Bought my first commodore, advice...

[lad79]

Bought a Commodore, I like it but it seems to have a couple of issues....

Ok so a week ago I bought a VT2 Acclaim sedan, has had FE2 fitted, and 16" rims. Bought it with 188,000klms on it, for $7500(had $10k on it) from a dealer with rego till oct 09. It was put on gas in 07. I am the third owner, was serviced upto 80ks at Holden in Bendigo, then when the 2nd owner bought it, it was done at a local mechanic shop with a very good name(Who also later fitted the LPG).


First thing I always do on my cars when bought -
-Flushed the coolant and replaced with quality long life stuff.
-fitted K&N performance filter.
-had auto serviced and flushed(made a decent difference).

Ive identified a few things with it im not sure of, just after advice/tips on if its normal/bad etc. And if generally I got a good buy.

-when I first start the car of a morning it starts and dies, 2nd go it starts runs rough for 10secs then runs ok.
-when i first start the car, there seems to be a knocking sound coming from the passenger side footwell area/direction.
-when i get up to between 105-120kph it seems to get a shake, i know new tyres were fitted(225/50 ZR16), not sure if it needs a balance/alignment.
-when cruising at any speed over 50kph the gear lever(auto) seems to move back and forth, sometimes quite violently.
-after starting when i first take off the power steering sort of makes a groaning noise for 2-3 secs.
-when braking from any speed above 70kph i get a violent shake from the rear end(brakes were done as part of RWC before i picked it up).
-went to change the oil and filter but we couldnt remove the sump plug, im a pretty big guy, and with a sidchrome socket set and a 2' extension pipe for the handle, could not undo the sump plug!!!! Never seen anything like it b4, I started to round the head of the bolt with a tight fitting socket!

Dont think there is anything else, overall i like the car and want to get it A1.

Any advice appreciated.

Luke

oh one more thing, where are the side Air Bags in the Acclaims? I want to either upgrade the seats to SS or get some decent seat covers, will this effect the side airbags?

[vtmanualv6]

-when I first start the car of a morning it starts and dies, 2nd go it starts runs rough for 10secs then runs ok.

could be a bad batch of fuel, try running bp ultimate for a few tanks, if that doesnt work then come back onto the forum and i'l give you a few more pointers.


-when i first start the car, there seems to be a knocking sound coming from the passenger side footwell area/direction.

Could also be the bad fuel, engine pinging but you need to describe the problem more, could also be using a not so good type of oil and it doesnt seem to lubicate the top end at starting up good enough

-when i get up to between 105-120kph it seems to get a shake, i know new tyres were fitted(225/50 ZR16), not sure if it needs a balance/alignment.

Could be chopped out tyres meaning they arnt smooth, but you should feel this at any speed and also get a annoying sound too. Rub your hand over the tyre along the whole tyre see if you feel any bumps

-when cruising at any speed over 50kph the gear lever(auto) seems to move back and forth, sometimes quite violently.

Could be gearbox mounts or engine mounts

-after starting when i first take off the power steering sort of makes a groaning noise for 2-3 secs.

Could be low on powersteering oil, but could also be normal(straining the pump, eg turning your wheels while your not moving)

-when braking from any speed above 70kph i get a violent shake from the rear end(brakes were done as part of RWC before i picked it up).

Brake discs could need maching

-went to change the oil and filter but we couldnt remove the sump plug, im a pretty big guy, and with a sidchrome socket set and a 2' extension pipe for the handle, could not undo the sump plug!!!! Never seen anything like it b4, I started to round the head of the bolt with a tight fitting socket!

Try giving bursts of power, like giving it taps with a hammer but with your hand if that makes sense.
Shock is better then brute force
But dont know why you couldnt undo that




Hope this helps, ive only given you some ideas but you need to describe your problems better could be many other things

[tyrefryer]

Cold Mornings and LPG dont go well together that could be that problem.
As for the rest vtmanualv6 sounds about right, rear brake disc machining is a common need with VT's

[lad79]

With the running rough, I read somewhere it starts and runs on petrol for 3-5secs then switches to gas. Im thinkin maybe bad fuel or injectors/filter need doing maybe?

Thanks guys, yeah I wouldve thought the yard shouldve both balanced the wheels when they put new tyres on it and also machined the rear discs when they put the new pads in.

[Thomo]

Thanks guys, yeah I wouldve thought the yard shouldve both balanced the wheels when they put new tyres on it and also machined the rear discs when they put the new pads in.[/QUOTE]
Dont be stupid they want to make as much $$$$ of the car they can.They only do the the things they have to do.Most yards have their own dodgey mechanic for rwc.

[lad79]

yeah this guy has his own mechanic too, but they dont do their own RWCs

i should be able to get both done for about $100 anyway (balance and machining)

biggest thing im worried about is getting this sump plug out, i had another shot at it yesterday, giving it sharp blows with my palm of my hand and still wont budge....

