VZ Calais - Cluster Issues

[VZCALAIS190]

Hey guys i've been having some problems with my cluster on my 05 vz calais hoping someone can help me out...

A few months ago i got a message "Rear Light Bulb Fail" a couple times but stopped until mid last week. Now it constantley pops up when doing the system check. I've checked all bulbs and there all ok, even changed the stop bulbs with no luck of fixing the problem. Is there a way to reset the cluster without disconnecting the battery? I also get a message "ABS Failure" casually on start up when battery power is slighty low, is that normal? One last thing the fuel gauge tends to say its empty when theres roughly 15-20L left...

Any help will be much appreciated!

[HoldenOnn]

I know that a battery that is getting on in age, or a little low on charge can show up ABS failure or Brake Failure on start up. They should only flash for a few seconds.

With the bulbs, have you recently changed to leds on any of the rear lights. This includes the number plate lights. If so, just disconnect the battery for 30mins then reconnect. The only information you lose is the clock and the fuel consumption figures since your last reset. Disconnecting battery will not harm anything. I needed to do this after changing number plate bulbs to leds as they draw less power.

Do you have HID headlights by any chance either?

With regards to the fuel gauge, I have no idea on this one. I think the utes might have had a sender issue, but unsure on this matter.

[ashbox]

fuel gauge issue is a design flaw with the pick up in the tank...
pretty common problem with the vz's, i know my sv6 was like this

[GAMBLR]

I know of a few lads who have had the opposite fuel gauge problem - says there is more in there than what there actually is. But for example, my needle was sitting on red last night, but filled it up and it clicked off at 62L. It's a 75L tank, give or take a bit for evaporation. Notice the VZ fuel gauge is pretty active, keep an eye on it and see if it's just a design flaw or a more serious issue.

HoldenOnn is correct about the dash warnings and battery, LED taillamps draw less current than conventional globes which is how the 'blown taillight' warning operates. I have it pop up every now and then, usually just remove the battery lead and it tricks the car into forgetting the warning was there. Even now, one of the LED's on the licence plate is out and it won't detect it :P

[VZCALAIS190]

Thanks for all the helpful replies guys!

I guess it may be my LED number plate bulbs or my HID headlights then... Only reason why I don't want to disconnect the battery is because I don't want to loose the code for the radio since I haven't got it lol...

As for the petrol sender design flaw is there any other sender i could use to get a more accurate reading? Would a new one fix it?

[HoldenOnn]

Disconnecting the battery, or for that fact even removing the radio from the car and reinstalling still does not require a code to be entered. The radio and car are matched and you will not lose or require any codes. I have removed radio previously and disconnected battery and never required codes.

The bulb failure warning will relate to your number plate leds and not HIDs. Make sure the both number plate lights are working, disconnect battery for 30 mins, then reconnect. I did this about 6-12 months or more ago when I did leds, and I have never had bulb failure show up again.

I still have HID in my high beam, but not in low beam as I didn't like light spread, but I think I know the reason you get "ABS Fail" or "Brake Fail" upon start up for a few seconds as it used to happen to me.

I bet it only happens when you either start the car with the headlights in the on position meaning they immediately come on when starting car, or I bet straight after you start the car (especially first start of the day when cold) you turn on your headlights(HIDs) on, and the warning appears.

This happened to me consistently while I had low beam HID. Upon start up, the HID use considerable power for a very short amount of time to warm up and this just mucks with the computer/electrics. There is no issue if the warning disappears within a few seconds.

Only way I could stop it happening to me was after I used a charger on the battery overnight just to freshen it up occassionally. But after a couple weeks, the warning would start again. I think if the battery is anything but fully charged, you will always get this ABS or Brake Warning upon start up whilst HIDs are warming up, but this will not harm anything so don't worry.

[VZCALAIS190]

Yeah it usually happens when the battery is slightly low like if I listen to the radio for a few minutes or have the lights on prior to start-up but it only appears for a few seconds anyway so not much of a big deal. I'll try disconnecting the battery as you've said see what happens.. As for the HID light spread, mine seems to focus more onto the left of the car guess thats like that for oncoming traffic? I'm going to try and adjust them to point more towards the car. Thanks for your help mate really appreciate it! I'll let you know how i go.

[Torquative]

I'd try the battery then, these cars seem very picky when it comes to Voltage

and thats right, you wont lose the code to the radio with a flat battery or disconnecting it etc. Ive had mine in and out of the car the long weekend so many times while installing a CB that its not funny. Im told the BCM remembers the code, only if a different head units installed will it ask for the code.

I suppose if your going to steal a radio your not putting it back into the same car!

[Munz]

Will this work when I don't have LED number plate lights and still get the rear light bulb fail warning?

[HoldenOnn]

Will this work when I don't have LED number plate lights and still get the rear light bulb fail warning?

Unsure. You may indeed have a globe out. Not just a number plate globe. Could be a tail light, or reverse light, or indicator. Unsure if it detects all of these, but make sure they all work perfectly. Otherwise just disconnect battery for 30mins and reconnect and see if it worked.

[VZCALAIS190]

Disconnected the battery last night for a minute or so just to see if it will fix it and so far so good no more bulb out warnings It didnt even reset the clock only made the cluster readings freak out and hit 99.9l/km and trip distance of 36,000km lol but yeah thanks for all the help guys really appreciate it

[HoldenOnn]

No problems

[Eath4306]

Just adding on to the warnings of ABS Failure. My Calais is doing the same thing, sometimes it will say "ABS Failure" or "ESP Failure" but then disappear straight away, used to restart the car and it didn't happen again. Only thing is, it's a brand new battery? Any other suggestions?

[HoldenOnn]

Just adding on to the warnings of ABS Failure. My Calais is doing the same thing, sometimes it will say "ABS Failure" or "ESP Failure" but then disappear straight away, used to restart the car and it didn't happen again. Only thing is, it's a brand new battery? Any other suggestions?

Why did you need to restart the car if the fault message disappeared straight away? You may indeed have an error and may be worth a visit to Holden or someone with a scan tool to find if the computer has logged a fault code.

Your new battery may be not so new. Whats the year of manufacturer for the battery? What are the new battery specs? Did you buy from a place which would sell alot of batteries, meaning that it would not have been sitting around for a year or more waiting to be purchased.