Comments: 1-15, 16
Had problems with heater core, alternator, tailshaft, starter motor, front suspension, petrol hose tank leaks, fuel pump, water pump and small electrical problems.
Although I have had many problems with my particular VH Commodore, it has never left me anywhere and always taken me to my destination. Compared to problems with other cars, VH parts are the cheapest. I would recommend this car to buyers that are willing to spend money on the car remembering it is nearly 20 years old.
I own a 1983 VH Commodore SL and it has proven to be a very good car, yet I cannot understand how you can rate the running costs as 9/10. Being a leaded motor and with the price of petrol at the moment I feel a rating of 6 is more appropriate.
I own a VH SL/E with a 4.2. I have had it for years and never really had a problem. But I too agree that the price of petrol has turned it into an expensive car to run! But I love it, and will not give it up!
I own a VH SLX, I disagree with the running costs being so high, I think it would be a 5-6, especially on leaded petrol.
I've had my VH SL 6CYL Sedan Automatic for almost two years. I'm currently fixing it for Road Worthy. It's my first car and seems to be well, doesn't blow smoke and runs like a dream. I guess she will do me good when she is registered, but I agree the fuel cost is a problem.
I own a SL/X Holden Commodore station wagon and would like to know what is under the hood and what type of transmission it has, I would like to find out any other things about the car that are of any use as well. If any one can help me please e-mail me at multiread69@hotmail.com.
Mate you are an idiot to own a car and not know what is under the bonnet and what sort of trany it has, grow a dam brain! IDIOT!!!
Those commodores come with a range of motors. 1.9L 4 cil - 2.8L 6 cil - 3.3L 6 cil - 4.2L 8 cil - 5.0L 8 cil. If you are lucky you have the 5.0L V8 but it is most likely to be a 3.3 straight six (blue block I think). When you start to get rust in your boot it is either the lip under the seal of your boot, the seal itself or the seals around your rear lights. If and when this rust becomes apparent you will need to pay attention to the drop either side of the boot floor as water will pool there and cause you some problems... best to get onto this before it eats through like mine did before I got it. If your car is a bit rough to drive and/or has rough gear changed it is almost certainly going to be your transmission. The old commodores get thrashed a lot due to their light rear and large amount of power. First thing to go is normally the uni joints or the diff as these receive A lot of stress when you drift the vehicle. All repairs and parts are pretty cheap until you come to the transmission. I had to get mine reconditioned and it cost me APPROXIMATELY $1090.24aus... that one hurt..
I think if you paid a thousand bucks to reco your transmission you got screwed over!. Where did you take it to?? "Millionaries Auto Transmissions'?? I got my VH auto reco'd for $400 here in Sydney recently...
G'day, just wondering, if anyone could help me out with the name of a site, that shows the reader how to do the actual repairs, I need to do to my VH COMMODORE? I.e. Tail shaft, diff, carby, Or if there was anyone who had a manual that wasn't needed, that they might be able to make a gift of :) If anyone can help me pls e-mail me at azzaw1973@hotmail.com thank you very much for your time...
Just a few comments about the fuel consumption issue, most VH commodores are 3.3 's or (202) auto's, they are a good old motor with a lot of low revving torque and quite strong if not abused, but they are heavy on petrol, by today's standards anyway. But most people forget the little motors like the 2850 six and the starfire, I have owned a lot of commodore's in my 30 odd years of life and the VH 2.85 manual particularly the five speed were quite quick and easy on fuel to boot. so don't forget not all commodore's are 202's and not all are petrol guzzlers, depends on your right foot also I suppose. But even after a lot of cars (25 or so) the VH commodore still stands out as the best car (s) Iv'e had.
The 2.85 litre or 173 Cubic Inch in the old Language is a good motor. When it came out in the VH Commodore the motor mags loved it. It was rated with the 5 Speed at 35 Miles Per Gallon, but that's a bit far fetched. It was the only VH 6 with a 5 speed box. It also had an air pump like the Japanese cars that used an extra fan belt for pollution laws. My favourite is the 4.2 litre V8, it gets good economy and some people say it uses less petrol than the 3.3 Litre. One thing to remember about the V8 compared to the 3.3 or 2.85 is that the V8 has cross flow heads which is a better design, the 6 does not. I am an oldy and been driving now for 20 years and have had 4.2 and 5.0 Litres. Still feel the VH SL/E Commodore Dark Blue Over Silver is Classy and the interior is better than any of the small Commodores or Calais.
I would just like to add to what I was saying about the VH SL/E Having The Nicest Interior. I must say that I favour the VH Commodores Interiors outright. The use of the darker colors and fabrics was a nice choice by Holden and being so impressed by the VH commodore I could not wait to see what Holden would do next, I was disapionted by the interiors of the VK and VL. Overall the VH Commodore Is in a league of it's own, Style inside and out and reliable running gear, lets hope the ones that are left are around for a long time to come. Long live the last of the chrome bumpers.
I have only had my 83 VH SL/X for about a year and it has been excelent to me so far. It is the 5 Speed 173. It's actually pretty good on fuel, when you're so paranoid about it and you're looking at the ecconomy gauge more than the road.
Hi guys...
I was just wondered if anyone knew the best way to set up my carby filter?
I got a VH SL 1982 with a varo jet carby filter on it. I've blocked off most of the pollution gear, but there is still the hose that runs from the top of the engine to the carby filter, and a hose that runs directly from the carby itself to the carby filter... should I connect those hoses to the carby filter or should I just block them???
I've owned quiet a few VB-VH Commodores. Previously I had UC Torana's.
Both have been great!.
In today's fuel expensive world I recon you can't go past the 1.9ltr Starfire motor.
It's a simple pushrod design like it's big brother the red / Blue / Black inline 6.
Cheaper rego, and good fuel economy. All cast iron block and head. (No alloy head to crack!).
It's only weak point, same as the 6cyl version is the cam shaft timing gear which is originally a fibre cog. Replace this with the alloy replacement and your ready to rock and roll for many years.
The 4cyl body is the same as the 6 and 8. But the front end, wheel size, wheel stud pattern, diff ratio, & tailshaft are different. Pretty much everything else is interchangeable.
The 5 speed Borg Warner from the VH & VK 6cyl 2.6ltr versions can be transplanted into these little 4cyl's by using an automatic tailshaft out of a 202 / 3.3ltr Commodore.
There are also people experimenting with cutting down the EFI manifold from the VK EFI 6cyl Commodores to create an EFI Starfire Model.
Like wise the Distributor can be upgraded to electronic on the 4's by pinching the internal magnetic / electronic section from other non Holden cars of the same era and piecing the two distributors together.
All in all this car is very cheap and easy to run and maintain. Very simple design, still lots of parts available and much scope with regards to simple worthwhile modifications that will aid in ease of ongoing maintance, reliability and economy.
On a 1-10 scale for a reborn retro vehicle to help limit the 2007 Bills Blues, it's a 10 out of 10 in my books!
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