THE BIG 200000kms - What to do to keep it purring for another 100000kms

[ORIXVywags]

Hi All

I just hit 200000kms in car the other week, and considering I work by the book of what should be considered in regards to CHECKING and REPLACING components, what are some of the main things to be considered if is goes for an oil change every 5000kms and standard Minor Service every 10000kms

Note:
at 181000kms - Heater Tap and Hoses replaced
at 186000kms - Spark Plugs, Fuel Filter, Cleaned Injectors
at 192000kms - Tranny Service, Hamonic Balancer and CAS replacement
at 196000kms - Disc's and Pads, Main Belt
at 201000kms - Monroe GT's Shocks and Struts, Valley's and Rocker Gasket's Replacement

(ITS SEEMS LIKE I'VE SPENT A FORTUNE) But I got mates at heaps of Holden Dealers and I work in Fleet Management - so parts, labour and advice is cheap, I do most of the work myself with close eyes from Holden Mechanics, I just like taking care of my car and its a decent hobby

[hako]

I'm at 220,000km and had the same thoughts as you at 200K. I replaced:
All coolant hoses (9 I think) + 5 year life coolant
Heater tap
Power steering reservoir hoses
CAS

I plan on doing the fuel pump soon as it is noisy on hot days
Harmonic balancer seems OK but maybe??
Trans replaced a few years ago
Radiator???- worried about the tank splitting as they seem to go at this mileage
battery is 4 years old so maybe replace that

I thought about buying a late VY for around 10 to 12 but would have to sell the VS privately....maybe get 4, so my loss would be $8000 for a more modern car with less Km's and it's own lot of problems.
So, to replace all that I've listed plus the maybe's for mine is about $600 which really is chicken-feed and more or less protects the VS against any breakdowns.
Good Luck.

[ORIXVywags]

Ahh,

I had a 04 VY Acclaim Series 2 Wagon, as an EX- SBS Operating Lease Vehicle, so I paid $9000 and it only had 56000kms and 8 months NSW rego, best car I ever had, but then I got a Company car and just didnt have the room for it so sold it for $14000 with 70000kms,

I made money on it but should never had sold it, just a perk of working for Large Fleet Company's

Since then, I was made redundant and I would of gone and spent the money on something newer but a VS is known to be pretty well built and easy to work on when need be

They can go forever if you look after them, and I bought the VS Berlina for $3k (old fella just wanted it gone) has all the same features as the 04 VYII Wagon minus Traction Control and plus Climate Control

Im just going to keep the Berlina for as long as possible before i start earning good money and then do a Novated Lease through my company - "Dont know if a Sportswagon would be a good choice"

But in the meantime I gotta keep treating the old girl and TLC will make it go for a decent while longer, and then I will give it to one of my Brothers or just sell it for a few bob, like 3 or 4k

[VSHeaven]

I am progressively changing parts whether needed or not. VS Berlina sedan V6. Changed engine mounts, heater tap and thermostat. Soon will be radiator hoses, heater and transmission cooler hoses followed by the crank angle sensor and fuel pump. I am also changing all the relays under the bonnet.
Had to replace the alternator and starter due to failure in the past 2 years. Currently on 165,000k's and haven't broken down yet though the 2 electrical assembly's gave me some grief.

[VS_Pete_1]

I'm at 220,000km and had the same thoughts as you at 200K. I replaced:
All coolant hoses (9 I think) + 5 year life coolant
Heater tap
Power steering reservoir hoses
CAS

I plan on doing the fuel pump soon as it is noisy on hot days
Harmonic balancer seems OK but maybe??
Trans replaced a few years ago
Radiator???- worried about the tank splitting as they seem to go at this mileage
battery is 4 years old so maybe replace that

I thought about buying a late VY for around 10 to 12 but would have to sell the VS privately....maybe get 4, so my loss would be $8000 for a more modern car with less Km's and it's own lot of problems.
So, to replace all that I've listed plus the maybe's for mine is about $600 which really is chicken-feed and more or less protects the VS against any breakdowns.
Good Luck.

