06 VZ Exec issues (V6 wagon)

[boogervz]

Hi All,

First time poster from NZ, (no sheep jokes ok..).
Had my 06 VZ wagon (105km) for about 18 months (ex fleet lease from a well known Kiwi Biscuit Co).
Before that I has a VNSS sedan and VRSS sedan before the kids came along...

Anyways, first up, this is a brilliant forum as I have found my VZ Exec wagon suffering from alot of common problems you all share here.
In the past 18 months (apart from usual spark plugs $! /oil/filters/trans fluid(s))

I have had the following:

Light in 1,2,3,D,N,R,P Auto shifter panel dead - replaced from Dick Smiths.
Passenger Central locking sluggish, WD-40 down the soleniod - keeping fingers crossed so far !
Rear shocks leaking (carrying too many biscuits ?) - replaced
Radiator cap split - replaced
1 week later water pump seal gone - replaced
Radio aerial seems to only go up about 30 cm's ?? - Exec model seems not to have the option to manually raise/lower aerial so I assume the motor/gears in the aerial are stuffed ?
105km Service reminder - reset
Rattle from front of engine, worse over coarse chip roads - possibly loose stone chip guard ?
Now getting random (maybe twice a week) SVS spanner warnings, so I expect O2 or oil sensor..so
off to the Holden dealer for a computer code check...?

Is it me or am I having a bad run for a car thats only 5 years old...?

Anyways, thanks to all that have posted before as quick diagnoses and repair has been
thanks largely to you all here..

Cheers
Ben

[6h84eva]

Hi Ben

Firstly, welcome to the forum. Great to see another from this side of the ditch. I'm a fellow kiwi (obviously), based in the southern districts of the big smoke. I'm on my 5th Commodore, but my first VZ. She's an 04 SV6 done 108km and I've had her for 3 months.

In regard to the issues you've quoted, it appears every model has some particular quirks. The VZ is no different - water pump seals and radiator caps are common replacements at around this level of kms and my beasty is no different. Am about to grab a replacement coolant cap and am keeping my eye on the water pump seal as she made a puddle the other day but I didn't quite catch where from....and there was fluid on top of the sump, so my suspect is logical.

The service reminder thingy is easy to do - when you know HOW to - and this site is a veritable smorgasbord of info on the tricks to avoid potentially expensive trips to the Holden dealer (including that particular gem). Bulbs, sticky solenoids / window mechanisms / aerials are common enough in any Holden...or indeed any car.....so nothing to worry about there. Shocks are 'recommended' to be replaced around every 80 to 100 thousand kms. Few ever get done as often, but it's not uncommon for them to leak / need replacing at that milage - especially if they have been exercised a bit. Mind you, I once went to the time and labour of removing all door skins and spraying / degreasing / regreasing all of the electric window parts in my VSII Berlina because they were all stiff and slow, so I guess my tolerance of 'routine' maintenance could be a little higher than average.

The rattle from the front of the engine certainly sounds like some fascia panel / heat shield or guard is loose (especially if you hear it more when driving on a rough surface). Common on the VZ's (as you will no doubt read in this forum) is the exhaust heat shield. A rather tinny metallic rattle that comes and goes - especially at idle or just above and when the engine is cold. Not a major to repair if this is the case. Don't be fooled - mine sounded like it was coming from the front, but sure enough.......

The only real concern is that SVS warning, but - as you say - a trip to the local Holden dealer (or someone with a diagnostic tool) will give you the error code on what thing is annoying your car. Hopefully it's a bad connection or something cheap and is easily fixed.

If this has all happened over 18 months, I wouldn't be worried myself. My SV6 overheated (read: boiled) the day after I got it. I was not amused to find that the reputable Holden dealer I bought the car from had flushed the cooling system but had a) neglected to fill up the empty surge tank, b) neglected to purge the air out of the cooling system and c) did NOT fill the engine up completely with cooling fluid. She took 2.5 litres and I was seriously looking for a puddle under the car every time I stopped it or went to get in it for the next 1000km! Not my first experience with crap maintenance / repair work from this dealer and it's not the place I take either of my Holdens to be serviced when something is broken that I would rather not try to fix....but they had THE car I wanted when I was looking.

