Just watched your Timing chain video which confirms my thoughts and approach to 'limit switch' monitoring. I bought my VE Ute about 18 months ago with the engine dash warning and new about 'issues' with the VE engine timing chains. Like your wagon the car runs great, there are no noises coming from the engine and I plan to monitor it as you have been doing. I only drive about 3000kms per year so I'll never get to 250,000kms. Sitting at 205,000 now. Thanks for sharing and confirming for other VE users. You should definitely keep your VE as a workhorse, its still a nice looking car!
I have a 2011 Omega, 314,000kms with original chains, still runs pretty good, but have replaced a number of parts including the evap solenoid, a couple of water pumps and starter motor.
Great work mate,I've got a 2007 VE Berlina,3.6 engine,(LEO) I bought it second hand of a elderly gentleman who bought new,when I bought it the mileage was 119,000km,not regularly service by previous owner but since I've bought I change oil + filter every 5,000km,I use liqui moly proline engine detox flush before dropping oil,like you this will be a car that will get driven til it stops,unless I win lotto,ha,ha,as if thats going to happen,a bloke can dream can't I?? Anyway stumbled on one of yr vids + now hooked,don't think I've watched everyone but at least 70% of them,I really enjoy your vids,keep em coming,Cheer
Bought mine at 160thousand. Vz alloy 2006 ,No timming chain done. Engine light came on around 200 thousand. Transmission light round the same time abs fault around the same time and I'm running it to the ground still going strongish at 250. Just started hearing a new sound though. That's what brought me here. great vid mate. 👌
G'day bloke.06 vz sv6and calais will have an updated chain and pulleys so will never give ya timming chain dramas.Yoll know what you are hearing when you hear it.Youll pray it's the aircon compressor but you'll know it's not.good luck
@@riffraff1015 ahhhh okay, Thanks for the good information! It's been a year since this comment so sadly i don't have it anymore. Got a ve now haha. Thanks for the reply though appreciate it.
Hi! Thank you for your videos. I'm joining the 'run it into the ground club!' I just bought my 2009 VE with just under 149,000kms and within 2 days of owning it, you guessed it, I got the light and no rattles yet.
Mate I'm hearing ya $4500 down an 08 calais and it was rattling within a week.Speeeewin.Bought it off a nice old girl.Laughinmyskinnywhiteraggedyassoff.. .
I've done 297.000 in my 2010 omega series 1 and its only just started to get chain slap for a few seconds on cold start up in the mornings and I'm just gunna run mine into the ground as well , i do 600ks a week from central coast to sydney so most is freeway and the rest in traffic
Thanks good info . My 2009 be 3.6 has 305000km with an intermittent engine light . I’ve been doing 10000km oil changes for the last 150000km. Let’s wait and see .
I just had my timing chains replaced, the engine had a rattle on start up. Which I was told was the variators on the cams. The chains had apparently been replaced but with cheap Chinese chains.
Posting up the specific code you are getting would help knowledgeable people help to diagnose the issue. I presume that you are getting cam position 'timing' codes, the sensors that you cleaned do not need to be gapped differently, when they fail they either fail as they heat up (and resume function when cool) or they just stop working entirely and the engine goes into a "limp home" mode where the only forward gear is 2nd and the throttle is limited to 20% along with a FLASHING check engine light. If you have a cheap code reader go ahead and unplug a sensor and see how the car acts. The most likely candidate is one of the VVT solenoids hanging up (they are below and between where the sensors are mounted). They have a small screen that plugs up and are machined to such a tight tolerance that they can be damaged easily by dirty oil. As a retired 25 year master mechanic I would recommend replacing all the Variable Valve Timing solenoids and servicing the oil more often. Sure, keep the car till it dies, but keep it well maintained mechanically. $4000 doesn't seem like a lot to pay for a used car but consider if someone offered you $4000 off the price of your next **newer** car, you could continue to use this one for a while and still retain a fair amount of that $4K if you maintain this one and not let it become a tow away loss. The sensors are probably $200 all together if you only pay for the parts. The reason you don't notice a change in power or a fuel efficiency change is the frog-in-a-frying-pan effect, it's been 100,000km since it ran properly :)
i've got a VF 2014 SV6 LFX 210.000Kms with the 10mm timing chain. Its been rattling for a while now and i thought it was the cam phasers. But after taking off the rocker covers yes its a loose chain on bank 2. No codes though. I think holden adjusted the software so it don't code till much later.
