It seems that problems with this model is common although your last comment of "We decided to buy an Australian-made car to support our local industry. We will never buy a Holden again..." this isn't a Australian made car... this is a European car made in Belgium. Please do not try and give the Australian car industry a bad name because you don't have the right information. There is a lot of good Australian and European cars, it is unfortunate that you got a lemon.
If only I had visited this site two weeks ago...=)
My sister has just purchased a 1998 JS Vectra with only 34,000 on the clock. We thought this was a good deal as the car looked and drove great at the dealer.
However...1 week later we noticed the passenger door wouldn't lock remotely. Didn't think much of it, Holden said they would fix it. The next day the car cut out on her, luckily driving through a back street.
We called Holden and expressed our concern at the problem. They said this was the first they had heard of any such problem and that we should bring it in again. On the way to dealership, the car stalled on a main road. Needless to say, my sister and mum were quite shaken up when they arrived at Holden. After insisting that the dealer take this car back in exchange for something else, they replaced the IAC valve/motor/whatever and stated that the stalling problem will not happen again.
My mum and sister bought the story and drove home with no more problems. The VERY next day, the car would not start, idled erratically, and then stalled again. It was then I did some research and worked out it is a 'common' problem.
We called the dealer, expressed our disbelief that they would lie to us and put us in danger with an unroadworthy car. They then offered to have the car towed to the dealer for further inspection.
While we continue to insist that we no longer want this car, the dealership manager has stated that he has asked a Holden electric specialist to drive the car over the weekend and determine the fault. The fault will then be rectified and he will give us the 'Holden Certified' warranty (3 year / 175,000k) at no charge. In the meantime they provided my sister with a new Daewoo Matiz to get around in.
I plan to go to the dealership when they call us and say the car is 'all good' to ask for a detailed explanation of the repairs performed. I am also interested in the potential the timing belt may need to be replaced given the car is 8 years old, regardless of the 34,000ks travelled.
Simple question... does anyone have experience with Holden successfully resolving this problem???
Please let me know at thehoopers@iinet.net.au.
Good luck! Brad.
In regards to Brad's enquiry,
I also bought a 1998 Vectra inn September 2005 with 47115 kms on the clock.
I have had no trouble with stalling, but would strongly recommend that the timing belt be done before 60,000 Kms (The scheduled Service for replacement of the Timing Belt).
My Mechanic has had several instances where the Timing Belt has snapped at 61000 kms.
The cost of this Service is quite large, as usually the Pulley Bearings need to be replaced.
My service cost was $1068.00 (I also needed a Water Pump).
I love my Vetra and the way it drives, but since buying it in 2000 I've had so many things go wrong from basic to major.
4 new tyres
New brakes
New alternator
New central locking system
New battery
2x new cam belts with tensioner, water pump etc
10 new valves after water pump seized
Faulty fuel tank - twice
And stalling / cutting out while doing 100k on the motorway (can't remember what cuased that).
Just checked out this site as I just took a 98 S station wagon out for a spin (test drive). Love the look, size, space and no fuss style of the car and this one has only done 63000 Klm's.
During the test drive, I didn't notice any problems, but after reading this thread, I have become very wary of even considering picking this thing up!
I have had an 85 civic for 11 years - it is 21 now and completed 333000 klm's - the normal things have been replaced along the way, but other than that, no problems at all!
I would be livid if an 8 year old car would give me such grief after being blessed with the Civic.
By the look of most reviews here - I would be best to stay away from the Vectra full stop.
This is unfortunate as we hired a 99 station wagon in Holland in 2000 and it was ace! - it is the reason I checked this one out. As you can see, I like to hold onto cars for a long time and if I was to encounter these types of problems listed frequently, I would go crazy!
Are the wagons just as bad? Any feedback would be appreciated, but for now, I think I'll keep driving my start first time gem Fuzzy, my ever reliable '85 civic! :)
Cheers.
Anyone found a solution regarding what is causing their Vectra's to stall?
Firstly, I empathise.
I have owned two Vectra's. The first, a 2.2ltr Auto. Fantastic car, I travelled 198000 klms and still as reliable as a new car. A few noises here and there, but fine otherwise.
Secondly, a 2.6ltr V6 Automatic. And currently 88000 klms. Fine car, great specifications.
Lets get to the problems; Cam Belts- not an issue at all. It's the tensioners that needed replacing at 60k. The 2.2 being the main contributor to faulting. Stalling- dirty IAC, clean with CRC or Carby cleaner.
The 2.6ltr, Cam Belt again was let down by Idlers and Tensioners. For goodness sake replace before 90 klms. This is when the water pump often fails.
Service your Vectra at 15 klm intervals, don't stop start your engines. (Run for approximately 30 minutes). Fuel them with Premium U/L. Look after them. You will get plenty from your Vectra.
