25th Feb 2012, 19:45
Hi. I have a 1999 Vectra that stalls occasionally, and seems to rev sometimes for no apparent reason. My problem now is that a light has come on the dash symbolising an engine. I have just clocked up 150,000ks, and am wondering if this indicates a service? I've only had the car 12 months, and have already had the timing belt go.
6th Feb 2013, 16:56
Hahaha.
I have bought one of these second hand. Everything on this website I have had in only 4 months. Don't listen to the defenders of this car with their fixes or stories of having no problems, and don't waste more of your money on repairs. Wreck it, and get some of your money back.
This car is not a lemon, it's a bag of lemons.
12th Mar 2013, 08:01
We have the same problem. My 1998 Holden Vectra JR had an engine light suddenly appear on my panel board. I checked some causes of the problems, like re-tightening the gasoline cover, replaced the battery, checked the engine oil and water supply to the radiator, but still the engine light appears. I have just owned it for almost six months. I also did the pressing the brake pedal 5 times before starting the engine, but still of no avail. Can anyone suggest a fix to this problem? It would be greatly appreciated... Thanks.
JR
6th Jun 2013, 03:32
I own a 1998 Vectra, had it for a year or so. When I first bought the car, it used to stall consistently and even overheat; dash lights would come on, the whole works!
But I've built 44 previous cars all on my own, so I am no beginner.
To fix the stalling, replace the "cam angle sensor" first. While you are at it, replace the water pump and add a new timing belt and cam wheels. The entire job is worth under $300 Aussie dollars if you do it yourself. Don't do the job unless you are willing to replace all those parts at the same time. It really is worth the bother, and you will never have trouble again. Wanna go a bit extra? Replace the crank angle sensor as well.
To fix the problems with the dash lights, radios not working or computer display not functioning...
Undo the battery terminal first (a must), then pull out every single plug in your car one by one. Clean them and place them back in, making sure they are securely plugged in. All of them.
It's a great car, but it suffers from a severe problem, the lack of careful attention to detail one would expect from the car assemblers. Plugs not in properly, head bolts not tightened to specs, and so on. Just spend a weekend looking at all the little things first, keep it clean, use the most expensive spark plugs you can find, and things should be alright :-)
4th Dec 2013, 19:30
My 2000 Vectra 2.2 CD have been with me for 13 years, now with near 150,000 km on the speedo.
The car achieves a balance of performance and fuel economy.
But it has too many issues as mentioned by friends here. Some problems like stalling are dangerous. In my case, stalling happened a few times, spent a few weeks and around $2000 to have it fixed. Timing belt changed three times at around $1000 each. Just a few months ago, spent over $2000 to fix power steering and oil leaking issues.
Now a new problem occurs: sometimes the TC and ABS lights come on and the speedo is gone, especially on hot days. Still trying to find out the reason.
Compared with Toyota, Mazda and Ford cars my wife and I have owned, the Vectra is not reliable and has too expensive a cost to keep.
30th May 2014, 02:45
When buying a cambelt kit (they won't sell separate any more), you get an idler and tensioner included as they are known to fail.
30th May 2014, 03:01
I can't believe I am back here again. My last post was 9 June 2010. If it hadn't been for having a work vehicle for the past 4 years, this piece of crap would have been long gone.
With only weekend use, I have had the head gasket blow with next to no warning, yet another rocker cover gasket fail after only a 1000km use, and now the latest issue; jumped in the car, turned the key and... nothing...
Luckily I was on a slight hill and managed a roll start. It worked fine for 2 more weeks, then 3 days ago I went to leave home for work, and it again failed to turn over.
Also the passenger's front door central lock has failed, and the remote key no longer locks or unlocks the car.
BTW, Daewoo or Opel parts are way cheaper than Holden... about 50% less.
I need to get it going to get rid of it. I will never buy another ever again.
23rd Aug 2014, 02:56
My 2001 Holden Vectra 2.2 CD Sedan Auto has been nothing but trouble the past month.
Stalling and the car shutting off whilst driving is a biggy.
I recently had a friend check it out, and the air flow hose wasn't on properly. Our car went for a little bit, but then the other night it did it again whilst driving. The speedo was going ballistic and the car wanted to shut off, but we kept revving it to try keep idle, then it shut off, all the lights were displayed, and the head lights stayed on during the spasm.
Please help, I don't know what to do?
10th Oct 2014, 09:42
WHAT?
You're kidding! Is it really that simple?
Something I'm going to try right away... So far I've swapped between 3 different ICVs, cleaned the throttle body many times, new crank angle sensor etc etc...
Man if this works you deserve a medal.
p.s. I like driving the Vec - apart from the cut-out issue - but I have to admit I've swapped about half of my donor vehicle to keep it on the road. It's a car that needs constant attention.
18th Jul 2015, 12:02
Holden Astra wheels fit on Vectras, and there are lot more Astras out there, so look on eBay.
20th Aug 2015, 01:13
Hi,
I have a JS Vectra 2000. I had a stalling problem too. But after I changed the coil packs, the problem was fixed. I hope it will help you.
29th Feb 2016, 01:29
This may be too late for you, but apparently the problem of stalling is when the fuel tank is less than 1/4 full. There was a manufacturing fault when the fuel pumps were "snapped in" to the fuel tank. On some vehicles the clips broke & caused this problem. There was no recall because Holden/Opel/Vauxhall did not know how many it happened to. It required a new fuel tank & fuel pump. Not cheap!
None-the-less, the electrics on these vehicles are a real problem.
9th Mar 2016, 00:51
I have a JS Vectra Series 2, build date Jan 2000, imported.
Just on 97,000km. Overall pretty happy, 7.1 litres/100km at 107 on Hume highway Wodonga to Melbourne.
STALLING:
A similar problem with stalling when turning a corner, or taking off hard up a steep hill when the tank is less than about quarter. Often would start again while the car was still rolling... but the steering is very heavy! No power brakes.
Was told the problem was to do with the fuel pump getting starved as petrol surged (not sure why; could be the problem as you described or debris in the bottom of the tank...) and electric power to the pump is cut off so it cannot run dry. Took no action other than to try not to let the petrol run low.
Another problem with stalling was fixed by replacing the cam and crank sensors. $350 for the parts.
INSTRUMENT PANEL, DASHBOARD LIGHTS ETC suddenly all go off:
The cause was a faulty voltage regulator in the alternator. Circuits in the instrument panel are protected against high voltage. Replaced the alternator at 70K. Thanks to whoever told me about this... lots of people pull half the dashboard out and replace boards etc.
Air warning light, clock spring 3 times to date.
Rear muffler at 60K.
Timing belt. The book says change the belt at 8 years or 120K. Forgot to get it done... getting it done today, with the water pump, at 16 years. Must be lucky.
23rd Feb 2012, 06:05
Mate, throw it in the bin.