1988 Holden Camira JE 2.0 EFI from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Engine too good for the car

Faults:

Water pumps at 130,000kms

Clutch at 140,000kms

Engine mounts every 10,000kms or so

Ripped the engine mount bay out twice so I had to get It welded.

General Comments:

Great little car to drive, enjoyable to drive and suprisingly very quick mainly due to its weight. In Germany they fit these engines in Omegas which is equal to commodore in Australia and I have driven one in 1999 when I was on holidays - they strugle under pressure, but still perform.

Very reliable, but very poor built quality by Holden.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th July, 2002

1988 Holden Camira SL 2.0L EFI from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

A driver's car, usually very reliable

Faults:

Intermittent engine failure for the past 18 months. When this happens it feels like a fuel blockage. The only way to keep the car moving is to back off the throttle and let it creep along. As soon as any throttle is applied to speed up the engine fades. The distributor, coil, ignition module, and engine temperature sensor have been replaced, as have the fuel pump. filter, pressure regulator, and flexible hoses. The tank has also been removed and flushed to eliminate blockage as the cause. The Holden dealers have no idea what the cause is, and nothing shows up on diagnostic computers.

General Comments:

This is the second Camira I have had, and both have been great cars to drive apart from the heavy steering and chunky gear shift.

They hold the road well, are powerful for their size. In 1998 I towed a loaded 16ft caravan from Brisbane to 50km south of Newcastle in 11 hours with this car and it didn't miss a beat.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 8th July, 2002

28th Oct 2002, 00:17

I had the same problem with my '87 manual JE Camira. Turned out to be the computer, even though it was testing OK. One of the places I took it to had a Camira on-site and swapped the computers over to test it out. Worked fine. Before that it just randomly died and all attempts to keep it moving forward failed. After about 15 min on the roadside it decided to start again and run fine.

22nd Jan 2003, 20:56

Maybe towing the caravan in 98 killed the poor car.

It couldnt handle it again.

Also if the problem is the computer its not worth replacing it just by another car.

13th Jul 2003, 08:54

I had the same computer problem with my 85 JD camira. I just wrapped the whole computer cable in electrical tape and then wrapped the computer and cable to stop it from moving too much. Never had another problem... until I wrote it off.

1988 Holden Camira SL 2.0 EFI from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Great cheap car

Faults:

Car has had a stack prior to purchase which affects it ability in the wet - the other Camira I had was exceptional in this regard for the age of car.

Replaced shockers and brake calipers when I purchased it, a water pump at about 150,000 km other wise only minor stuff.

Interiors wear well.

Prone to rust, paint jobs are not really good.

General Comments:

Great motor and very reliable car - it has never really let me down in a major way and I regularly do long trips in it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd May, 2002

1988 Holden Camira JE 2.0 litre 4 cylinder Engine from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Good Performance and handling at a cheap price

Faults:

I had to replace the clutch.

I had to replace the muffler.

I had to change the water pump.

General Comments:

I think that my Holden Camira handles pretty good.

It can sure beat a lot cars at the traffic lights. like Holden VL executive's, V8 kingswoods, Nissen Sylvie's (non turbo) from the late 1980's and early 90's, Escorts, Cortina's, Bmw 318's from the 1980's,

Ford Falcons from the 80's, Holden VL Calais, and especially Holden gemini's.

I have the standard base model Camira SL which is not the best in luxury, but is the best in performance.

There is enough room in the inside to be comfortable nothing to complain about.

And love the way it can burn rubber so easily.

Suspension is not to soft so it's pretty good in performance.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 27th April, 2002