Welcome to Just Commodores, a site specifically designed for all people who share the same passion as yourself.

New Posts Contact us

Just Commodores Forum Community

It takes just a moment to join our fantastic community

Register

Vy ss a lemon??

carlz04

New Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Age
38
Location
Pakenham Vic
Members Ride
VY SS 2002
We brought a 2002 vy ss in nov 10 with 126,000 kms on it and have had nothing but trouble since start of jan this year.

We r the 3rd owners but the previous owners have got it serviced every 10,000 kms with holden and the last 1 being ultra tune (thinking that may b the problem?)

the engine light started coming on in dec, only once the car heated up and we never got around to getting it checked as i was due to have my 2nd baby after xmas.

The 1st week of me driving it the car was on 1/4 tank petrol and it just started dying on me on the fwy and i quickly pulled over n turned it off as it said low fuel but i couldnt put my foot down it just slowed n wouldve just ended up stopping.
So i got it filled back up n started fine (at that stage the engine light had never come on) so i learnt u pretty much cant let it go under a 1/2 tank or near 1/4 like my old **** box.

Then the engine light started showing up, once every few days or atleast once a week. Then just before i had my baby (31.12.10) it started coming up everytime we started the car.

Then on the 4th jan my partner said it started feeling abit sluggish n he turned it off and from then it never started. We rang racv n he came out n had a look n plugged it in but nothing came up saying it was wrong. He tried turning it over again n it sounded like it was firing wrong, so he said he didnt want to f it anymore and 2 get it towed 2 a mechanic which we did the next day.
The mechanic finally had a look at it and rang us to say that the motor had blew up (although my partner had told him if u turn it too much u'll f it more)
he finally found the problem an injector was staying open and had blown a hole in the sump (great just what we wanted to hear)
we got a 2nd hand motor from a 04 ss with 70,000kms on it got it put in 2 wks later had our car back!!

Now 6wks later i started hearing a noise at the back when i put my foot down, like a jet taking off. Had the wheel bearings checked - not them! Changed the tyres with my partners vl ones - the noise still there.
Then my partner checked the diff oil and there was some metallic **** in it, so now what should we do?? He's gonna change the diff oil but i bet the noise is still there knowing our luck!! So whats next a new diff?? Or a re built 1?

I feel like ringing the dick head up we brought the car off n having a go at him as the thing has cost us 2 much $$ in 4mths!! Its stupid, the thing is a lemon!!

Oh n the battery went when we picked the car up after the motor got done!!

Some imput would b good bout this new noise, thanks

Also adding all oil levels and everything have been fine n no leaks!!!
checked by my partner n step dad who is an ex cop mechanic
 
Last edited:

don0xer

Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2006
Messages
343
Reaction score
2
Points
18
Members Ride
2000 VX Calais 3.8L Supercharged
at the end of the day, its the buyers responsibility to check over the car. sure 95% of people will most likely not tell you about all the niggly bits and troubles theyve had with a car, but thats the risk you take. just because its the most expensive car dosent make it a good one :)
 

carlz04

New Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Age
38
Location
Pakenham Vic
Members Ride
VY SS 2002
at the end of the day, its the buyers responsibility to check over the car. sure 95% of people will most likely not tell you about all the niggly bits and troubles theyve had with a car, but thats the risk you take. just because its the most expensive car dosent make it a good one :)

a racv check would never have picked up the hole in the sump, unless they took the whole motor out, i was just wondering if the diff is the problem now and if any1 else has had motor trouble with the ss's??
loked on other thread n doesnt look like it, who said anything bout it being expensive?? we've spent over 3k in 4mths not something u wanna b doin
 

Sean880

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 14, 2009
Messages
1,191
Reaction score
191
Points
63
Location
VIC / NSW
Members Ride
2012 VE SV6 ser 2 and 911 Porsche Carrera S 997
An 8-9 year old used car with 126000 kms on it and 2 owners does not make the car a lemon. It is all in how the car was both driven and maintained by each owner. You cannot expect new car reliability in a car like this but you do not expect to have to replace an engine that's for sure.

1. If you want a better car then you certainly do not buy one with those kms and preferably you buy a one owner. (More kms and more hours of operation = more wear and tear). It is not very hard to find a one owner VY S or SS for sale in Melbourne with under 100,000 kms.

