Welcome to Just Commodores, a site specifically designed for all people who share the same passion as yourself.

New Posts Contact us

Just Commodores Forum Community

It takes just a moment to join our fantastic community

Register

Search results

  1. F

    Overheating, thermo fan not working, cause is ignition switch

    Anfo - thanks for the advice. The good news is that I've found the problem. 100% definite this time. It was the warning lamp check relay. This relay is wired across the starter motor, and illuminates all the warning lamps on the dash when you start the car - just so that you know they are...
  2. F

    Overheating, thermo fan not working, cause is ignition switch

    Me again. OK, I'm closer to solving this. I wired up 4 LEDs, one to each of the four pins of the ignition relay (soldered to the pins themselves, in such a way that the relay could still be inserted into its socket), with the negative side of the LEDs going to earth through a 4.7k resistor...
  3. F

    Overheating, thermo fan not working, cause is ignition switch

    Hm... well, I was wrong. I put the car back together after cleaning up the ignition switch, then went for a drive, and after ten minutes the internal heater fan stopped working (and the A/C wouldn't turn on), BUT the side-mirrors still worked. I wiggled the key, and it had no effect (which it...
  4. F

    Overheating, thermo fan not working, cause is ignition switch

    Hi folks, Just thought I would let you know the solution to my overheating VP. Intermittently, the radiator thermo fan wouldn't come on, and the engine would overheat. The clue to the solution is that when this happened, the internal heater fan didn't work either. Checking the circuit...
  5. F

    clunk noise from front suspension?

    Thanks for the ideas GMMAD and dynoryder. I think the strut tops are fine (I had them out when I replaced the shocks, and they looked OK). I might wait for the problem to get worse, so hopefully the cause will be more obvious.
  6. F

    clunk noise from front suspension?

    Thanks for the suggestion. I guess that a "link pin" is what I called a "sway bar strut". I replaced these with nice Z-shaped ones a while ago. The rubbers on one side are a bit cut into by the washers, but they look OK.
  7. F

    clunk noise from front suspension?

    When I drive over a bump with my VT wagon V6, with either front tire, I get a clunking noise coming somewhere from the front of the car. I can't tell whether it is left, right, or centre. I've had this problem for a while. I replaced the left and right engine mounts on the weekend, which was a...
  8. F

    How to - Heater Core Removal and Hoses Photos Thread

    It goes from one of the two large bolts immediately above it in the photo, up into the dash, to the left of the steering wheel.
  9. F

    Is it possible to add an airbag to a VP?

    I reckon I can keep my old VP running for another 10 years, the only thing that worries me is that it isn't as safe as modern cars. With this in mind, I was wondering if it is possible to retrofit an airbag to the driver's steering wheel? Does anyone know?
  10. F

    How to - Heater Core Removal and Hoses Photos Thread

    Thanks for the write-up and photos, great job. I did mine on the weekend, it's a VT but almost identical to the VX. $120 for a brass heater core, about $40 for coolant, about $11 for hoses, $6 for the four o-rings in the air-conditioning connector, + $200 for A/C de-gas and re-gas. The whole...
  11. F

    DIY steering rack replacement

    Greenacc - no other spares needed, unless you damage something. A pipe spanner could be quite helpful, since it gives you more options in starting position. I just used a regular open-ended spanner. It could be that the VS has different positioning of the hydraulic lines, so it might be easier...
  12. F

    DIY steering rack replacement

    Oh, a bit of advice that the chap that sold me the rack gave me: don't try to bend the hydraulic lines out of the way. Just push them gently straight back away from the steering gear once you have the nuts off. And when you install the new rack, gently put the lines in (with a new o-ring on...
  13. F

    DIY steering rack replacement

    Well, the power steering isn't pressurised unless the engine is running to turn the power steering pump. With the engine off, you can undo the hydraulic lines and the fluid just drips out (into a container you carefully put underneath the car :) ). In fact, it may be worth siphoning the power...
  14. F

    DIY steering rack replacement

    G'day, Having just replaced the steering rack in my VT series 1, I thought I would give some words of advice to anyone contemplating the job. I bought a reconditioned rack, and followed the instructions in the Gregory's manual. It is worth spending some time carefully supporting the...
  15. F

    hard to start: intermittent spark?

    Yeah, yeah, I know! Still, it might have been the fuel pressure regulator, and the pump may have been OK? The reason I didn't go after the pump initially is that I couldn't think of an easy way of testing it. The manuals talk about using a fuel pressure gauge, but I don't have one (and...
  16. F

    hard to start: intermittent spark?

    OK, it looks like the problem is finally fixed! :):):):) And the cause was (drum roll...) either the fuel pressure regulator or the fuel pump. I replaced both, and now the car roars into life within a second just like new. Earlier I had replaced the ECU, no difference. Then I took the...
  17. F

    VP cooling issues - checklist

    RockyVX - I did flush the radiator properly on a regular basis, and used Holden coolant. I can't tell the difference between a completely new radiator and one with 1/3 of its core blocked, at least not with a simple garden hose test. Also, there was no external evidence of problems with the...
  18. F

    VP cooling issues - checklist

    In the recent thread "Advice HELP please : Radiator got crack how much for new one ?", a few weeks ago, I posted a picture of the radiator I removed from my VP. About 1/3rd of the core was gummed-up with debris. Check the photo. I too had had overheating problems, and the radiator seemed to...
  19. F

    Advice HELP please : Radiator got crack how much for new one ?