"On this note, many Vectra's are Rep cars, they burn miles after mile, they love HWY travel. Trust me I put a JSII through 198 thousand, and I'm on my second JSII at 88 thousand."
Enough said.
But please, if your interested in purchasing, or your apprehensive about Vectra's, don't be. Feel free to email me about them. I know these cars like the back of my hand.
Shannon.roy@netcall.com.au.
Hi everyone, my cousin has bought a holden vectra 98. It stalls while idoling and coughs when you floor it. The kms reading isn't showing as it's a digital screen and it's an uncomfortable car to drive. Been reading everyones comments and it sounds like were not the only ones having these SAME problems. Its also very hard to find mags for them as the studd pattern is different to most other 5 studd patterns here in NZ which are 5 by 114.3 and 5 by 100. Does anyone know the exact stud pattern for this model???
YES there is a fix to this problem! Had the same problem with my mum's JR vectra. It involves cleaning the IAC valve and some other components. Have a look at:
http://www.cavweb-forums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=24391&page=5
and also have a look at:
http://82.34.50.33/sytemsandsoftwaredevelopment/systems/automotive/How_to/General/ecotecidlevalve.htm.
Got this done to mum's car, and two months later still no stalling! :)
I have Vectra 2.0 ecotec 1995.year (180.000km). It runs good. But after warm start it stalls approximately after 1-2 minute. Then after 1 minute it starts good. But again, it stalls second time after 0.5-1 minute. Then again it starts good. And no stalling appears. But problem will be again after a stop for more than 0.5-1 hour. Again stalling will bee twice. When I begin drive with cold motor there are no problems. ECU show fault codes for speed sensor and camshaft sensor.
I have a 1998 holden vectra. I've had the stalling problem for a while. I refused to bring my car to holden as they were gonna charge me around $1000 to "fix" it. So I had it fixed at Kmart auto. Kmart couldn't fix it, one of the guys at work knew what the problem was and he fixed my car straight away it hasn't stalled for about a year now (knock on wood). But as soon as I pay off my car off I will sell it straight away or trade it in. Because at the moment I'm having problems with the "central locking" key. it seldom locks the left side passenger door. and now I have to leave my car at work because the key is stuffed up and wouldn't unlock the doors, I can't even manually unlock my the driver door or the boot! vectra sucks! I reckon it's better to buy a toyota than a holden! holden sucks!
About a month ago I bought 1998 Vectra 2.2 CD sedan, auto, with 83000Km on the clock. I had it immediately serviced, and had the timing belt and its associated bits and pieces done. I also had the water pump replaced. About a week after I bought the car, the engine light came on. I took the car to a Holden dealer, who said the brake and camshaft sensors were at fault, so they were done. However, the engine light was still coming on. So I took it to another Holden dealer, who said the ECU was at fault. Fine, so I had that done. However, engine light is STILL on. Then this dealer rang me today and said the light was on because the timing belt needs changing. Then I pointed out that the belt has been done recently. Now they seem to have no idea what the problem may be. Any ideas, anyone? Anyway, as soon as this is fixed, I shall be trading this car in for a Honda or Subaru. I should also have listened to my mechanic brother (who works in Germany), when he said "Never trust anything designed by Opel".
Ah yes I have a twice replaced cam-angle sensor to stop the JR CD model Vectra 1998 imported model from stalling, as well as the twice replaced cam-belt (in one year) Jan 06 and Dec 06 - today in fact my dark red paper weight is awaiting its quote for repair - this one caused by the water pump crapping itself - imagine that the water pump craps itself and BANG the timing belt and inlet valves all go out in sympathy - sometimes you should take notice of warnings in my case while awaiting delivery the wharf was on strike and the car was not able to be moved. I do know the value of hind-sight now its the cost of two cam-angle sensors & two cam belts and one water pump totalled. Alas I do know where I'll never buy again.
Anyone who can complain about owning a vectra deserves to drive some boring bad handling japanese or korean car with all the charm of whitegoods. you all don't deserve to have a drivers car. go away and trade your vectras in so that people who want them can have them. and between 1999 and 2001 they were made in adelaide.
I currently have a 1999 Vectra and as with a lot of you I am having major problems. The car was great for 18 months and then 2 months ago I had to have the IAC valve replaced after the car continually stalled. About a month later the car would intermittently not start so the mechanic had the car for 3 weeks in which time he was unable to pin point the problem. The car was then passed on to Holden who say it needs a replacement control panel at a cost of $2500.
Has anyone else had this part replaced and was the cost comparable?
As for those few people on this forum who say the car is good- I am glad that you have had a good experience, but obviously your cars are the exception not the rule.