Exhaust was rusted out when I got it.
Cat converter was blocked when I got it.
Steering wheel had lost structural integrity when I got it.
Air con won't work.
Front seat came loose.
Side mirror adjusters keep slipping out of position.
Rubbers on the driver's window went brittle and led to serious scratching on the drivers side window.
Water leaks in top/passenger side of the boot.
Spark leads needed replacement.
4 of the 6 injectors were leaking (all 6 needed replacement, I got the items at $85 each, cost price)
Spark plugs needed replacement.
Air intake plumbing keeps falling off.
Brake master cylinder leak, brake failure.
Crank angle sensor died.
Alternator will not charge battery usually.
One time the starter motor would not engage.
Fuel tank developed a leak in a hose connection.
Drive belt needed replacing.
Power steering rack developed a leak.
**All of these problems, (unless otherwise stated) have happened within the last 4000kms and 12 months of ownership.
I love Holden's and always have, always will. For this reason, when it came time to choose a replacement for my old VN Commodore (which had served me faithfully as my first car) my decision was instant that the new car would be a holden. I chose the VL because I love the shape of them and had heard that the engine is an absolute gem. I chose this VL Commodore BT1 (non turbo) because it is in incredible body condition for a VL and when I purchased it, the engine worked VERY well.
I was a 17 year old student when I purchased this car and my experiences with it can only be described as heartbreaking. I have no job due to my final year school commitments and despite the fact that I have always treated this car like an absolute baby (ie it has NEVER done a burnout or even exceeded 110km/h since I've owned it) it has giving me nothing, but trouble. Right now the car is sitting in the driveway because the crank angle sensor has died and I can't afford to fix it.
When I first purchased the VL Commodore, I replaced the old rusted out exhaust system with a 2 1/2 inch exhaust system with a high flow cat and extractors, I also replaced the air filter with a high performance "k&n" panel filter and advanced the ignition timing to 25 degrees. After these modifications it does still not go as hard as my old bone stock rust box VN used to, and the exhaust system is so quiet it could easily be mistaken for stock (if you get an exhaust and you want some mean noise...Don't GET ONE WITH 2 MUFFLERS!)
I also replaced the old bendy steering wheel with an Autotechnica leather wrapped item and I could not be happier with this are of the car. The VL power steering is excellent and combined with this little sports wheel - gives amazingly responsive handling, despite the fact that the power steering rack has started leaking.
To enhance the appearance of the car I had the bumpers color coded. I saved a lot of money on this as I did the prep work my self, I would definitely recommend having the bumpers color coded to the rest of the car as it makes the vehicle look far more sporty. I also had a 3" chrome tip welded on the exhaust and replaced the tail lights with "Calais" tinted items, I think the Calais lights look far superior.
I also installed a fairly good sound system as the stock VL item is pretty bad. I put in a Sony head deck with Pioneer front and rear speakers, I also installed an MTX amplifier and an MTX competition grade sub woofer. This combination sounds great however the VL alternator does not work all of the time and this means often there is not enough voltage to power the amplifier which is a shame.
I would not recommend this car to a young person without money to repair it should things go wrong. Sure, the VL looks awesome and the RB30 engine has great potential, but at the age of 17 I did not need this drain on my finances, the car cost me $2800 and I have spent up wards of $4000 on top of that in the last 12 months in keeping it on the road (not including the exhaust, stereo etc). I always wanted a VL Turbo as my next car, but after this experience I think I will buy something newer (still a holden of course) and when I get older and I have some more funds, maybe then get back into a VL because despite all the problems, I still do think they are a classic machine.
Bad luck there dude. I have the same car, 1988 with only 85,000k on the clock. Had it for only 2 weeks when the crank angle sensor died on me. Got a second hand distributor from the wreckers for $150 and I am back on the road again. Wonder how long it will last.