    Yes, I bought a new one from a radiator repair shop in Sydney for about $140 last week. Holden was asking something like $460. My radiator cracked in exactly the same place as yours. VP 1992 model, 160Ks. Swapping the radiator out was quite easy, only an hour or so including flushing the...
  20. F

    hard to start: intermittent spark?

    RockyVX - thanks for those pointers. I should have thought about Ebay before. One interesting thing about radiators: the installation instructions that came with it said to measure the voltage of the coolant, since apparently some electrical faults can cause current to flow through the...
  21. F

    hard to start: intermittent spark?

    88GreenVN - no I haven't tried a different ECU, that sounds like an expensive option. I guess an ECU from a wrecker would be OK, but I can't imagine it would be cheap. Meanwhile, the car mostly starts immediately, but occasionally requires a 5-10 second crank. I reckon that I must have at...
  22. F

    hard to start: intermittent spark?

    Peanuts Inc - thanks for the pointer to the fuel pump strainer. I might have to remove the pump and have a look if the problem persists. krzyvs - my fuel pump also runs on for a short time after turning off the engine. pow3rslave - I checked the coil packs as much as I could before buying...
  23. F

    hard to start: intermittent spark?

    Thanks Mike. No worries about the DFI issue, I had convinced myself to replace it anyway! I will do some more exploring with the timing light, wiggling connectors, and so on. I should check all the sensors (MAT, MAP, O2, etc) as well.
  24. F

    hard to start: intermittent spark?

    :supersad::supersad::supersad::supersad: OK, the problem is back, same as before. This is very depressing. For a day after replacing the DFI module and spark plug cables the car was starting instantly, every time, even after being left overnight. It hasn't done this for months, so I was very...
  25. F

    Solution to sagging bonnet gas struts

    Well, if new struts are only between $12.50 and $15 each, then it is definitely worth replacing them. I wonder why regassing is so expensive?
  26. F

    Solution to sagging bonnet gas struts

    Re-gassing is OK, but it is expensive. The last time I asked it was going to cost about $100 to do four struts. I don't know how much new struts cost.
  27. F

    hard to start: intermittent spark?

    I bit the bullet and bought a new DFI module ($160 from Auto 1) and new spark plug leads ($50). I read somewhere that poor leads can kill DFI modules, so I wasn't going to take a chance with the existing leads. The car started first go, and the sparks (as measured with a strobe timing light...
  28. F

    hard to start: intermittent spark?

    Thanks guys for the feedback. I think the fuel pump is OK. In any case it couldn't cause a missing spark. I have a VT Commodore as well as the VP. If the DFI modules are interchangeable I could swap them over. Does anyone know? They look identical as far as I can see. Probably...
  29. F

    hard to start: intermittent spark?

    My VP (series II, V6) has trouble starting. It cranks for perhaps 5 seconds or more, and then splutters into life. It may take one to three attempts, and there is an occasional backfire during the process. Once started, it appears to run fine, and it will be easy to start again until left off...
  30. F

    Solution to sagging bonnet gas struts

    G'day folks, Over the years I have been seriously fed up with the bonnet closing on me when working on the car, the last straw was when the bonnet slammed shut and the retaining hook when straight through my digital multimeter. So ... I thought I would share with you'all my simple solution...
  31. F

    Front door handle

    there are different versions of the VT door handle A warning if you buy an exterior door handle from ebay or a wreckers: there are at least two designs used with the VT, and they require different metal push rods to operate the door mechanism. So, if you do buy a 2nd-hand handle, ask for the...
  32. F

    VT intermittent computer problem?

    Thanks Dr Bob for those helpful remarks! I have pulled the ABS plug and am now waiting to see if the fault reoccurs. I wonder if the ABS module is repairable, or is it epoxied shut? I've already thoroughly cleaned contacts and looked for external shorts. Actually, another question: the manual...
  33. F

    VT intermittent computer problem?

    Hm... I removed the ABS fuse, thinking this would disable the possibly faulty ABS module, but the fault still occurs. I'll have to check the circuit diagram, but this makes me think that the ABS module is not the one causing the problem. Perhaps another module is at fault, e.g., the instrument...
  34. F

    VT intermittent computer problem?

    Thanks for the information. I have found my CD manual, and it is suggesting that the serial data connection between the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) and the BCM (Body Control Module) might be to blame. This can cause faults 31 and 92. I've checked the wire, and it is making good contact, and...
  35. F

    Front windscreen leaks water at the top seal

    Thanks for the advice! I will contact the repairers. Hopefully it is still under warranty.
  36. F

    Front windscreen leaks water at the top seal

    It is now a couple of years since my VT windscreen was replaced, and when it rains, water leaks into the car through the seal at the top. Can I simply pull out the rubber seal near the problem area, and squeeze in some roofing silastic? Thanks for your advice, Michael
  37. F

    VT intermittent computer problem?

    My VT is developing an increasingly severe set of intermittent computer problems. E.g., when driving along, the Engine light, ABS light, Trac light, airbag light, and oil indicator will come on. A series of musical beeps sounds. Sometimes the temperature needle goes to zero. The signals will...
Top