I have had a JS Vectra since 1998 demo with 3300kms on the clock. Just after I bought it, it started stalling at low speeds - great in busy traffic!. Took to Holden and they gave me the run around they blamed the IAC motor. They fixed it, but it never went away really. I had a friend that was quite far up in the chain at Holden and they took the car in for me to fix the idle/stalling problem the car came back to me reving like I was about to drag everyone of at the lights. They had to take it back and they got very annoyed at service and amazingly it has 2 modifications under the bonnet to fix the problem, which I found out was a common problem that was written about in Holden journals.
The air conditioner dash lights don't work anymore, the fans don't blow air properly which all needs to be fixed. The back door doesn't lock on the central locking anymore.
The exhaust system had holes in it which needed to be fixed and now today the timing belt broke and had to be towed back to Holden - it is however at 102000km better than most I have been reading.
I would not buy one again if I had my time again - my parents trusty old Ford was a better car!
I was looking up this forum to find out about the CENTRAL LOCKING problem I currently have with my 1998 Vectra JS II.
I bought it when new and have done over 293,000 km. I did have some stalling problems a few months ago - but I believe that was due to the cheaper petrol I filled up with when in Melbourne.
Has any one any idea how to fix the CENTRAL LOCKING problem. The car indicator lights still respond when using the control on the key - but I can't open any doors except the Driver Door and Boot (by key only). All other doors can't be open - even from the inside.
Any help is much appreciated.
Needless to say - that after over 293,000 km I love that car and had great runs up in Northern Territory with 3 adults and speed over 200km/hr.
Hi.
I bought a Holden "Vectra" 98 2Litre and I had the stalling problem 1 week after buying it and they reset the idle and it worked fine for while, then the engine light started to come on and the car used to stall, this one was a nightmare, we ended up replacing the camshaft sensor, the light stopped to come on, the car worked fine for 3 months until I serviced it and they somehow played with the idle "as per the job paper" the car started to stall again and they kept the car for 2 days because they couldn't figure out what is the problem, finally they said it is the idle that needs replacing as the "stepper motor" is somehow stuffed, my extended warranty people didn't know what the h*** is a stepper motor, I don't know even if I am spelling it right. so now I will get them to replace it for free because they stuffed it after the service.
I have the same problem with the passenger central locking and the motor has to be replaced for about 400$.
Don't buy this car.
Hi. I bought a 2001 JSII 2.6 v6 hatch when it had done about 60,000km, and it has been a fantastic car for me until recently.
It's now done about 80,000 and the left front indicator gets stuck on sometimes, and the drivers auto window gets about halfway up and then goes back down again.
But I now have bigger problems; over the last couple of days the car hasn't been starting, and when it has it cuts out after just a short while. I wouldn't call it "stalling" it just cuts out like someone took the key out. It did it to us twice at a busy intersection. I love my Vectra and I would love to fix this problem, but it is proving very difficult to find. Can anyone help me out?
I own a 1997 JR Vectra just recently I spent over 2k on it for a new exhaust manifold and radiator it was missing badly, but the problem seemed that the air oil and fuel filter had'nt been replaced even though I only took it to a dealer the camshaft sensor has been replaced and the IAC motor aswell (luckily for free under a recall by holden) it has a rattle in the roof under acceleration. A very nice car to drive when running well, but man is it expensive to fix good brakes aswell make sure to check if the timing belt and pretensioners have been replaced have'nt had one break, but it will be a nightmare if it does. Won't be buying a German car next, think it will be a Commodore.
Oil is leaking in to the coolant... Help no one seems to know why.
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-->ALL VECTRA OWNERS - READ THIS!<--
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TITLE: Cutting out? read this!
First posted by "ChrisSRI: VxON Hardcore-Veteran" at www.cavweb-forums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=24391
I have a 1998 JR Vectra 2ltr which has just clocked over 208,OOO kms
Timing belt and water pump replaced at 80,000 kms
Timing belt replaced and belt idlers re greased at127.000 Kms
Just about to replace the timing belt, idlers and water pump again.
Onlt two problems since I bought the car at 90,000 kms.