Most of the problems you have described are fairly typical. I have 2 VL commodores, One Auto and one Manual. I have replaced crank angle sensor, Temp sensor, Air flow meter (expensive!), timing belt etc etc. I believe the VL is a great car and although there are some problems, they are easily fixed with some know how. I purchased a set of VL commodore service manuals (Volume 1-5) from ebay and am very impressed with the level of detail. Best $120 I have ever spent on car books!!
Best of luck with your VL, I have recently spent $$ on rebuilding the manual gearbox and also bought a Group A spoiler kit and supercharger. Should look good and go good when it finished!
Cheers,
Ian.
Hey dude bad luck about the car. i got an 86 Calais just a straight six auto, but it still goes good. its got viper integral A2's on it white and lowered. got the crank angle sensor replaced a year and a half ago so yeah. he car is reliable. well hope it all goes good and good luck from Josh!!!
I Have a VL Commodore and agree that there too expensive for a young student. My VL head just cracked and I got a quote for 2 and half thousand dollars minimum for it to get fixed, however my friend who knows a bit about cars is helping me out and so now I only have to pay just a little over $550. So therefore as the old saying goes "its not what you know, but who you know".
Sorry tale.
I have heard that one of the reasons for the head to fail is that air gets trapped in the cylinder head. There is a bleed screw at the top of the inlet (I think it is) which occasionally needs to be used to ensure that coolant gets all the way through the head.
Mate, I have the exact same car... A 1987 VL BT-1 Original.
And I baught it when I was in Year 12, and I earnt $50/Week and agree that they just have so many problems, but are just such a great looking/sounding and easy to love car.
In the first 2 and a Half Years of me owning it, now I am 19...And just Finished Studying... I have replaced just about everything, I have spent up-wards of $23,000 on replacing things, have professional work done, and a few extras...
- The crank angle sensor,
- the dizzy,
- the rotor button,
- exhaust manifold gasket, so I thought I'd put on a set of extractors at the same time, they were no-names, and that is costing me big. I am next week getting Pacemakers on, so the car won't wibrate and idle wrong like the poor quality made one I had on her before.
- The Stud set that goes around the extractors/exhaust manifold, as they were all pretty much cracked, as they are on all VL's.
- New Battery,
- A few Services,
- Complete re-wireing of the dash.
- Fuse box faults fixed, new relays.
- A whole lot of other engine things in which I cannot think of... But have Receipts for.
- A Total Recondition of the BT-1 manualised Valve Body Gear-box,
- New 2 and 1/2 inch Exhaust
- New Extractors next week
- Although I wanted this stuff, I saved for ever...
- A Complete Calais interior which I put in.
- A $3,000 Sound System, total Quality.
- Walkinshaw Wheels which I bought, then had to get reconditioned.
- Total Re-newal of the entire brake system, not that long after I had the car. Which was like $1,500.
- Seat Covers
- Floor Mats.
- Dash Mat.
- Steering Wheel Cover.
- Berlina Centre Console put in.
- I mean the list goes on, up to the stage where I have spent $23,000 or so... and that is excluding Rego, Insureances etc.
I have done everything bar a Body Kit which I don't want. I have to yet fix the bit of rust under the back window, and re-alinge the tail shaft. Oh, not to mention the Lifters need to be totally replaced.
And you may ask well, how many Kays does the car have on her? 122,000 when I bought her. And just over 2 and a 1/2 Years later...142,000. I mean, I didn't drive her that much at all. infact in Year 12, I barely used her. Because I could only afford to fix her, clean her, pay for the petrol, and then pay my Mother back etc. I couldn't afford crap.
Ha ha, now what do I own?! Well I still own VL 0030, which is my Blue BT-1. But I also have a Factory Original Calais Turbo which she is putting me through my paces with replacing parts also. But she won't be driven, she is practically a show car only, although completely Stock...
Anyway, I am pretty tied, I think I am going to collapse from typing. So See you.
Cheers.
Probaby buy another car next year that is new with-out Problems... Ha ha.
Cool, thanks.
