2004 VZ Commodore "Check Power Train"

[TimTams]

G'day all!

I wish I could say my first post here was a bit happier! I just got hold of a 2004 VZ commodore which is otherwise in great nick except for the following problem. When i start the engine cold, it does it check etc.... and comes up with "Check Power train". It doesn't idle properly and if I put my foot on the accelerator it nearly stalls and misbehaves. After a moment it will rev up but once i take my foot off, it does it again. Once it 'warms up' it seems to go OK but seeing as my drive to work only lasts 1 minute it is pretty annoying...

I have had a look around and people have had SIMILAR problems (but not quite the same) so I don't want to go out and buy $120 O2 sensors without at least getting a few extra opinions specific to my problem. I have a couple of other questions too... should the engine still run OK without the O2 sensors connected (ie can I just unplug them to rule them out)? Does this car have an APS or TPS and would this cause the problem? What other things could be at fault?

I am trying to contact the last owned to find out if it started happening straight away or if it was a gradual thing.

Thanks heaps for any help!

Tim

[CRUSTIN]

You can get codes checked, that should tell you what's going on. Believe it or not, Holden is cheaper than most I looked up.

I think it was $60 at Holden, some places are 40, others are around 100.

[Macca86]

Yep as was said go get the error codes checked. There can be numerous things they can trigger the 'Check Power Train' display, but the codes that come up using the scan tool will tell you exactly what has set the code off, you can begin diagnosing it from there. Even if Holden are a little dearer this is one thing the bit extra is worth paying for, as being a Holden dealership they will have specific flow charts to follow for certain codes that come up to find the exact problem with your car.

[TimTams]

Does anyone around Newcastle, NSW have a scan tool? I have called literally every mechanic I can find within range of where I live and none of them can manage to find five minutes to scan the computer between now and christmas....



Can i do it without a scan tool?

[Trent L]

Talk to Scott Mewburn the Service Manager @ Pacific Holden, Gateshead.

I had that issue with my 2004 VZ Calais back when Scott used to work down in Sydney.

Turned out my issue was an O2 sensor. They could nominate which specific sensor failed from the codes (if that is your issue).

If you have to buy one it is cheaper than four (in the case of the 190Kw engine).

[Stewlz]

Ok so I don't know if this will help or not, but when mode and set are held when turning ignition, and option under that menu is codes. Does anyone know what codes this shows?

[impulsive]

faults in the dash, ie a fuel gauge error might be displayed here

[Stewlz]

Ahk cheers mr implulsive

[derrro]

Does anyone around Newcastle, NSW have a scan tool? I have called literally every mechanic I can find within range of where I live and none of them can manage to find five minutes to scan the computer between now and christmas....



Can i do it without a scan tool?

If you can get urself down to Sydney you are welcome to use mine. Bought it on eBay for about $250. Not Tech2, but it clears codes. Generally the computer clears them if switched off for a while

[TimTams]

Yeah I disconnected the battery and it cleared the error but did not help the problem

derrro thanks for the offer but at the moment I don't think the car would make it... It was playing up a lot yesterday. For now I'll stop driving it until it is fixed

Thanks for the advice Trent L i'll give him a call and let you know how I go

EDIT:

Just called scott he will look at it today for me

[Trent L]

Well that's good Scott can look at it for you.

Everyone always bags out Holden Service Centres but there are some good techs out there that try their hardest for the customers.

Let us know how you go.

[TimTams]

OK, I got it back and the result was that there is a cable break somewhere between the mass airflow sensor and the ECU.

Now to go pull off all the plastic covers and find the damn sensor...

anybody have a wiring diagram?

[Stewlz]

If your talking about the Mass airflow sensor it's just after the air box along the intake pipe, perhaps it's not connecting properly because it seems strange to have a break in the cable, it's all protected. Maybe just pull it out and check no pins are bent, out of place or contaminants, from there you can trace it back to wherever it goes, probably straight to the ecu

[derrro]

Yeah always test for tightness of connections first. If there is any corrosion on the pins/socket best go and see if there is something that can be used to spay on it at an auto elec

[TimTams]

Thanks guys i shall check as soon as I'm home today

I'm hoping its something either with the plug or the sensor itself. I dread following wires under the dash

[Vzniko]

G'day all!

I wish I could say my first post here was a bit happier! I just got hold of a 2004 VZ commodore which is otherwise in great nick except for the following problem. When i start the engine cold, it does it check etc.... and comes up with "Check Power train". It doesn't idle properly and if I put my foot on the accelerator it nearly stalls and misbehaves. After a moment it will rev up but once i take my foot off, it does it again. Once it 'warms up' it seems to go OK but seeing as my drive to work only lasts 1 minute it is pretty annoying...

I have had a look around and people have had SIMILAR problems (but not quite the same) so I don't want to go out and buy $120 O2 sensors without at least getting a few extra opinions specific to my problem. I have a couple of other questions too... should the engine still run OK without the O2 sensors connected (ie can I just unplug them to rule them out)? Does this car have an APS or TPS and would this cause the problem? What other things could be at fault?

I am trying to contact the last owned to find out if it started happening straight away or if it was a gradual thing.

Thanks heaps for any help!

Tim

Exactly the same problem as you, have had it since my car done 90,000K and I am on the 148,000K mark and I Finally fixed it!
It is the coil packs. IT is a very common problem. Coil packs stuff up around 100,000K mark.
Now it will cost you around $150 each not including labour, at the mechanics, but I found them at my local repco store for $50 each.
Took me a couple of hours, not a hard job. While you are in there change the spark plugs too (Get the platinum ones if you can afford it).