What battery u getting mate.

[coolngroovy]

It must be nearly time for a new alternator & starter motor. For me....they seem to fail around the 200K mark.

[VS_Pete_1]

I got new starter at 180k

[ORIXVywags]

Totally off the Topic, sort of

Had a driver call me the other day, wanting to use his Roadside assistance through Fleet Management, because his car (2005 Territory Ghia with 65000kms) wouldn't start, so the Roadside assist idiots try to convince this bloke that the car needs to be towed because its the Start motor , going TICK TICK TICK TICK when the key was turned, means its had it

I said mate its the Battery, 5 year old Ford Battery, just get ya neighbour to jump start ya with the negative on the powered battery clamped to the hoist hook on the side of the engine

CHICK BROOM, started worked fine, he drove it down to his local repairer and got a new battery, and he's happy as ever

Dodgy Roadside Assistance Pricks, attempting to make easy money

[hako]

What battery u getting mate.

I've currently got a Bosch which had a 3 year warranty and is 4 years old now - only bought the Bosch because they had 20% off and the warranty indicated to me it was good.

This time I'll keep my eye open for the same deal - I don't need high CCA's or whatever as my car starts instantly plus I don't run megawatt stereos so it's really only a standard duty battery I need - only specific will be that it's made in Australia!

[Chickenboi999]

wen i had my vs, i had a fair amount of problems, fuel pump, crank angle sensor TWICE, harmonic balencer, all hoses, in between 170-190thou, it was towed from my front yard twice, pain in the ass, buy a newer car, dont keep buyin old cars is my suggestion u spend as much on repairs as u would for a newer one with next to no problems

[pillzor]

wen i had my vs, i had a fair amount of problems, fuel pump, crank angle sensor TWICE, harmonic balencer, all hoses, in between 170-190thou, it was towed from my front yard twice, pain in the ass, buy a newer car, dont keep buyin old cars is my suggestion u spend as much on repairs as u would for a newer one with next to no problems

got my series 2 at 192000, its now on 207000 and i havent had anything go on me yet.
enginewise anyway , couple of very minor electrical things thats it.

[hako]

wen i had my vs, i had a fair amount of problems, fuel pump, crank angle sensor TWICE, harmonic balencer, all hoses, in between 170-190thou, it was towed from my front yard twice, pain in the ass, buy a newer car, dont keep buyin old cars is my suggestion u spend as much on repairs as u would for a newer one with next to no problems

Maybe you had a bad run. Speaking for myself, I've found my VS to be the most reliable car I've owned in the last 50 years. It's for that reason that I'd like to keep mine going for as long as possible. They are reasonably economical, have heaps of power and handling to match especially with the FE2 suspension. To buy a newer car means outlaying up to $10,000 in cold hard cash and I've got better things to spend that kind of money on (if I had it!)

[VS_Pete_1]

I've currently got a Bosch which had a 3 year warranty and is 4 years old now - only bought the Bosch because they had 20% off and the warranty indicated to me it was good.

This time I'll keep my eye open for the same deal - I don't need high CCA's or whatever as my car starts instantly plus I don't run megawatt stereos so it's really only a standard duty battery I need - only specific will be that it's made in Australia!

Thanks for that

[ORIXVywags]

wen i had my vs, i had a fair amount of problems, fuel pump, crank angle sensor TWICE, harmonic balencer, all hoses, in between 170-190thou, it was towed from my front yard twice, pain in the ass, buy a newer car, dont keep buyin old cars is my suggestion u spend as much on repairs as u would for a newer one with next to no problems

I do see your point, I mean, majority of my working life has been if cruising or if not belting the crap out of the engine in beautiful new cars, so I never wanted to fork out cash for something that potentially has been flogged to death by someone like myself,

