Holden Captiva 2009 Problems

When things like a car’s lights start to develop a mind of their own, the car’s body computer is sometimes the root cause. This is the computer that controls everything from the central locking to the lighting and the climate control to the cruise control, as well as a lot more in between. If this computer module starts playing up, all sorts of weird things can take place, including the dashboard lights coming on of their own doing. If this happens overnight or when the car is parked for a long period of time, it could easily drain the battery and leave you with no electrical power.

An auto electrician is the obvious solution, but try this trick at home first. Remove the negative battery terminal on the car and leave it disconnected for an hour or two (or, even better, overnight) this is sometimes enough to reboot that body computer and return the car to normal operation. Be aware though, that even if this fixes the problem, it may recur sometime down the track. But at least then you’ll know what to do next time.

Potentially, this can be fixed by a specialist, but in reality, it’s probably going to be cheaper and simpler to fit a better stereo head unit and pick up a few modern features like Bluetooth and smart-phone connectivity. These units are relatively inexpensive to buy and there’s lots of choice out there. Consider upgrading the car’s speakers at the same time for an even better listening experience.

Because the central locking system in your Captiva has been designed specifically for that car, it’s unlikely there would be a workable aftermarket solution. Which means you either need to hope that Holden still sells these parts or that you can find a system pulled from a wrecked Captiva.

We have seen 'universal' central locking kits advertised, but they all require a fair bit of fiddling and modifying to get them to fit and work properly. In any case, it’s possible that only one part of the system in your car is giving trouble, as opposed to the whole locking system. In turn, that means that you might be able to get away with just replacing that faulty part. The remote-control key-fob unit, for instance, can be replaced relatively cheaply.

Bear in mind the Holden Captiva has a terrible track record in terms of its electrical fittings and fixtures, including the body computer which controls many functions including the central locking. If the body computer is the problem, you might find that the cost of repairs will outweigh the car’s actual market value.

The short answer to your question Rhonda is that the 2009 Captiva was far from a good car. It has experienced lots of reliability and durability problems and, although some will disagree, there are much better choices out there.

The Captiva has been recalled for all manner of problems including (but not limited to) steering issues, braking dramas and electrical gremlins. About the best thing about the 2009 four-cylinder petrol Captiva was that the engine didn’t have the timing chain problems of the V6 model, and the transmission wasn’t as problematic as the later Captiva. But that’s surely damning with faint praise.

The Captiva wasn’t actually a Holden at all; it was built in South Korea by Daewoo, a brand considered to be way behind the quality and engineering of its South Korean counterparts Kia and Hyundai. And it showed.

My friend, if I could find somebody to give me $5000 for a 2009 Captiva with a dodgy turbocharger, I’d be taking that deal in a heartbeat. The reality is that your car is worth about $5000 in decent working order, and nowhere near the $8000 you’ve calculated. That’s because you never really get back the money you spend in repairs; even if you spend $3000 on fixing a $5000 car, it will still only be worth about $5000. That’s the cruel reality of the used-car industry.

A cheaper, second-hand turbocharger is one way to go, but then you open yourself up to the risk of having bought, and paid to have installed, a turbo that is almost as worn out as the one that has failed on you. There’s no nice way to put this, but I’d be getting rid of that Captiva for the best price I could and not looking back.

Check the fuel pump and the turbocharger.

Injector wear is prevalent on common-rail diesel engines with the high fuel pressure and rapid cycling. A diesel mechanic should be able to check the injectors for leakage.

I wouldn’t rush into selling it, I would get a second opinion on the turbo, and I doubt his prediction of further problems down the track as a result of replacing the turbo.

At 161,625 km the Captiva is still a relatively young car, and should still have a few years of service left in it. Instead of the Captiva, consider a Mazda CX-5, Kia Sorento, or perhaps a Nissan X-Trail.