Known Berlina and Calais problems

[matty88]

Gday

Just wondering as I'm looking to buy a VK Calais or Berlina, what known issues/problems have risen that I should check for?

[308vkcalais]

The only thing I know of with the Calais are the Electronic/Star Wars dash.They are crap, innacurate & most likely faulty.I must have a 'fluke' 1 or maybe it's just waiting to sh.t itself.Being all Electronic + 22 yrs old says it all.Speedo Transducers are another but only the Calais have them.

[Wrayza]

Or maybe there not as shit as people lead you to beleive? Mines the original, and I'm told there as accurate as hell, how does a speedo transducer as basic as the VK Calais ever shift out of calibration? Only thing mine does is flutter when under 15km lol.

[matty88]

Does the Calais have the option of an analogue speedo/dash?

[308vkcalais]

Nothing's wrong with my dash, I've read alot of post on here about them.I personally think they're crap, gimmicky & not as functional as the Berlina.It shows more eng info.

[Cane_It]

other problems;
the electric windows / power mirrors can be touchy or not work at all or be very tight and sound very strained when operating.
the setup in the rear doors is a bitch to work on or replace I've been told and have seen for myself that it doesnt look overly simple.


being a 22 year old car its gonna have all the usual problems of a car that age i guess

[craigvk]

I have seen various people here saying the electro dashes are good and bad. Seems about 1/2 the people think they are ok and the other 1/2 think they are shit.

Anyway, I have had various speedo checks on the highway and I swear my digital speedo is 110% accurate. I was going 107 on one of the highways and it was dead spot on.

I don't think there was ever an option in the Calais to have an SL dash. I suppose if you wanted it, the price on the new car would still be the same.

I would advise the OP and anyone else, to see this site for your fault info:
http://au.geocities.com/commodoretech/vkfaults.html

Book mark it as your VB-VK problems info site.

[308vkcalais]

Yer, anything 22 yrs old isn't gunna work properly in reality.I've had the whole dash out a few times & the amount of fine dust that collects up around the dash area it's no wonder they're dodgy.Settling on Electronic connections it wat happens.

[craigvk]

Gday

Just wondering as I'm looking to buy a VK Calais or Berlina, what known issues/problems have risen that I should check for?

I should expand a bit more than just the dash.

Underbody worn out bushes.
Rooted front or rear springs/struts.
Tired motor, rooted valve stem seals or worn out valves. A compression test on all cylinders can give an indication of the condition of the motor.
Bad transmission. Inproper gear change.

There would be more. It's a fairly older vehicle, typical but unless it's been looked after, there would be a lot of work needing done unless it was fully rebuilt.

[craigvk]

Apart from GMH, has anyone ever figured out how to transfer speedo readings or simply reset the odo on the dig dash?

[308vkcalais]

I should expand a bit more than just the dash.

Underbody worn out bushes.
Rooted front or rear springs/struts.
Tired motor, rooted valve stem seals or worn out valves. A compression test on all cylinders can give an indication of the condition of the motor.
Bad transmission. Inproper gear change.

There would be more. It's a fairly older vehicle, typical but unless it's been looked after, there would be a lot of work needing done unless it was fully rebuilt.

Slim...u just described my Calais when I 1st got it.Leaked every fluid it carried, no drive....

[craigvk]

God invented gaskets.

When I got my Calais, I spent $250 on bushings + about 4 hours of work because they were cactus. Now I believe my underbody is about as good as it was back in September 1984.

[craigvk]

Suspect bushings on the VK for its age are:

Radius rods.
Lower control arms (front near the ball joints)
Rear lower trailing arms front and rear.
Rear upper trailing arms front and rear (Mine were fine though)
Front and rear stabiliser bar links. 8 front, 8 back. (Mostly for body roll stabilising. Rubbers can squish a bit after time.)

Only replace with Nolathane or urethane rubber bushings if you're smart.

Many bushes require the use of a hydraulic press to push out and in the bushings. You can make your own bush removal and install tools out of all threads and steel cups and large washers.

My advise is don't buy a VK with worn bushes unless you know someone who can replace them for nothing. A mechanic would charge a million bucks in labour.

[308vkcalais]

Here's her front end on her 202 Berlina I rebuilt.

[V-ahhh]

Here's her front end on her 202 Berlina I rebuilt.

if ya don't mind me asking, how much did it set you back 2 do that?

[matty88]

Cheers guys, if I buy one I'll be restoring it as money comes to hand. I plan to rip out the engine and do a full rebuild, to save problems later (plus I love messing around with engines). There's a berlina for sale down the road from me that I've got my eye on, no price listed but when they park it out on the lawn again I'll ask...

[308vkcalais]

if ya don't mind me asking, how much did it set you back 2 do that?

All up it was around $400 in parts, that including the new GT Gas inserts.Dunno how much a mechanic would've charged.I can whip out both struts in 30 mins & rebuild the entire front in around 4hrs.New Rack included.I've dun it sooo many, many times

[craigvk]

What did the stabiliser bar cost you and why did you not just use the original one?

[craigvk]

I was thinking about taking my front and rear bars off and spraying them silver.

[308vkcalais]

What did the stabiliser bar cost you and why did you not just use the original one?

It's the original 24mm job, I just sweetened it up wif a lick of gloss engine yellow