1: Engine management light coming on after about 5 minutes driving at about105,000 kms. Car would shudder, but still keep going. engine fault code indicated crank sensor faulty. Replaced crank sensor and the problem was fixed.
2: Engine management light on at 169,000 kms Car still ran OK. Engine fault code indicated Cam sensor. Replaced sensor and fault fixed.
I find that the Vectra is a good car to drive. handles well with plenty of performance for a 2 ltr motor and good fuel economy 7.2 Ltrs/100 kms on a long trip with 4 adult passengers driving at 110 kmph
All in all I am very happy with my vectra.
Re comment from 9th March 2007.
After posting the message on the above date my trusty vectra started overheating - thermostat replaced $400. October 2007 the car started stalling and overheating again which it has been doing on an off since July 2000. It was now the throttle body that was carbonated - they cleaned that, replaced a cracked hose, cleaned the IAC motor and charged $110. Dec 2007 car overheating again - Holden couldn't find what was wrong with it after 4.5hours then when I went to get it - they found problems... the vents for AC not blowing air.. I told them this in March and they said nothing was wrong and the 'relays' controlling the cooling were causing the problem... it goes back tomorrow to be looked at...
History of car
Purchased Dec 99
July 2000 IAC playing up
Nov 2001 Speedo dropping to zero whilst driving and dash lights coming on
Dec 2001 IAC playing up again - fixed speedo and IAC motor
Nov 2002 IAC playing up again - modified car and claimed to fix problem
April 2003 New Airflow meter and then found that vaccum booster was leaking
March 2004 New powersteering pump
April/May 2004 car stalling again
June 2004 Flasher relay playing up
2006 - New exhaust fitted
march 2007 timing belt broke and new thermostat
Oct 2007 Overheating and stalling
Dec 2007 overheating.
What can I add, this would have to be the worst car that I have ever owned. All the problems mentioned.
I just got off the phone to my local Holden dealer, who assure me that they have never heard of the Vectras having problems of this nature. I think I will print this long list off and take it with me to the dealership.
Phew.
And they once said that LADAs were bad...
I've been seeing a very sexy lady for a few months on and off.
She has a lousy car... a Holden Vectra '97 JR 2Ltr.
Now this girl is VERY independent, so I was taken aback when I received an email with a link to this forum thread, along with a request to have a look at it for her.
Fortunately, I have a trade background in an allied area, and had even done tertiary units on emission controls and auto electrics.
I had only been a passenger in her car once, and was quite shocked at the cacophony that the car made.
7 hours under the hood, I managed to stop the car cutting out at idle and whilst driving, and I also stopped engine warning lights coming on.
It would not rev past 2500 rpm under any circumstances, but after removing and cleaning the throttle body / de-icer unit I managed to get it to idle smoothly, but for the life of me I cannot get this car to accelerate. Before it took 90 seconds to reach 60 KPH, and now it takes 45 seconds, which sucks.
It will rev to 4250 RPM down a very long and very steep hill.
RE: The Vectra, I have never encountered such a piece of crap.
I have read page after page of forum comments from owners so desperate for help, yet like the girlie I know, they are told to fork out $1000 for a new computer.
How could a car be sold that has page after page of design faults?
Dealers stating that they have no other cases of the issues.
Personally, I doubt I'd buy a new car after seeing a manufacturer sell a car like the Vectra.
I have to finish by saying to General Motors Holden...
Shame on you. Shame Shame Shame.
Like many others, I will never own any of your products.
I purchased a 98 model in early 2007.
It's OK; the window handle was stiff and the window kept sliding down when driving, so I went to get it fixed and one simple part was $400.
Also, the car began stalling, but only for a short while, and my dad fixed it, I think he just altered with the timing and it's great now.
I don't even know if it has air conditioning as the button doesn't really work/light up, so I don't know what that's all about.
I haven't had it serviced yet. I think it's about 150,000 km or something maybe lower... again I probably wouldn't get another, but this time round it was in my budget and for the meantime it's treating me well :-)
Most common fault with vectra cutting out is main wireing harnice burning out. big problem big money.
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