I though of buying a VZ when I got my redundancy but I wanted all the bells and whistles so bought the stocky VS Berlina, Cheap, Reliable "if looked after". got plenty of power on demand, I just change bits and pieces because its common for thoses things to go,

classic example:
A Mate of mine, has a VN Calais with 35000kms (thats right, Originally Leaseplan Car that was used for receptionist to drive to the shop and back for 15 years) drives like a dream and he goes and buys his misses a VE Sportswagon 50th Anniversary, not only does VE go in to Holden every 2nd week with Warranty issue's but the VN goes twice as good and chews less juice

If you have the time and basic idea how to fix it yaself, you would be happier with your car, all the things that Chickenboi mentioned I've done myself in the front yard, with some kiddychrome and a bit persistance. If worse comes to worst, get the lappy on the wi-fi outside with me and check the forums to see what could possibly help

[VSHeaven]

Nice post Orix. I suppose I am keeping my VS Berlina because I know it so well, it's cheap to run and very reliable. I can't justify forking out $$$$ on a later model when this one is doing us fine. It's my 3rd car in 27 years. I always had company cars so the family cars were always driven by the mrs and maintained by me. I drove it to Victoria and Queensland in 2008 and never had a problem on either trip. Some interesting insights into 10 years of owning this particular car.
It still feels tight on the road with no steering vibrations at any speed. Only suspension replacements have been stabiliser link kits (twice).
Power steering pump replaced under warranty (2000) and an exchange rack in 2008
Never had a fuel pump, crank sensor or radiator go on me though i had a water pump failure around 100k
Still has the original discs rotors (165,000k) and not one sign of brake shudder.
Original ignition barrel
Original rear main seal
Original inlet manifold gaskets
Boot struts (twice) yet no bonnet struts.
A/C condenser packed it in under warranty (i got it 2nd hand with 64,000k on it in 2000 and since then it blew a compressor hose in 2009. Also the A/C vents started having a mind of their own at the same time which ended up being a loose vacuum hose under the dash.
Strangely, the alternator, starter motor and fan speed resistor all died with weeks of each other at 150,000k
Both front dook locks died shortly after and it was round this time I was starting to think about updating.
The dreaded sagging roof lining last year.
However, after taking it all into account I decided to persist with it to the point where I am doing what the OP of this thread is doing. So basically, my 200,000+ will include struts, mounts and radius bushes, plus the fuel pump, coolant hoses and crank sensor like i stated earier in this thread. I suppose it really depends on the state of you car at 200,000k.

[VS 5.0]

Nice post Orix. I suppose I am keeping my VS Berlina because I know it so well, it's cheap to run and very reliable. I can't justify forking out $$$$ on a later model when this one is doing us fine. It's my 3rd car in 27 years.

Ditto for me in terms of sticking with what I know. Mine is just my 5th car in 23 years (this one for over 11 now) and I have never had a company car. Plus mine has a 5 litre just for fun.

[ORIXVywags]

Thanks Guys

I know it sounds like I have deep pockets (IM THE TOTAL OPPOSITE), to do the work on parts, but its a great past time, and its better to know your Car, then some chump you pay $65 - $95 per hour, to say its your ROTATOR SPLIT (RoadTrip the Movie)

also when something goes bang, you obviously start backwards check all the things you've done and then go through the fault elimination process



and VSHeaven, I had the Sagging Roof,

Went through JC forums How To, and my mates can't believe how good it looks and my old man did it once on a Corolla and didnt turn out anywhere near as good as the Berlina

Whenever I do a fix on my car that aint on the forums I will chuck up a post, god knows how many times its saved my ass

[hako]

Had a quick check on my VS to see how the front pads were wearing and found cracks in the ABS wires and the flexible brake line as per attached photo. I realise it is not critical, but it shows that our cars are wearing out.
I will shield the ABS wires by taping but the brake lines I will probably live with (or die with???)

[VS 5.0]

Just like us, they are getting older with every day that passes.