13th Dec 2011, 22:04

I too have a 99 petrol Jackaroo with these problems (have not had any other problems with this car, it's been great), which started about 3 years ago about 160k's on the clock (have now done nearly 240k's).

Thanks for all your suggestions on check engine light / surging / idling problems. They were initially very intermittent, with the check engine light coming on with no apparent problems, and would seem to switch off as quick as it came on. After a year or so, it progressively got more frequent with the light coming on, and either mild loss of power, idling problem, surging, and even the occasional complete loss of power on the freeway with the engine making a horrible sucking noise of air and always a terrible smell (could be burnt fuel). If I let the car sit for 15 minutes, and restart, it seems to fix the problem temporarily.

I have replaced the air flow sensor, and the oxygen sensor. The computer is still registering to replace these items, even after they were replaced and the computer reset several times. Mechanic even tried a different oxygen sensor in case it was faulty. There seems to be no damage done to the car with the light on, it just runs rough.

We have spent about $2000 trying to solve the problem from various experts, including Holden giving it a good going over. Not willing to spend much more on it, as found out it is only worth $2500 as a trade in, and mechanics said that I could spend thousands in labour and parts as an elimination type thing, trying to find the problem, which is probably just something small such as an air leak somewhere. VERY FRUSTRATED!!!

Bought a new small car to run around in, and have kept this car for holidays and weekend trips, hoping to find the problem one day! Will try all these suggestions. I think it's a great second car to keep (it's a bit pricey on fuel to drive around now every day).

Does anyone know somewhere I can get a cheap window washer motor from? Dealer said only original available, and it's ridiculously expensive.