After 50 years of owning Holden’s I traded my VE 60th Anniversary Commodore on a new V6 Camry I have had it for 2 years now .The motor is so quiet and smooth the VE from new was so noisy really bad .As for the Toyota best car I have had .
Hey Vroom Broom, 2009 VE sports wagon, bought at 130,000km, currently has 192,000km. On any cold start, it has a couple of seconds rattling at the front of the motor then o,k. However, last oil change, I filled with 5W30 full synthetic and the rattle is only occasional now. I understand that Holden fixed the cam chain issue before the ve wagon commenced production and no Sports Wagon has that problem. I am keeping my VE loooonnnnggg term, maybe I'll convert it to electric. Cheers H
Its a bit of a joke when in 2008 we are enduring the expense of the chain issues when the same issue was updated and adequately resolved in 06 in the calais and sv6 high output motors.
Thanks for the update - i was a day early on the previous video. Dr Know mentions the frog in a frying pan effect - suggesting your numbers are the same because you are comparing them to potentially incorrect numbers to start with. If you want, post your numbers here and i'll give you mine (ie a comparison from my 112k 2006 VE). Totally agree with your re the value of keeping verses selling and repurchasing (hence bought my VE off Father in law for $2k). Even if it poops itself and costs $2 or $3k, I'm still miles ahead on $$$ compared to the chap who paid $30k for a brand new one! Is that Camary Hybrid? I have been driving a work one from outer east melb to Albury and back (pre CV19) and only using half a tank!!!! Awesome. Love it.
Hey, thanks for your comment 👌 We opted for a standard Camry as we do highway kms anyway and it equals out in efficient apparently. It’s such a refined car to drive, especially compared to the VE. Great cheap pick up for $2k, The VE is a solid car with minimal bells and whistles, it’s great really except for this issue. 👍
@@VroomBroomZoom Well there was no warning on mine.The engine light came on and a minute later the car shut off.There was no rattling or any other signs that the chain was going to break.Lucky i was only around the corner from my mechanic.That is the only major thing that has occurred on my car(touch wood).It has 157000 k`s now and is a 04/2010 series one VE Commodore.I was like you i was thinking of selling and then wondered what could i buy for the money?Best to keep until the wheels fall off or it just stops.Know the car to well and if i sell and buy another who knows what problems it may have!!BTW i think we may live in the same area?Cheers.
Thanks for this! Interesting that it had no prior issues or symptoms and just went pop. Seriously, without this one thing, the VE commodore is not a bad long-term car at all.
@@VroomBroomZoom A very good long term car.I have had mine for 5 years and the only thing that i wish it had was the 3.6 litre motor.I find the car is too heavy for the 3.0 litre motor.I am comparing it to my VZ Commodore with the 3.6 motor(VZ being a lighter car with the bigger motor) that i had previous to this car.But overall i am happy with the ride and handling and it does what its suppose to do.
Just found this... and I'm doing the same thing; running the car until it stops (2009 Sportswagon, 250K km). Fingers crossed! Subscribed, liked, hit the bell, and will check your other videos now :-) Thanks heaps!
Hi mate I just got a ex cop ve the seller said it needs a new timing chain. It doesn't rattle at all but has warning light i just wonder after people repair them why is there no error code. I was at a mechanic and a guy pulled in with a rattling chain but no warning light figure that out
lol, OMG, the cop VE sounds like my car. The sensors (I think) 'gap' the chain, so it senses if there is a change in the tolerance. If the chain is ratling, it may be somethiinng else, like the tensioner on the chain malfunctioning, no oil, or anything else I have no idea about near that area of the engine 😐
Hi, I’m looking at a 2007 VE commodore sv6 with the alloytec engine for $8000 with 255,000ks and wondering if it’s worth buying it. The cars in good condition as well
Ops, just saw this...sorry! I would say......no. You might get real unlucky and if you get this issue it could go into limp mode like it has for quite a few people. The onyl way is to pretend you're buying it for $11,000. Is it good value at 11K? Then, if you do get lucky and have no problems, sweeet. PS. $8000 for a 14 year old car that is basically a very very mild version of the base model is a bit steep in my opinion.
