motor.
I have never had to replace any sensors anywhere on the car or engine yet. Though my wife's car, which is the same as mine, just had the cam sensor and cam belt changed as her warning lights came on while driving, her tacho jumped up and down without revving the engine too!! At 70K. But that's all for hers.
I have replaced nearly every bulb in the instrument cluster and gear shift lever lighting, for LED lighting, but upon changing the battery warning light for a LED, now when I start the engine, sometimes the light stays on and the alternator doesn't charge (checked out) The auto electrician said not to worry, give it a little rev and the regulator kicks over and everything is fine!! Weird!
And as for Holden!! I visited them once for info on how to release the standard CD player out, they were very smart a**ed about it, wanted to charge me 80$ to remove it, Don't worry I said to them, I went to my local Bursons auto parts store and they helped me with everything I needed to know for free!!! Purchased a service manual as well, which tells you near everything needed from servicing to removing panels, CD player, door skins, changing bulbs throughout the car and adjusting headlight height(Holden wanted $60 to do it)
My car had been serviced its whole life at Holden, which I thought was a good thing when I looked at the log book, upon the first service at my independent servicer, we found they hadn't changed spark plugs, leads, pollen filter, air filter and fuel filter for the life of the car, but had told the lady owner before me that I was done!! I feel bad for all the ladies that get treated that way by service shops, they did it to my wife, then I walked in and set them straight.
Vectra's are a great car, I've rebadged mine to be a Vauxhall, pimped it out with HID headlights and a massive stereo, but Holden are a bunch of monkeys nuts as far as I'll say to anyone. No clues at all. For Commodores too!!
My Vectra 2000 model, the dashboard light keeps cutting off, the RPM meter and etc goes to zero, but the performance of the car doesn't change, and also my head lamp bulb keeps blowing off.
Can anyone help?
Thanks
Owen.
I am looking for a workshop manual for my 1999 Vectra JS. We need to replace our power steering belt. Any help would be great.
Heath.
My 99 Vectra has same problem. Gauges drop to zero whilst driving. Sometimes loses all acceleration power and lights come on down the bottom.
Holden have told me for $116 per hour they can run some unguaranteed diagnostics.
Possible solutions that have been mentioned to me are:
1. Alternator overcharging, which can mean a new alternator, or depending on type, just a new regulator.
2. If not this, the instrumentation cluster may need to be replaced. $$$
I have read, to help determine no.1, place a multimeter on battery and see that if the volts go high (from 14 to 18) when gauges drop to zero, then that it means the alternator is overcharging.
Any other advice?
Any one able to post where they got car fixed. NE subs of Melbourne.
Good luck everyone.
Jason.
Heath.
Is your Vectra a 4 cylinder or V6?
For dashboard dropping to zero while driving, possibility is one of the ABS circuit boards needs replacing/refurbishing. Had the same problem in 2000 Vectra and Holden dealer identified an ABS problem. Dealer removed ABS board from car and sent for refurbishment. During those few weeks, vehicle has no ABS and speedo does not register any k's, but vehicle otherwise operates normally.
Addendum to info for gauges dropping to zero (ABS problem)... while ABS board is removed, you have no speedo or trip meter readings. Drive a little slower than everyone else because you won't know how fast you're going.
Jason.
I have exactly the same problem with my 2000 JSII CD Vectra. Only dropped it off for it's 120k service this morning - the only explanation Holden can give me is that the alternator is over-charging but that's not a guaranteed solution. For $180 labour & $300 for a new alternator I think I'll take my chances. Mine blew a timing belt last year at 109k kms and Holden didn't want to know about it! Be VERY careful if anybody is considering buying one 2nd hand - mine has cost me more $$$ than it's worth.
Jason,
I have a 2000 Vectra JSII Olympic Edition 2.2L 4 cyl auto, which had exactly these problems up until 95K - Instruments dropping to zero momentarily, headlights & instrument lights dipping, and blown many bulbs throughout the car. The car was most unreliable electrically. Local auto electrician replaced the Bosch regulator in the alternator with another brand at cost $265. Have not had one problem with the car since and it is now at 155K.
Auto electrician said at the time that the Bosch regulator was a well known weakness with the Vectra (apparently known to all but Holden Dealers). This regulator apparently allows the alternator to overcharge and blows other electrical components.