2. You need to have a thorough pre - purchase mechanical inspection by a competent mechanic before you buy any used car. Plenty of people come on this forum with complaints about their used cars they just bought and clearly never had them professionally checked before buying.

3. Servicing ANY car just every 10000 kms is not enough. Critically, how then did the 1st owner look after it and how was it driven?

4. Plenty of people buy the SS and then drive them quite hard. If the car you bought was thrashed by the first or second owner, or both, then you are likely going to have plenty of problems.

5. The Diff.
The limited slip diffs on these cars are fine if they are not thrashed and abused. A noisy or clunky diff on these cars is most often evidence that it has been driven very hard (as is an engine which is terminal at about 130000 kms). Diff problems on these cars that have been abused at some stage in their working life is not uncommon.

I sympathise with your problems but when buying any used car (especially the example you bought) you should always assume it has plenty of faults until proven otherwise. For the price you likely paid for this used car plus repairs, and it's 126000 kms of use, you could have purchased a nice smaller brand new car with 3 years new car warranty.
 

carlz04

New Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Age
38
Location
Pakenham Vic
Members Ride
VY SS 2002
yeah but were not even sure it is the diff (do they make wining noises?? that sound like a jet?)
the 1st owner was an older guy, 2nd owner a younger guy who most likely thrashed it!!
Dont u worry i wish we did get a different car - i try n tell my partner this!
I love our car but if were gonna have 2 keep replacing things left right n centre i wanna get rid of it
 

Sean880

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 14, 2009
Messages
1,191
Reaction score
191
Points
63
Location
VIC / NSW
Members Ride
2012 VE SV6 ser 2 and 911 Porsche Carrera S 997
1. I would recommend you drive the car down to a diff specialist in MEL and have them check it for you. (Most of these guys will have seen and heard plenty of faulty VT - VZ series car diffs). I guess there should be one specialist around the Dandenong area somewhere.
2. With those kms on the car you are going to have to replace worn items and those that develop faults from time to time (- in addition to usual servicing and preventative maintenance). It goes with the age and kms. If the car has been frequently thrashed by past owners you may inevitably have more mechanical issues crop up. There is plenty of info on this forum on the sorts of issues you might expect to deal with on your car.

-------------------------
 
Last edited:

carlz04

New Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Age
38
Location
Pakenham Vic
Members Ride
VY SS 2002
yeah but need to get babies around lol

yeah my partner is ringing 2moro as no 1 is open 2day
he changed diff oil and there is all metallic **** thru it, hopefully the new oil will give abit of time until we can get in somewhere.
fingers crossed its nothing major and not $1000
oh n the kms were pretty low compared to some the same age, glad new motor is only 70,000
 

gonnaenodathat

New Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2010
Messages
80
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Age
51
Location
caloundra
Members Ride
2010 50th anniversary Manual FG XR6T
i never read anywhere about you checking oil levels or anything ? having a baby is no excuse to neglect routine maintenance especially when a problem arises as your baby would be then in an unsafe vehicle ! . the first thing you do is check it over. this is where the problems started. and an injector issue isnt going to blow a hole in the sump. hitting something will ! and also, they're would have been oil smells and stains and oil light on in dash !

thrashing a car is fine if you maintain it, avoid maintenance and routine checks and you have engine failure...

ps, any mechanic telling you an injector has blown a hole in your sump is talking out his arse !
 

carlz04

New Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Age
38
Location
Pakenham Vic
Members Ride
VY SS 2002
hey mate calm down, i dont check the car my partner does n yes all oil checks and everything were fine!! no leaks nothing!! nothing was neglected we were gonna take it to a mechanic after i had my baby
We didnt thrash the car the previous owner did and the fuel injector was staying open so we got told then him turning it over f'd it, then he found a hole in the sump after pulling the motor apart.
obviously a problem not from us as we had it 2 mths and driven fine!!!
 

Brett_jjj

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
6,805
Reaction score
108
Points
48
Location
Tamworth NSW
Members Ride
vs commodore
The story about the injector and the hole in the sump doesnt make sense. Id be definitely getting a second opinion and taking it to another mechanic and getting them to check it out before you hand over any cash for anything.A leaking injector is not going to put a hole in the sump,it might bend the conrod if the engine is started whilst one of the cylinders is full of fuel from the leaking injector,but for that to happen is very rare.A leaking injector will just usually cause hard starting and black smoke from the tailpipe at startup.
 
Top