[Thomo]

biggest thing im worried about is getting this sump plug out, i had another shot at it yesterday, giving it sharp blows with my palm of my hand and still wont budge....[/QUOTE]


Yeah had the same problem when i had it service by a kmart mechanic did it way to hard.Took it back & said to crack it for me in the end of all his trying had to use a small cold chisel & tap it.Try it when the car has been running aluminum needs heat.

[DaggaZ]

Try using a soket for the sump plug, if your not already using one...

[lad79]

Cheers Thomo will give that a try.

Yeah DaggaZ already using one, quality ones too. But still no go.

[lad79]

Bought a new plug and washer from Holden this morning, $11 thought it wouldnt hurt incase we wreck the current one taking it off.... Also got a air driven rattle gun to try and ease it out.

I love this car(first commodore and only had it 2 weeks), but I think Ive bought a bit of a lemon......

Lot of talk in another thread bout bacfire on LPG, I dunno bout backfire but today mine made a muffled pop sound from the intake when i was trying to start it this morning. We had 8 degrees overnight and was still cold this morning, Since then my engine light has come on and Idle is rougher than a rasp file. I also noticed the fuel pump(petrol, think its an in tank job??), doesnt seem to be turning off when on LPG(and maybe on the way out). When I switch to petrol the revs jump 200rpm or so, and then it runs a lot smoother. When I switch back to LPG it stalls. I kick it over and it will start but idle is the same, real rough. I'm thinkin the petrol is still coming into the cylinders when on LPG and flooding is occuring.

Would anyone recommend changing plugs, leads, coil packs etc?

Just for reference I also just fitted a K&N panel filter.

Any advice appreciated, close to getting rid of this car and buying a VTII 5.7.


Cheers
Luke

[1LOWVX]

The fuel pump should shut off as my mates does and his brothers SS does as well. Is it gas injection or a impco cause that may make a diffrence but if your car feels and sounds like its flooding on petrol then your O rings on the base of your injectors are worn or cracked from running on gas to much, as that happened to me but not from gas as i don't have it nor want it. But if you change or injectors i recommend you change your plugs as the may be fowled up and after that your car will thank you for it

[lad79]

Yeah its a convert type setup not injector(damn the prior owner for being a povo asshle). Since Ive had it, Ive done about 700klms and about 200 of those have been one fuel, as I know u need to run it on fuel some of the time. I'm seriously close to ripping the gas system off and going back to just petrol, seems a lot easier, cheaper etc. If this is anything to go by I wont be running LPG again.....


But yeah I can definately hear the fuel pump running even when on LPG, opened the boot and listened under the floor and its quite loud..... Gas system was only fitted in 97.

[1LOWVX]

Was the gas fitted 07 or 97, try shutting the gas value off in the boot and run the car on only petrol and see how it goes and also does it have a pod filter or the orginal. If you go back to straight petrol i would recomend putting new injectors and plugs in it to give the motor a fresh start from running gas i hope this helps

[lad79]

Gas was fitted 2007(my bad lol), by previous owner. Got receipts etc with it. When using the switch to run on petrol it runs heaps better, its as if its still getting petrol when it is switched to LPG(you can still hear the petrol pump running).

[1LOWVX]

You may have some faulty wiring or a blown fuse stopping the petrol from being switched off when on gas, i recommened taking itback to the gas mechanic and get them to look at it

[lad79]

forgot to say, it doesnt have a pod but one of the K&N panel filters.

Yeah I think its the best bet, just annoyed coz of only had her two weeks.
Checked the tank and it was installed sept 07 so about 18mths old.

Cheers guys
Luke

[1LOWVX]

pod filters and 100 times better then panel as panels have a tendency to backfire thru the air box, and iam suprised it wasnt picked up on a roady, good luck

[lad79]

Hasnt had a rwc done since i bought it, i only put it in the day after i bought it.

Have taken out the K&N filter and put the original paper one back in, to see if it makes any difference.

I noticed there is a little black box and it says lean/rich with two lights on it, the blue light next to lean is on.


Also on a different note, if my engine mount on the passgr side is broken, could this cause a kind of knocking sound?

[1LOWVX]

The Engine Mount shouldnt make a knock noise that sounds more likely to be suspension, like a missing bush or rubber

[lad79]

This is when its just sitting idleing, on the spot not moving with the bonnet up, sounds like its coming from under the passgr exhaust manifold.

[1LOWVX]

check to make sure the exhaust hasn't broken any were and tighten up the manifold bolts to the exhaust and check the engine mount but it wouldnt make a knock noise unless the bolts on the block r lose

[lad79]

will do, thanks for the tips.

[1LOWVX]

No probs mate Good Luck With it