The water pump failed and needed to be replaced.
The crank-angle sensor needed to be replaced.
The power steering pump was leaking fairly badly and needed to be replaced.
Oil leaks from the sump or rear main seal, but is not bad enough for me to have to worry about it.
Water was getting into the boot lid, but was easily fixed by applying a coat of silicone to the rear light seals.
Air conditioning not functioning, needs a re-gas.
Sometimes stalls when backing out in reverse.
Despite all the problems I've had I'm happy with the car.
It's got high kilometres, but the oil colour has remained clear since it was changed 4000 KS ago and general consumption despite leak has been fine.
The power is excellent when you put your foot down and comes on strong and hard because of the V6's inherent low- rev torque nature.
I'm a big guy and there's plenty of room for me to stretch my legs, and side room is also good, in my last car which was a magna I was really bunched up especially next to the door.
The temperature since fixing the water pump is always very low, even on hotter days and has no overheating problems whatsoever.
General fuel consumption is around the average of 12L/100km in the city, but can go up substantially when driven with a lead foot.
General handling is good, but does suffer from understeer when pushed hard into corners.
Sounds like a typical VR.
Problems with my VR have included:
- Power steering leaks - rebuilt for $50.
- HT leads don't last long, misfiring.
- Rear main oil seal leaks.
- Smoke on starting, probably need new valve guides.
What I don't like:
- The auto transmission gearing is terrible. 1st is low, second is too high, 4th is unnecessary for city driving.
- Brake feel is a bit spongy, but they bite OK.
- Clunky drive train.
What I do like:
- Good performance, good low down torque and overtaking performance.
- Cheap to fix when you avoid dealers.
- Reliable.
As a cheap, large family car it is hard to fault.
Vr commordore executive wagon bought with 147,000 ks on the clock and it seems the power steering leak was typical, fixed while still under 3-month warranty.
Has run well for 20,000 ks since and performs well, but a recent visit to the dealer ended up with a report that the main oil seal is leaking. This doesn't immediately need doing, but when it does it's an 'engine out' job and the quote is 'no change out of $1700'! If anyone has any comments on this it would be appreciated.
Dave.
Thoese problems are the typical annoying things with commodores. as you all say, their a reliable car. I bought my vr from an impound lot and it has a little cosmetic damage. but the main concern is that the body control module has shot to bits, I opened it up and there was corrosion (like on a battery terminal) and I was not responding to the key unlocking the doors. now I rang up a few wreckers round my area and asked for a 878 bcm (that's what was in there), the wreckers all said it should be a low 879 or 90, because of airbag, cruise, trip, ABS and the irs controller. now that has got me worried. it's a 93 model, but I'm stuffed to find someone who has got that body control module.
I own a 1994 commodore vr and so far I've replaced
crank angle sensor
and I think it was the ignition module and my steering has a leak otherwise it's a brilliant car, but recently it has developed a miss fire has anybody else had this if so could you let me know thanks.
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