Great vid mate just bought my first 2011 ve with same engine ..218000ks I paid 6k on an impulse buy n prayin the timing chain holds up lol least by the sounds of it if it doesn't it won't kill the engine ...I hope lol :/
Do you recommend a 2011 VE || Omega with 300,000kms on it? They’re selling it for $5k, would be my first car and I’d only be using it to get to and from work (5kms to and from, 4 days a week roughly)
@@VroomBroomZoom I’m bad at measuring distance, it’s about 15kms I just looked up the distance in Google but yeah I wouldn’t mind a bike but I want a car & my dad said he’d go halves with me so I reckon I should just go for it. Thanks for the advice tho!
Hey mate is it still going. My check engine light has been on for at least 2-3 years. Timing chain problem. I go decided to drive till it dies. I think it died today. Car just stopped luckily in my driveway. Had been ticking recently so I thought it needed oil change so I did that but still not turning on. Has around 290,000 on the clock and it’s the second timing chain since new car
Mine came on at 114000 turned it on and off 3 or 4 times it disappeared then came back on the day after 160 service they swapped senses over came on at 17000 no sound apparently puts cams or something out abit , but decided to get it replaced it was going to trade it in but first thing I got asked was has the timing chain been done lol
@@sammyequine2394 ya and to make it worse when I tore it apart and did the chains they ended up being not to bad but still needed replacing but the crank reluctor wheel was the problem so ended up doing a full rebuild
Hi how are you? I felt compelled to put you on track regarding the timing chain issue. The drivers side engine bank doesn’t breathe properly due to holes in PCV valve being too small. They have an official modification bulletin in the U.S. for this I believe. First watch this video ua-cam.com/video/5QLPU1Qh2oo/v-deo.html . I will send link for the fix in a separate comment so all this does not get erased while I navigate to the fix video to copy the link.
Hello again, for fix video go here ua-cam.com/video/Lwc9hftosUw/v-deo.html I have done this myself and also fitted a catch can which is important also. It is obviously too late for your car but if you get another for work etc you will know what to do, good luck 👍🏼🇦🇺.
i had 07 sv6 250.000 done was chain sold to wreckers causes auto box went didn't have about $5000 to fix
Just watched your Timing chain video which confirms my thoughts and approach to 'limit switch' monitoring. I bought my VE Ute about 18 months ago with the engine dash warning and new about 'issues' with the VE engine timing chains. Like your wagon the car runs great, there are no noises coming from the engine and I plan to monitor it as you have been doing. I only drive about 3000kms per year so I'll never get to 250,000kms. Sitting at 205,000 now. Thanks for sharing and confirming for other VE users. You should definitely keep your VE as a workhorse, its still a nice looking car!
Hi Gary, thanks for you comment here. I move the old girl on, I madea final video to finalise it all, good luck with your VE...👌
I have a 2011 Omega, 314,000kms with original chains, still runs pretty good, but have replaced a number of parts including the evap solenoid, a couple of water pumps and starter motor.
I am back.....and i too have VE in tragic mode....keep clearing the errors.
Great work mate,I've got a 2007 VE Berlina,3.6 engine,(LEO) I bought it second hand of a elderly gentleman who bought new,when I bought it the mileage was 119,000km,not regularly service by previous owner but since I've bought I change oil + filter every 5,000km,I use liqui moly proline engine detox flush before dropping oil,like you this will be a car that will get driven til it stops,unless I win lotto,ha,ha,as if thats going to happen,a bloke can dream can't I?? Anyway stumbled on one of yr vids + now hooked,don't think I've watched everyone but at least 70% of them,I really enjoy your vids,keep em coming,Cheer
Thanks Tony 😊 hope your VE lasts a while 👍
Bought mine at 160thousand. Vz alloy 2006 ,No timming chain done. Engine light came on around 200 thousand. Transmission light round the same time abs fault around the same time and I'm running it to the ground still going strongish at 250. Just started hearing a new sound though. That's what brought me here. great vid mate. 👌
G'day bloke.06 vz sv6and calais will have an updated chain and pulleys so will never give ya timming chain dramas.Yoll know what you are hearing when you hear it.Youll pray it's the aircon compressor but you'll know it's not.good luck
@@riffraff1015 ahhhh okay, Thanks for the good information!
