Technical Holdens

[aussie muscle]

interesting graph. now without spewing propaganda about holdens being advanced technically or not, to me it looks like the backyard mechanics will soon be a thing of the past, unless he holds an advanced degree in computer mechanics.



It is a publication from AAAA (Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association)

[Road_Warrior]

The Falcon's technical development would parallel that. Did they do an equivalent graph for the Ford?

[jpd80]

And yet for all of that, modern cars tend to be a lot more reliable....

[poppa smurf]

much the same with most newer vehicles including Ford

I used to do a lot of my own repairs but this thing scares the crap out of me and it is 7 years old

[Mechan1k]

I think eventually it will be an option when buying new to purchase an OBDII Scantool with your vehicle.

[jpd80]

Why would OEMs do that when their dealerships can charge you for a diagnosis and do the corrective work..

[Mr Hardware]

I don't think the VY's had an electronic throttle

actually there's a lot of fail in that picture
The VN only had cruise and trip as an option
The VR only had ABS/airbag/climate as an option
The VT came out in 1997 and only had traction and passengers bag as an option
The VY came out in 2002 and all those things were only options except for electronic throttle which didn't come in until the Horrid VZ
VE was 2006 and nearly everything listed was optional

[The Yeti]

in 99/100 cases good mechanical diagnosis is still relivant

all said and done its still a 4 storke engine and all the commin things still go wrong. if your good with a mulit meter you have it pretty much licked

yes cars are advancing, but these crys were being had back in the 80's & 90's

[2011G6E]

Modern cars are indeed more reliable and efficient (our G6E wipes the floor for fuel economy with our 1982 Celica 2ltr five speed), but when they go wrong, hoo boy...you'd better pray it's within the warrantee period or be prepared to get the big cheque book out...

[Mr Hardware]

I don't see how 2011G6E, a G6E bascially has the exact same running gear as a BA which any old cab mechanic can fix just about everything

[EFFalcon]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

I don't see how 2011G6E, a G6E bascially has the exact same running gear as a BA which any old cab mechanic can fix just about everything

With the added benefit of an ODBII scanner being able to tell you codes, narrowing down to individual sensors/cylinders etc.

[mash again]

Scan tool is about $300 or maybe even less, mechanic cost is what now, $100 hr, makes the scan tool look cheap. You can test alot of the sensors with just a DMM, and the same things aply to a modern engine to an old, fuel, spark, and air.

[FTE]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

I don't think the VY's had an electronic throttle

actually there's a lot of fail in that picture
The VN only had cruise and trip as an option
The VR only had ABS/airbag/climate as an option
The VT came out in 1997 and only had traction and passengers bag as an option
The VY came out in 2002 and all those things were only options except for electronic throttle which didn't come in until the Horrid VZ
VE was 2006 and nearly everything listed was optional

VN depending on model had climate control standard or option. Power windows and mirrors were optional on some and standard on others. VP had IRS optional on some models but optional across all models from VR. VR also had body computer which introduced auto off lights. VT had trip computer standard along with IRS across the range. VY did introduce Tyre pressure monitors on HSV

[Falcman0o7]

Hmmm? pages? Thought it would fit on slate.

[Ducati888]

No different to the technological advancement of nearly every other manufacturer out there.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

I don't think the VY's had an electronic throttle

actually there's a lot of fail in that picture
The VN only had cruise and trip as an option
The VR only had ABS/airbag/climate as an option
The VT came out in 1997 and only had traction and passengers bag as an option
The VY came out in 2002 and all those things were only options except for electronic throttle which didn't come in until the Horrid VZ
VE was 2006 and nearly everything listed was optional

VQ Statesman (ie VN Commodore) was standard IRS

VP was optioned with ABS and IRS....I recently bought a 93 VP with ABS fitted

yes, modern cars are becoming less back yard friendly these days...Some vehicles actually need a scan tool to make sure the steering wheel is straight after an alignment, despite the best efforts of the aligner getting it straight.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

I don't think the VY's had an electronic throttle

actually there's a lot of fail in that picture
The VN only had cruise and trip as an option
The VR only had ABS/airbag/climate as an option
The VT came out in 1997 and only had traction and passengers bag as an option
The VY came out in 2002 and all those things were only options except for electronic throttle which didn't come in until the Horrid VZ
VE was 2006 and nearly everything listed was optional

If it was all optional, its atill relevent to what the artical is about. I don't see the fail?

[AWD Chaser]

Makes you wonder how many more advanced Mercs, Audis, etc have!

[mik]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Modern cars are indeed more reliable and efficient (our G6E wipes the floor for fuel economy with our 1982 Celica 2ltr five speed), but when they go wrong, hoo boy...you'd better pray it's within the warrantee period or be prepared to get the big cheque book out...

at least the cheque book needed for the local cars is not too bad, some of the asian and euro cars are on a whole different pain level.

[cs123]

It may not seem that way but the increase in fault code actually aid in diagnostics.

As the instrumentation in the code improves the system is able to tell you about more specific problems rather than generic "something is broken" messages.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by AWD Chaser

Makes you wonder how many more advanced Mercs, Audis, etc have!

We have a peugeot at work..

A message comes up about the brakes worn out, and everytime you use the brake it beeps at you.


BMW's, Mercs all have fault warnings for lights (the message tells you exactly what light) and many other things.


You can't put a BMW in drive, if the door is adjar, and you have no seatbelt on.

[Neale]

You can buy the OBD scan tool. But for example with my focus (& I guess with alot of modern cars), you have to have another computer that has to be hooked up to the car while you do a test drive after repairs that will check the systems to make sure everything has been fixed. It will then delete the error code.
If this is not done the code will come back again until it has been fixed properly & the appropriate tests have been conducted to ensure that the problem has been fixed.

This sounds complicated but it also has benifits that make it a more reliable car.

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by Nikked

You can't put a BMW in drive, if the door is adjar, and you have no seatbelt on.

I've struck BMW's where you can't put it into drive with the door ajar, or if the car is moving, it automatically slows down and once stopped, puts itself into park (X5 or X7) but never had the problem with no seat belt on......Which model has this seat belt issue?

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Nikked

We have a peugeot at work..

A message comes up about the brakes worn out, and everytime you use the brake it beeps at you.


BMW's, Mercs all have fault warnings for lights (the message tells you exactly what light) and many other things.

1980s Mazdas had all that...

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

1980s Mazdas had all that...

Some very old Citroens had the brake pad warning light...it was a wire that plugged into the pad when changed, and when it wore down far enough it exposed a wire cast into the pad, which then earthed out against the disk when you hit the brakes, flashing the light.

[mik]

correct me if i`m wrong , but did`nt some of the old beetles have warning light for low brake shoes? it seems to ring a bell.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

I've struck BMW's where you can't put it into drive with the door ajar, or if the car is moving, it automatically slows down and once stopped, puts itself into park (X5 or X7) but never had the problem with no seat belt on......Which model has this seat belt issue?

Thats only if the door is open, if the door is open, the seatbelt must be connceted.


Was on a X5.

[NAK302]

Progress is man's ability to complicate simplicity

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by AWD Chaser

Makes you wonder how many more advanced Mercs, Audis, etc have!

True, i'd like to see the same timeline for a Merc S Class.
This is supposed to be the technical feat of all passenger based cars.

[poppa smurf]

pffttt!! warnings on low brake pads were on all the old holdens I had

the metal to metal squeal was very hard to confuse with any other warning device