VS V6 Lemon or Normal?

[Azzas]

Hello Commodore fans!

I am typing to you all for advice.

I have a 1996 VS Holden Commodore V6 Acclaim Sedan. I learned quickly to love this car and spent a lot of money at the mechanics getting things fixed up into a fairly nice running and looking car.

Then i learned how to hate it. My commodore has done 228,146 Km's. I have had problem after problem gradually with this car ever since i purchased it in 2009. I guess this is just the joys of motoring.

Parts i have had to replace:
* Starter motor
* New Belt pulleys
* Belt Tensioner Assembly
* Power Steering Pump
* Injectors Cleaned
* Crank Angle Sensor
* Car Battery
* Disc Brakes
* LPG Vapour Hose

This list of parts doesn't even compare to the costs of fault finding, labor and adjustments to try and get this car working right. Also the normal servicing parts like fluids, filters, leads and plugs have all been replaced.

First i had problems Electrically, the battery would drain over night. Found to be a glove box globe staying on even when door was shut. much pain fault finding after finally taking it to a Auto Electrician.

later months the car would conk out mid travel, often on roundabouts (LOL). Engine light picture would come on and was hard to start back up again. Found to be a crank angle sensor.

Then more electrical problems would persist. On stone cold mornings the car decided it wouldn't start, engine light would come on, and stay on every time you turned ignition on and tried to crank it over. Every time i went to turn ignition on the Thermo fan would start up (Even when the car is stone cold). I would have to wait at least 15 mins till it would fire and get running. Took it to a auto electrician, Crank angle sensor and oxy sensor codes came up on his fault finding tool. he then found that my Starter motor was about to shit itself (it did sound horrible, bad whirring sound). He also found that the cars computer has been changed before i owned it, meaning not the original. I still haven't had this problem fixed as it is intermittent.

I have had gas problems which still persist, a wire has been temporarily taken off some sort of relay mechanism. If i put that wire back on its terminal the car starts surging on gas. A gas specialist suspects the Gas computer module has shit itself.

The car is Duel fuel, It runs fine on gas, but not on petrol. The ride on petrol is very rough and does jerking and jittery motions, not all the time but most of the time. I took it back to the mechanics (again >.<). I was advised by other friends and mates it would be injectors, so i got them cleaned. NOPE, wrong problem is still there. If i listened to the engine it sounds like its missing cylinders. If you go to the exhaust out the back it putters and is not a constant sound. The mechanic then advised me that it sounds like burnt valves, from being run on gas for 13 years without hardened seats. I dropped my jaw at the price it would take to get them replaced. he was pretty sure it was valves, no compression test was done.

I just dont know what to do, DO I HAVE A LEMON? is this shit normal and should i expect it with this age of car? Should i try and sell it as it is? should i fix it? I have spent about $4000 fixing it up.

I was thinking of selling it cheap to someone who wants parts, i wanted to buy a Holden WB Ute and do it up a little and use it for work as i am an Electrician, at least then i haven't got bloody sensors and shit everywhere. Simple motor

Sorry to blab on. I just need advice.

Pictures of the car are on this advertising website for selling things:
Find Cheap Used & Second Hand Cars For Sale | Mornington Penninsula | Gumtree Classifieds

[VSHeaven]

All the things you listed would be classified as normal replacement items on a car with those kilometers. The thing with cars is that once something carks it you can be assured there will something else about to cark it not long after. If you read the vr-vs forum you will find a few other things you havent listed that should have been on your list already. I prefer to do preventative maintenance myself. For instance if I needed to replace the radiator I woul also do heater hoses and the tap at the same time. I am no expert on dual fuel, in fact I wouldn't touch a car with LPG if you gave it to me.

[jujibelly]

As the fella said above normal for a commodore that age plus km.

[hsv91ss]

I agree there normal items, I had every single one of them plus more on my old VR replaced, luckily for me my vs has only had a fuel pump go and a loose connection on the starter motor causing it to sound like a dead battery each time I tried to crank it over

[Jacko84]

Normal, ive just done starter motor, radiatior, heater tap, tranny service( thumping into gear, needed new pressure control soliniod) about to do spark plugs injectors and fuel filter, done 220000kms,
Plus i wouldnt touch a car on dual fuel


and crank angle sensor