Hi~ My car has some problems. Can anyone help me?

[GUHYUN JEONG]

first, I can not speak very well..

Hello, Im Korean. I arrived in Brisbane 1 month ago.

and i bought a car 94' commodore wagon 230000kms.

i use it for 1 month.

nowadays, it makes some problems.

1. heater direction control is not working. (always on foot, i found some post on this forum, something in vacuum stuff is problem and it is over the radio unit.
but i don't know that which one is required to replace,...)

2. maybe starter motor. (when I turn on the key to operate my car, It is not working first time, always second, third...even 5~6th it can operate(start)
I think battery or starter motor or wires?

If it needs to replace parts, I can buy it.

but I've heard that labour charge is so expensive in Australia.

I need a help. I don't have enough.

phone : 042 165 9750
happyzung@gmail.com

I live in Runcorn, Brisbane.

Thank you for reading!

[HarmlessMuffinMan]

Ahn Young! Ha sae yo!

First and foremost: Welcome to Australia. Good to see am Migrant who came to Australia LEGALY.

Heater Direction Control? No idea :P But Ill have a go at the Starter Motor.

Quickest way to check if its the battery, is get a mates car, chuck on some jump leads, and see if it starts first go (Or maybe your battery has a little read section like most, where green is its good, and black means it's ####ed). Then if it starts first go, you know its not your stater motor.
If that is the case, then start the car, and disconnect the battery, and turn on all your electrical items in the car to put strain on the Altenator. If your car turns off; Battery may be fine, and the Altenator might be ####ed.
If its NOT the case, then you need to find why your car isn't starting... This can be almost anything... But without more information, the variable for problems can be too large.. Could be fuel pump... Engine isn't getting enough fuel to start. Fuel filter could be blocked... Coils could be about to pack it...

Maybe your best bet is to take it to a Holden Dealership, give em $55 to check over the car and tell you whats wrong with it.. Then you can report back! And someone on here should be able to tell you how to do the maintenance! I'll try and help, however I don't have much experience with the 94' models... But hell... So little changes from model to model, its all the same shit :P

Good luck! And let us know how you went.

[hako]

Re the starter problem, try pressing the unlock button on the keyhead just before you turn the key to "start"...this will de-activate the immobiliser.
Re the heater - probably a vacuum hose is off somewhere. This could be anywhere from where the vacuum take-off point is on the inlet manifold to the vacuum reservoir located under the passenger front guard (a black plastic ball) and then back to the bulkhead and finally the heater direction switch...it will be a process of elimination.
I'd try and do all work yourself - you'll save bundles of cash and hopefully enjoy doing it yourself. Pleny of help available on this forum.

[HarmlessMuffinMan]

Hako knows his stuff... Beleive me, I'm the Harmless Muffin Man

[GUHYUN JEONG]

Ahn Young! Ha sae yo!

First and foremost: Welcome to Australia. Good to see am Migrant who came to Australia LEGALY.

Heater Direction Control? No idea :P But Ill have a go at the Starter Motor.

Oh~ how do you know Ahn Young! Ha sae yo! ^^

I bought a 2nd hand starter motor for breaking down.

and I joined RACQ Roadside membership.

so if My car breaks down. i will call RACQ and replace it.

or you mentioned check origin of problem.

battery, alternater, etc.. but battery gage is green. and other electrical parts is well.

and i went to repair shop, i asked how much replace the starter motor labour charge to mechanic.

1 aussie shop replied $88, and korean shop said we follow the time of work, 1~2 hours. it means 1hour=$60 so $60~120

but 94 commodore is easier than other year models, korean mechanic said.

oh.. sorry. it is hard to write english.kkkk

thank you for your reply!!!!!

[GUHYUN JEONG]

Re the starter problem, try pressing the unlock button on the keyhead just before you turn the key to "start"...this will de-activate the immobiliser.
Re the heater - probably a vacuum hose is off somewhere. This could be anywhere from where the vacuum take-off point is on the inlet manifold to the vacuum reservoir located under the passenger front guard (a black plastic ball) and then back to the bulkhead and finally the heater direction switch...it will be a process of elimination.
I'd try and do all work yourself - you'll save bundles of cash and hopefully enjoy doing it yourself. Pleny of help available on this forum.

oh~~ ok i wll try to press unlock button when problem happen again.

and I try to find a black plastic ball. i couldn't find before.

korean repair shop said it is very expensive to solve a problem. because it is require to remove dash board and over 3 hours working time. it meansX

minimum charge is 60X3=$180 + new parts + over time......oh my god.. i believe you and the Harmless Muffin Man. ^^

oh.. it is hard to survive in Australia...T.T

[9C1pack]

Welcome to the forum.
Buy yourself a maintenance manual available on CD, ebay- cheap), buy a basic kit of tools.
The controls are by engine vacuum, so you either have a cracked or spit vacuum hose, broken heater control switch or maybe when someone fitted a CD player they dislodged the hose (read the manual)
There are "how to's" on here to fit starter motors, takes about an hour, new starters =Bosch $180 @ repco, chinese copy $80 -100 @ most places

[hako]

and I try to find a black plastic ball. i couldn't find before.

Under the passenger front guard and just behind the front headlight.