Reading this site helped me diagnose the overheating issues with my VZ (and where to look to confirm), not to mention the rattles and other little characteristics of her make-up...and what to watch and what I can ignore of these traits. Previously, I've posted (and got response to) issues with either of the VSs I've had and the VNs before them. There are a lot of knowledgeable blokes out there and I'm really grateful that they are around.

In short (too late), nothing major to worry about and nothing more than a bump in the road - something that happened at about 100-120,000km in every Holden I've had so far. Then they'll be more or less fine until about 170-190km, then 230-250, then about 310 there's the painful 'do I keep it and fix it, or sell it and take my chances' dilemma!

All the best


Lance

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

Welcome brother!

All the problems you are having are trivial and most likely easily fixed.

Buy a cheap OBD2 CanBus Scantool. And get a tinkering.

[CAPRILICIOUS WL]

I also had that on my 2005 wl stato for the svs message on the dash , that is most likly from the oil pressure sensor.
the part is very very easy to fit yourself and costs about $90 max.
It is located very close to the oil filter on the alloytec engine with a plug attatched.

let us know if that fixes the svs problem.

hope i helped
Dave

[impulsive]

Welldone lads on the effective responses.. From my experiences, with all engines big, small, 4 stroke, 2 stroke V6 or V8. They all have issues that need to be repaired. All these things are not uncommon and are due toi normal wear and tear. Although i do believe you are having a bad run.

In 18 months of having my car i did a Gearbox and a clutch, i replaced the clutch with a single mass flywheel and the box under warranty. since then (2008) i had to replace a timing chain tensioner, coolanty cap and oil pressure sender. Car has travelled 130,000km. The most expensive part, besides the clutch was the Timing chain tension, most of it was labour. None of these things were avoidable as they are parts that are designed to wear out, saving your motor internals from major damage.

Goodluck with it, there is a wealth of knowledge on these forums, any problems im sure you will find the answers you require.

[boogervz]

Hi Guys,

The ECU log had 2 errors, the first made reference to trying to start engine with immobilzer on ?....and yes, oil pressure sensor warning.
We cleared the messages and I will wait until I get another SVS spanner warning just to double check.

Davvid - The cheapest price in NZ for the sensor sofar is $140 ! (sadly they are not listed on Trademe (NZ's version of EBay))
Again, thanks to all who replied, I will be snooping around these forums in the future..

Cheers

[CAPRILICIOUS WL]

Davvid - The cheapest price in NZ for the sensor sofar is $140 ! (sadly they are not listed on Trademe (NZ's version of EBay))

Down here in Melbourne when I was looking for my oil pressure sensor they ranged from $200 to $60.
Keep searching I'm sure ull find a cheaper one.
Just be very careful the vy bout as cheap as $30 is much cheaper but different to the one u need for the alloytec which is much more expensive.

Howeve if the SVS doesn't pop up again after clearing the code then it may not be the oil pressure sensor unless it has it moments where it feels like working at times. Lol

Well keep is updated.
I hope Iv helped.

[boogervz]

Hi All,

Oil Pressure sensor was the problem, it got progressively worse to the point that at idle the SVS warning appeared at every set of lights..
The rattle was a loose heat sheild...welded..
Aerial gears are stuffed....the quote was $300 for new aerial -fitted. Going to buy a ipod instead !

Cheers

[heyitsEnricoPallazzo]

Hi All,

Oil Pressure sensor was the problem, it got progressively worse to the point that at idle the SVS warning appeared at every set of lights..
The rattle was a loose heat sheild...welded..
Aerial gears are stuffed....the quote was $300 for new aerial -fitted. Going to buy a ipod instead !

Cheers

Buy aftermarket instead! Supercheap sell 'em.