Welcome to Just Commodores, a site specifically designed for all people who share the same passion as yourself.

New Posts Contact us

Just Commodores Forum Community

It takes just a moment to join our fantastic community

Register

VX Commodore Issue

WinterVX

Member
Joined
May 15, 2006
Messages
325
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
Melbourne
Members Ride
N/A
Hi All,

I have been browsing the forums regularly over the last few months and decided to sign up. I’m hoping someone may be able to give me a straight answers instead of the normal sugar coating answers that the Holden dealers seem to be giving me.

I have a 2001 Commodore VX II S, 5-speed manual, and have minor but annoying problem.

Had the car since December last year, picked it up from a dealer with 81,000kms, and since then have taken the car back in January to have a "clunking" noise looked at but apparently everything turned out ok. Took the car back home and still the same thing. Took it back a month later and this time the clutch was replaced (under warranty) to try overcome this noise. Anyway, long story short the noise is still there but it’s not as bad as it was before they replaced the clutch plate.

This noise occurs in low speeds in reverse or in 1st gear when you engage the clutch pedal (say going up and down the driveway) and get a "clunk".
The sound seems to be worse when changing from 1st to 2nd gear in low speeds as not only do I get a clunk, it's then followed by a knock, almost sounds like something is loose. The clunk is also sometimes present when going over speed humps. Doesn't seem to happen in 3rd through to 5th at all, and is more noticeable in reverse gear.

Given another example where this noise really can become quite loud, give the car some gas, lay off the pedal and give it gas again etc etc...... the clunk is quite audible. May even be some sort of driveline noise? I don’t know…

2 Holden mechanics have both told me the noise is "normal" and cannot be fixed, tho coming up for its 6 month service in a couple of weeks i'll be bringing up the issue again.

Question is, that if it is "normal" and there is someone out there who has had the same problem and have had it fixed, what was done to sort it out?

If anyone can shed some light on this matter it would be great, as it’s driving me insane...

Thanks
 
Last edited:

minux

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
6,929
Reaction score
245
Points
63
Location
Melbourne
Members Ride
2017 SSV Redline
Hmm, there is a bearing at the front of the gearboxes that wears a housing down, about 2k to fix, could be similar thing. Best thing, take it to a gearbox specialist and ask him to find out what it is, then have him put it all back together so you can tell holden. 9/10 times they just need to drive the car.


Good luck with it
 

WinterVX

Member
Joined
May 15, 2006
Messages
325
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
Melbourne
Members Ride
N/A
thanks for the quick reply Minux

2k? ouch.....lucky it will be at the cost of Holden to repair it for me then, but I doubt I will ever get a straight answer out of them while its under their 3 year warranty period. I will be making sure this time when I take it down and actually show a mechanic what im talking about instead of leaving it there and letting them "trying" to figure it out.
 

deserthead

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2004
Messages
1,084
Reaction score
74
Points
48
Location
Cairns QLD
Members Ride
VS III l67 Column Shift Ute
Don't ya love dealers!!!
Half the time u need to hold their hand when explaining things to them.
I had to record the starter motor for the noise it was making to prove to them that there was something wrong.

I get an occasional clunk outta mine, but its not the gearbox, its the diff.
Its got too much play in it. So when I put it into gear, it'll clunk as it takes up the slack.
 

WinterVX

Member
Joined
May 15, 2006
Messages
325
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
Melbourne
Members Ride
N/A
Be nice if it was easy to pin point where the noise was coming from. It does it constantly.....reversing down the drive, engage the clutch and "clunk" pull out of the drive way and engage the clutch "clunk". Chuck her in to 1st and take off, clunk in to 2nd gear and fine there on.

Slow driving around shopping centres etc in 1st and 2nd gear, it clunks every time engaging the clutch at slow speeds......it really is driving me nuts! :ranting:
 

deserthead

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2004
Messages
1,084
Reaction score
74
Points
48
Location
Cairns QLD
Members Ride
VS III l67 Column Shift Ute
When I put the clutch in I get a noise from the box, but its just the fork making noise. Annoying, but doesn't sound ne where near as bad as that.
 

WinterVX

Member
Joined
May 15, 2006
Messages
325
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
Melbourne
Members Ride
N/A
should hear it in an area that echos when I change from 1st to 2nd at low speeds, doesnt sound too healthy, as mentioned above....clunk then knock like something is loose
 

stockvp

New Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2006
Messages
328
Reaction score
2
Points
0
Age
45
Location
watsonia
Members Ride
VP Exec,honda civic,mazda626
could be the drive shaft bangin the exhaust
 

WinterVX

Member
Joined
May 15, 2006
Messages
325
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
Melbourne
Members Ride
N/A
Doctor Bob, you able to offer any suggestions as what may be wrong here?
 

vztrt

New Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2006
Messages
393
Reaction score
6
Points
0
Age
40
Location
NTH Suburbs Melbourne
Members Ride
VXII Exec
WinterVX said:
Given another example where this noise really can become quite loud, give the car some gas, lay off the pedal and give it gas again etc etc...... the clunk is quite audible. May even be some sort of driveline noise? I don’t know…

From this it could actually be your diff.
I've never really heard it being a problem on commo's but some of the B series Falcons get this.
Try riding the clutch a bit when changing from 1st to 2nd, if the clunk goes away than get your diff looked at as well.
 
Top