Things that cark it in a 5 year old Commodore??

[M100]

Just wanted to ask, my alternator went the other day and I have a 2004 VY2 V6. I was a bit surprised, ive had to change them before in a car but not this young. I have read through the forum about Commodore known problems but are there things like this that tend to go at certain age/ks?

Obviously pending the car is well looked after. I have 120ks and full history and look after it.

Things like the water pump, power steering etc. Just interesting to see if there is a trend with things. My radiator was rooted at 80,000ks as an example.

[dah_man_ben]

Hi mate, I own a VY2 Berlina '03... its only done 60,000km so not too many problems there... I haven't had any major issues other than machining brakes, replacing link pin bushes... just little stuff - but it would be interesting to see whats to come :P

However, my dad used to own a VY series 1 Berlina, same year, and he did have a few things go on it, but not much, just minor stuff - his brother now owns it and the factory radiator sh*t itself only just the other week at 200,000k...

So I don't really know, I suppose its just a matter of luck? My last car was a VS Commo and was still going strong at 250,000k... obviously I had a few things stuffed on that over the couple of years I owned it - (air-con, radiator, shockers, fuel pump, transmission blew up at 200k) and I don't give my cars a huge thrashing or anything.
Then on the other hand, my dads current '07 VE has had heaps of stuff go on it and its barely done more km than my VY (possibly just the whole first model thing) so yeah there ya go mate.

Ben.

[VY ACCLAIM WAGZ]

I had a fuel pump fail at 114000km in my series one vy other than that no problems

[Sabbath']

I've seen a fuel pump fail at 14,000km before.


Granted it was on a VS commodore...last year....silly old bastard wanted warranty on it

[MagiTEK]

Yeah. I''ve had to machine the rotors at 90 thou. But nothing else.

[Hemiway]

Mine is a VY1 Acclaim with 160000 so far the stereo controls on the steering have gone, the front sway bar bushes, the arieal has fallen out, just put on 4 new tyres and about to do the brakes.

[colgf]

I think once the mighty VY gets beyond 100000k then you can count on things wearing out , like tyres, brakes, battery, alternator (brushes), exhaust, drive belts & pulley bearings, power steering hoses , radiator hoses, Air Cond regas, etc etc , . After all they are a Machine, & all machines wear out...... Theres no escape unfortunately , its part of the overall "Cost of Motoring" . Always has been & always will be . Although compared to 50 years ago , todays Holden is streets ahead in longevity. Back in the 50's you were flat out getting an Engine to last more than 50.000 miles before it needed overhauling , rings , bearings etc.
Except for Fords, which still totally wear out after 12 months from new !!!!!!!!! Hey!!!!

[Surfwagon]

Here is a site dedicated to commodore faults, Ive found it pretty spot on and usually if it is not listed then its not a normal fault and maybe only a problem with your car.
Faults - VY

[cewing]

my engine mounts needed replacing at 90000kms
I volountarily had my springs and shocks replaced at 95000kms, the ride was pretty soggy, esp going around corners. Some of that can be contributed by my driving style.
Had an alternator go at 90000kms, repaced by dealer warranty.

All of those things are routine wear and tear items, depending on where u drive, engine mounts and shocks should be changed probably should be changed every 5 years anyways

[VYMAD]

Mine is a VY1 Acclaim with 160000 so far the stereo controls on the steering have gone, the front sway bar bushes, the arieal has fallen out, just put on 4 new tyres and about to do the brakes.

Is this the first time the brakes have needed doing? I assume by "do the brakes", you mean pads only? I got my pads checked at 100,000 and they still had fifty pecent, so I guess at 160,000 you mean the pads only.

How hard is it to change engine mounts yourself? As I'm probably close to needing that at 109,000?

Only probs I've had have been rear shockies, changed today, a clamp on power steering hose needed nipping up, volume controls and I have the power steering shudder which doesn't bother me.

[peninsulabands]

I have the power steering shudder which doesn't bother me.

buy new rotors. i had the same thing and stupidly got the rotors machined, 3 months later the shudder was back. bought new rotors and its smooth sailing ever since.

[hN!]

In my VY EXEC Ive had to change engine pulleys, inlet manifold gaskets, rear shocks as they were stock oil shocks and rocker cover gaskets Well brake pads aswell... Done all the work myself as its easy. Car has done 169000 So i'm happy.

[VYMAD]

buy new rotors. i had the same thing and stupidly got the rotors machined, 3 months later the shudder was back. bought new rotors and its smooth sailing ever since.

No it's not the rotors, just the common fault that was usually fixed under warranty by installing larger power steering hoses. It's when the vehicle is stationary and you turn the steering wheel and get a shudder that can be felt through the steering wheel.

[TMM]

pretty much the entire suspension.

[peninsulabands]

No it's not the rotors, just the common fault that was usually fixed under warranty by installing larger power steering hoses. It's when the vehicle is stationary and you turn the steering wheel and get a shudder that can be felt through the steering wheel.

oh i see. well i dont think mine got changed under warranty from previous owner because i have that shudder. also, my car seems to be 'using' alot of power steering fluid. there was a leak on one of the hoses so i changed that and re-tightened all the clamps on the other hose but im still topping it up every 3 weeks or so.

[jambo58]

04 vy S - fuel pump died at 140kms

[acarmody]

In my car, everything.

[youknowmelyricz]

Harmonic balancer(1hour old)
2nd Harmonic balancer
2 radiators(2nd only cause i was to lazy to put radiat.. fluid in)
2 moduel's 5 coils!!
1 fuel pump
1 transmission
3 filters(fuel)
front suspension(bush's the lot)
Rear suspension(the Lot)
Mufler
power steering rack
if any more im burn it !!! :P

[Calaber]

Series 2 VY Berlina. Owned since November 07, purchased with 32k on it.

At 70k, air con amplifier carked it. $80 but I could have repaired the old one.

Steering wheel controls have played up a couple of times, but not for last year or so.

Steering shudder. Not worth spending $130 or so to fix.

One rear shock is leaking, which was only discovered last weekend. Car now has 85k on it.

Gees, I'll stop there, before I jinx myself.

[Sean880]

VY S V6 Supercharged auto - 2004

40,000 kms

Car has run perfectly since new with everything on the car working well. Nothing has "carked it" as you should expect.

[TI0350]

Had my SS for 3 yrs 91k on the clock only thing I've had to do it is have the ignition barrell replaced as my colasped.

[Dangerous Dave]

Here is a site dedicated to commodore faults, Ive found it pretty spot on and usually if it is not listed then its not a normal fault and maybe only a problem with your car.
Faults - VY

Sorry...
This website has been suspended.

[Surfwagon]

Sorry...
This website has been suspended.

Thats a shame as it was a pretty good site, hope any problems get sorted soon.

[steve40]

I might be tempting fate but I have had my 03 vy ecec since brand new and have only replace master brake cyilnder and had the front disks machined twice,its done 150,000klm and been on gas for the last 35,000klm,and 1 set of tyres.

[Timmos]

Power steering pump is common, have had 2 replaced in 80,000kms