It's been a year since this comment so sadly i don't have it anymore. Got a ve now haha. Thanks for the reply though appreciate it.
Hi! Thank you for your videos. I'm joining the 'run it into the ground club!' I just bought my 2009 VE with just under 149,000kms and within 2 days of owning it, you guessed it, I got the light and no rattles yet.
Good luck! I've sold mine, but it was running till then no worries. :)
Mate I'm hearing ya $4500 down an 08 calais and it was rattling within a week.Speeeewin.Bought it off a nice old girl.Laughinmyskinnywhiteraggedyassoff..
.
I've done 297.000 in my 2010 omega series 1 and its only just started to get chain slap for a few seconds on cold start up in the mornings and I'm just gunna run mine into the ground as well , i do 600ks a week from central coast to sydney so most is freeway and the rest in traffic
awesome video mate ... im buying one with the chain issue .. i'll be just driving into the ground and motors are cheaps i'll swap it out
Thanks good info . My 2009 be 3.6 has 305000km with an intermittent engine light . I’ve been doing 10000km oil changes for the last 150000km. Let’s wait and see .
Hi Ben! I've sold mine, so keep us updated, as my last video will be a 270,000km final one!!
I just had my timing chains replaced, the engine had a rattle on start up. Which I was told was the variators on the cams. The chains had apparently been replaced but with cheap Chinese chains.
Did having the timing chains replaced solve the start up issue? I have the same issue.
Posting up the specific code you are getting would help knowledgeable people help to diagnose the issue. I presume that you are getting cam position 'timing' codes, the sensors that you cleaned do not need to be gapped differently, when they fail they either fail as they heat up (and resume function when cool) or they just stop working entirely and the engine goes into a "limp home" mode where the only forward gear is 2nd and the throttle is limited to 20% along with a FLASHING check engine light. If you have a cheap code reader go ahead and unplug a sensor and see how the car acts. The most likely candidate is one of the VVT solenoids hanging up (they are below and between where the sensors are mounted). They have a small screen that plugs up and are machined to such a tight tolerance that they can be damaged easily by dirty oil. As a retired 25 year master mechanic I would recommend replacing all the Variable Valve Timing solenoids and servicing the oil more often. Sure, keep the car till it dies, but keep it well maintained mechanically. $4000 doesn't seem like a lot to pay for a used car but consider if someone offered you $4000 off the price of your next **newer** car, you could continue to use this one for a while and still retain a fair amount of that $4K if you maintain this one and not let it become a tow away loss. The sensors are probably $200 all together if you only pay for the parts. The reason you don't notice a change in power or a fuel efficiency change is the frog-in-a-frying-pan effect, it's been 100,000km since it ran properly :)
lol, thanks for that thorough response. I’ll have to check out those solenoids. 👍
i've got a VF 2014 SV6 LFX 210.000Kms with the 10mm timing chain. Its been rattling for a while now and i thought it was the cam phasers. But after taking off the rocker covers yes its a loose chain on bank 2. No codes though. I think holden adjusted the software so it don't code till much later.
Great vid keep us updated please
Will do!
After 50 years of owning Holden’s I traded my VE 60th Anniversary Commodore on a new V6 Camry I have had it for 2 years now .The motor is so quiet and smooth the VE from new was so noisy really bad .As for the Toyota best car I have had .
Hey Vroom Broom,
2009 VE sports wagon, bought at 130,000km, currently has 192,000km. On any cold start, it has a couple of seconds rattling at the front of the motor then o,k. However, last oil change, I filled with 5W30 full synthetic and the rattle is only occasional now.
I understand that Holden fixed the cam chain issue before the ve wagon commenced production and no Sports Wagon has that problem.
I am keeping my VE loooonnnnggg term, maybe I'll convert it to electric.
Cheers H
I've got the series 2 wagon and i have the timing chain codes regularly.