Sounds like a real run of bad luck mate. I have a 1987 VL SL with an Aero kit, 15 inch mags and it's an auto. Even though I have done a lot of circle work and 180+ km/h driving, all that has gone wrong is one lousy gearbox (that's the circle work :) ).
Hey, I actually just bought a manual VL for bout $3500, and the only things I've had to do to keep it going so far were cleaning the injectors, replacing the brushings on the suspension, new brake fluid and new spark plugs. that's what I've paid for. asides from that I've totally re-wired the center part of the dash (aircon, radio - new head unit naturally) and the illumination circuit. I still have to fix the boot leak, the boot release, the lifters and the synchros on the reverse gear. the tacho and speedo are slow and the fuel gauge doesn't work, but other than that it's pretty sweet. worst things on the car are the suspension and gearbox, apparently the diff's a bit weak (my mate blew 3 of them before he got an LSD - though he does thrash his a bit. I was going to turbo it, but the odometer has gone from 240,000 to 727,000 to 342,000 so i'd probably have to recondition the block, so I found a '94 supra engine (NA) which i'll get if I can get a gearbox for it - at 190kw the Vl's will die pretty quick - then twin turbo it. just yeah, my previous owner lived out in whoop whoop, old guy, so plenty of driving, maintenance and care kept it in shape. though if you want a burnout car, get a VN, those things can take a serious hammering (just look after the brake and power steering systems, they break at the worst times.
Crank angle sensor water leaks in from deteriorated rubber boot on dizzy. brake master cylinder has common flts e.g. too much travel replce master cyl 1st deglaze discs oxy sensor flt causes rough idling hard too start etc $40 at wreckers not being a smarty pants, but most of you guys probs need not have cost you so much maybe there should be a forum with common flts I hate se4eing young guys wasting money that could be better spent on beer and women.
I have a 1988 vl calais and I was wondering what the size of the front speakers were? if any one could help me that would be great.
I have an 88 VL SL and I love it, paid $660 for it too, but its in real good condition considering the money (ebay). At the moment the engine is dead, and needs replacing, the boot leaks, and the head unit... well if you have ever owned a vl you would know what I'm talking about in regards to it. But overall I love the car...
These cars do have a few motor problems, but compared to the Falcon of the time appear reliable. Though, it still suprises me how well the older (poverty looking) Magna's still go from back then. My grandma still has an '89 model with 379,000km on the clock and it is still going (on a non-reconditioned motor) ; literally I am shocked. So out of all Australian cars the test of time has proven that the Magna is the better of the three in terms of reliability. Though, saying this, the VL will always remain a problem seeking classic Holden, which looks very neat in Calais form for its time.
Hay man, sounds like normal stuff for that age, if it cannot beat your stock v6 thers a problem, mine a 2lt vl commodore,new zealand only I think, just leaves them in the dust so to speak, id recomment getting a cam, say mild lump you can put it in your self easy, but if you know not much about timing don't try to put cam belt back on, could cost a lot in bent parts, should be good for 220 230 kph ooh extractors will up your sound... and go.
You guys must be getting sucked in with these cars you have, do you look at them and test drive them before handing over the money for them??
I have a 1986 vl executive that I bought for $400. I have had it 4 years now and all that has gone wrong with it is a stuffed battery, but that's nothing to do with the car itself, the only money I have spent on the car is for the body kit and wheels,
sure my paint isn't spectacular, but there is no rust and the motor drives great and still starts first time without blowing smoke or anything after 376,000 kays.
In 4 years I have never even touched the plugs or leads or dizzy, never had a need to.
I changed the oil once every 12 months and it runs like a dream. so you guys must have been ripped bad. my advice to you is this,
LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE BUYING AND DON'T TRUST CAR YARDS.
Yeah fellas a bit of bad luck in all your story's hey
anyway I got a 1986 vl auto I have spent a little money on it
but I bought a set of extractors and 2 1/2 all the way through wid a 3 inch tip and I banged out the caddi converter and frig it sounds tough, but mine sucks on take off
the best thing I ever did to the car was buy a set of 18" rims they make the car look wooooo.