VN Shuddering just 1 week after servie - NOT HAPPY

[shafycat]

ok so this is the situation. I'm a 49 year old woman driver who lets my car warm up every morning before I drive. last year my faithful 20 year old VN berlina s/w was given to my son as he got his licence and we replaced it with a VE 2006 berlina sedan.
so far so good bar a few niggles here and there but not really as good as my old girl... but that's another story
early this month I took it to the dealer for it's 2nd service which cost us over $900.00 which we were a bit surprised at but it did also have the brakes done - then a week later I am sitting in the car one morning waiting for the car to warm up and the next moment it starts shuddering like there is an earthquake happening and then the bells and whistles start on my dash board.... the MIL lamp and Engine warning lamp are going
I sit and wait for it to stop but it keeps going for several minutes so I start to slowly drive out onto the road only to stop across the street thinking the car is about to DIE

all of a sudden it all stops and the car is fine so I drive on and think OK a one off gremlin ? another week passes and this afternoon I get in the car and the same thing happens again only now the MIL lamp is on the whole time while I drive and every time I turn the car back on the Engine warning lamp goes on till I turn it off

so my question - What the is going on ?? and what do I do ? not happy at the thought of having to go all the way back (unfortunately hubby bought this car from the other side of town) when I have another holden dealer just 15mins drive from home but the dealer said I can't take it elsewhere or I void my used car warranty ?

Not a happy holden owner atm

[RiCeY]

When the engine light comes on it will log a code which describes where the issue is.

Any Holden dealer can read this code as well as a lot of smaller workshops.

You wont void your warranty by taking it elsewhere to find out whats wrong with it, you only need to get the services done at the dealer that sold you the aftermarket warranty.

[Sabbath']

2006...Timing Chains is my bet....

[HEXEM]

Something similar happend to me driving home from the dealer in a new Series 2 SV6 (demo) while mine was in the shop overnight. Got onto the highway and the X Contact Dealer and everything else lit up and the incessant ding! ding! ding! and the engine shuddering badly. Had to limp it back to the dealer (6pm) to change over the car. There was a realy bad smell of unburt fuel from the exhaust etc. The fault turned out to be a blown fuse which had shut down the whole left bank of cylinders (3).

But as RiCeY has pointed out best thing to do is take it to the closest dealer and get them to diagnose the problem. It may cost you for the diagnosis and depending on the issue it might be detrimental to the car (engine) if driven over a long distance. If so ask the dealer to contact the selling dealer and advise them, see if you cant get them to work out something (repair work) for you.

best of luck.

[I LIKE COMMODORES]

2006...Timing Chains is my bet....

It is common yes, i had my timing chains replaced under warranty however i left my engine light on for about 30,000k's like it, i forget what error code# it pulled but it was something like "cas/timing belt" i finally got them done and still nothing like the symptoms described.

[edit; Cost me $200 for them to hook it up to the diagnostic link.]

[456adam]

$200!! For them to check the error codes?
That scan tool must be made of gold.
My local service center charged $30

[shafycat]

thanks everyone.... will give them a call and see what they say. Not going to be happy being charged again for a diagnostic if it's going to be that much but want the car to be ok and running as I do a lot of driving back and forth with my youngest son to work etc

if it does end up being the timing chains should that be under the 3 year warranty ?

[RiCeY]

It will be under the stat warranty if you only recently purchased the car, as for the aftermarket warranty it depends how good the warranty is...

[shafycat]

thanks again.... we only took the dealer warranty for a used car (3 years)

I have just booked it in for a diagnostic check tomorrow morning and will be charged $ 115.50 which I'm not really happy about but the guy did say if it's not something covered under the warranty they will fix it but if it's a warranty case then I do need to go to the dealer I bought the car from which I understand.

fingers crossed now it won't be too serious

[RiCeY]

Theres a lot of used car warranties about, some cover hardly anything.

Best bet is to read the documentation you got with the warranty which will explain whats covered.

[shafycat]

so good news.... took it to my local holden dealer and they found that it was a misfiring cylinder - or so they claim !!!
it was strange though he did not charge me for the diagonstic test and it only ended up costing $57.75 - then even weirder was that the dealer that I originally bought the car from sends me a text about an hour after I pick it up saying if I was not happy with the service I had done in august to contact them... sounds like the service guys today rang them and told them what happened ? should tell them what I think but doubt it would make any difference as I found that when I spoke to each different holden outlet they would not comment against the other one which makes me all the more suss that there was probably a lead/plug not reconnected from the service done only 2 weeks prior to this all starting to happen but they would never admit to it

main thing my car is back on the road and I am happy

[RiCeY]

VE V6s dont have spark plug leads, the coil pack connects directly to the spark plug.

[gossie]

May I suggest you do not "warm your car up" as you said, before driving off.
Turn it on, wait a few seconds for the very thin oil.......or it should be very thin oil, to almost instantly go through the engine, put it into gear and drive it in a sensible manner for 5 or 10 minutes, and by that time the engine will be warm.
Warming up is a nonsense issue from the past long ago. Modern cars do not need it, and you will save fuel.

[greenacc]

I guess 57.50 is a cheap resolution. Sounds like they might have charged the original dealer half the cost and you the other half ?
Which service was it you got done, did they change the spark plugs ?
haha, and that text is a classic giveaway. I would reply to that asking " would you be happy if your car broke down after a service ?" At least they made a tiny little effort to contact you, but i'd say a phone call with an apology and explanation would have come closer to restoring your confidence.
everyone stuffs up once in their lifetime..