Its a bit of a joke when in 2008 we are enduring the expense of the chain issues when the same issue was updated and adequately resolved in 06 in the calais and sv6 high output motors.
Any Holden is no longer, go figure. 😂
3 kids same . emergency buy $4K constant engine light. Agree finacially best to keep and run into ground.
Thanks for the update - i was a day early on the previous video. Dr Know mentions the frog in a frying pan effect - suggesting your numbers are the same because you are comparing them to potentially incorrect numbers to start with. If you want, post your numbers here and i'll give you mine (ie a comparison from my 112k 2006 VE). Totally agree with your re the value of keeping verses selling and repurchasing (hence bought my VE off Father in law for $2k). Even if it poops itself and costs $2 or $3k, I'm still miles ahead on $$$ compared to the chap who paid $30k for a brand new one! Is that Camary Hybrid? I have been driving a work one from outer east melb to Albury and back (pre CV19) and only using half a tank!!!! Awesome. Love it.
Hey, thanks for your comment 👌 We opted for a standard Camry as we do highway kms anyway and it equals out in efficient apparently. It’s such a refined car to drive, especially compared to the VE. Great cheap pick up for $2k, The VE is a solid car with minimal bells and whistles, it’s great really except for this issue. 👍
I got a ve recently and it has started to rattle rather loudly
That means it's time for a change! :)
Take the rockers covers off and check the colour differences between the rocker assembly. Driver's side bank doesn't vent correctly.
Yep, definitely the issue.
My dads has got over 400000km on the clock never had any issues with the chain. Not the same story for my 3.2l captiva.
Gee you have been lucky that it has lasted that long.Mine snapped at 120000.Costly to replace.Love your videos.
Did it actually snap? Oh please give me more detail of what happened 🙏 I would love to know the symptoms etc.
@@VroomBroomZoom Well there was no warning on mine.The engine light came on and a minute later the car shut off.There was no rattling or any other signs that the chain was going to break.Lucky i was only around the corner from my mechanic.That is the only major thing that has occurred on my car(touch wood).It has 157000 k`s now and is a 04/2010 series one VE Commodore.I was like you i was thinking of selling and then wondered what could i buy for the money?Best to keep until the wheels fall off or it just stops.Know the car to well and if i sell and buy another who knows what problems it may have!!BTW i think we may live in the same area?Cheers.
Thanks for this! Interesting that it had no prior issues or symptoms and just went pop. Seriously, without this one thing, the VE commodore is not a bad long-term car at all.
@@VroomBroomZoom A very good long term car.I have had mine for 5 years and the only thing that i wish it had was the 3.6 litre motor.I find the car is too heavy for the 3.0 litre motor.I am comparing it to my VZ Commodore with the 3.6 motor(VZ being a lighter car with the bigger motor) that i had previous to this car.But overall i am happy with the ride and handling and it does what its suppose to do.
May it run for a while yet. :)
Is this SIDI an ok engine?
Yes except for the timing chain which makes is a no.
Just found this... and I'm doing the same thing; running the car until it stops (2009 Sportswagon, 250K km). Fingers crossed! Subscribed, liked, hit the bell, and will check your other videos now :-) Thanks heaps!
175000 on mine no problems yet it’s been a boon for mechanics over the years and as cars get older just drive them till they break.
Good advice
Hi mate I just got a ex cop ve the seller said it needs a new timing chain. It doesn't rattle at all but has warning light i just wonder after people repair them why is there no error code. I was at a mechanic and a guy pulled in with a rattling chain but no warning light figure that out
lol, OMG, the cop VE sounds like my car. The sensors (I think) 'gap' the chain, so it senses if there is a change in the tolerance. If the chain is ratling, it may be somethiinng else, like the tensioner on the chain malfunctioning, no oil, or anything else I have no idea about near that area of the engine 😐
Hi, I’m looking at a 2007 VE commodore sv6 with the alloytec engine for $8000 with 255,000ks and wondering if it’s worth buying it. The cars in good condition as well
Ops, just saw this...sorry! I would say......no. You might get real unlucky and if you get this issue it could go into limp mode like it has for quite a few people. The onyl way is to pretend you're buying it for $11,000. Is it good value at 11K? Then, if you do get lucky and have no problems, sweeet. PS. $8000 for a 14 year old car that is basically a very very mild version of the base model is a bit steep in my opinion.
Great vid mate just bought my first 2011 ve with same engine ..218000ks I paid 6k on an impulse buy n prayin the timing chain holds up lol least by the sounds of it if it doesn't it won't kill the engine ...I hope lol :/
Hope she lasts for you bro 👌👌👌
Do you recommend a 2011 VE || Omega with 300,000kms on it? They’re selling it for $5k, would be my first car and I’d only be using it to get to and from work (5kms to and from, 4 days a week roughly)
If you have 3k spare for the possibility of the timing chain going, sure, it’s a great commuter. 5k sounds reasonable for a Series 2???
5ks……if you have nothing to carry, why not an electric bike or scooter? 🤷🏽🤷🏽🤷🏽
@@VroomBroomZoom I’m bad at measuring distance, it’s about 15kms I just looked up the distance in Google but yeah I wouldn’t mind a bike but I want a car & my dad said he’d go halves with me so I reckon I should just go for it. Thanks for the advice tho!
Hey mate is it still going. My check engine light has been on for at least 2-3 years. Timing chain problem. I go decided to drive till it dies. I think it died today. Car just stopped luckily in my driveway. Had been ticking recently so I thought it needed oil change so I did that but still not turning on. Has around 290,000 on the clock and it’s the second timing chain since new car
A god run 👌👌👌
@@VroomBroomZoom haven’t had it looked at yet cause it’s stuck in my driveway
Mine came on at 114000 turned it on and off 3 or 4 times it disappeared then came back on the day after 160 service they swapped senses over came on at 17000 no sound apparently puts cams or something out abit , but decided to get it replaced it was going to trade it in but first thing I got asked was has the timing chain been done lol
Good one, mine the same at 270,000
Wait so the engine light has been on for 80k kms and you havnt gone to a mechanic?
It threw the timing chain code...I googled it..didn't want to spend $2500. 👍
I have a sore tooth and I didnt go to the dentist, we both stupid
lol. I can deal with a light...a sore tooth, not so much. :P
@@VroomBroomZoom depending if you live in Victoria you can go to Revhigh and they do 1000 dollor timing chain kits
My 2009 is in limp mode at 98000k chains are rattling
Bugger 😐
@@VroomBroomZoom unfortunately it happens so I’m just gonna go through mace and get some cams while I’m at it
Bloody timing chains you'd think would last
@@sammyequine2394 ya and to make it worse when I tore it apart and did the chains they ended up being not to bad but still needed replacing but the crank reluctor wheel was the problem so ended up doing a full rebuild
Bloody hell at 98000 k`s?I thought mine chains shit itself so early at 120000 k`s!!!
Mate, exactly, what you gonna replace it with, another Camry 😂 just change the chains and get another 250k
lol...already replaced...but watch this space :)
What was the error code bud
P0017 code
I have 2009 3.6 motor ,code comes up p0008 i wipe it and keep going can u have any idea what it may be ?
Put a ls3 in it or a barra
Haha yeah, all the monies.
Hi how are you? I felt compelled to put you on track regarding the timing chain issue. The drivers side engine bank doesn’t breathe properly due to holes in PCV valve being too small. They have an official modification bulletin in the U.S. for this I believe. First watch this video ua-cam.com/video/5QLPU1Qh2oo/v-deo.html . I will send link for the fix in a separate comment so all this does not get erased while I navigate to the fix video to copy the link.
Yeah I’ve seen that, but it’s probably too late for most of these, unless they’re really low kms
Hello again, for fix video go here ua-cam.com/video/Lwc9hftosUw/v-deo.html I have done this myself and also fitted a catch can which is important also. It is obviously too late for your car but if you get another for work etc you will know what to do, good luck 👍🏼🇦🇺.
Oh no... More Commodore bullshit. Where are the gsxr videos?
Please don't do anymore timing chain vids. Timing chain vids = very boring.
😂😂😂 Who is this?
@@VroomBroomZoom It's jayjay from across the Nullarbor in SA silly.