Holden Commodore 1988 Problems

SOME people think the VL was one of the best, if not the best early Commodore, because it had a Nissan engine. The Nissan six is a good, reliable engine and I'm sure you've felt its good performance. In the Nissan it was bullet-proof, but it had a few problems in the Commodore, caused by installation, not the engine. The Commodore's radiator was prone to breaking an internal baffle, affecting the flow of coolant, and mechanics often wouldn't bleed the cooling system properly after repairing the radiator. This led to overheating problems. If yours is in good condition, it's worth $2000-$3000, and would be popular with young drivers. It sounds as if the dealer doesn't want to take it off your hands. Do a deal where you keep the VL and sell it privately.

THE Camira was heavily criticised when it was new, and the criticism was justified. They rusted badly, burned oil and fell to bits. Early models should be avoided at all costs, but by the time Holden turned out the JE, most of the problems had been fixed. The problem is they are now at least 15 years old so should be approached with caution.

THE VL Commodore is a popular model and you should find plenty of willing buyers. The odometer reading is very low and provided it has been well serviced and is roadworthy, any new owner should need to do little to it. It would be worth contacting Holden car clubs in your area. An average VL Commodore has a value of about $5000, but yours could be worth $8000-$10,000 if it is as good as you say.

IF THE noise is a light rattly one heard only when the engine is cold, then it's more than likely to be the hydraulic lifters, or tappets, as you've been told. You don't say if your car is a VL or VN, which was released in August 1988, but I'll assume it's a VL. The reason for the assumption is that the Nissan engine in the VL suffers camshaft wear and lifter rattle. The way to fix it is to replace the camshaft and lifters.

YOUR Commodore has a six-cylinder engine bought from Nissan, basically the same that was fitted to the Nissan Skyline here. The engine is a fine unit, but there was an installation problem when it was fitted to the Commodore, and it can give trouble when air pockets develop in the cooling system, causing the engine to overheat. It's important to use the correct coolant if you have to top up the cooling system -- don't use water, and be careful to bleed the cooling system properly if you have to service it for any reason. The auto is generally reliable, but it is expensive if you have to rebuild it. One thing to check is the service history. Older drivers often consider servicing too expensive, especially if they do few kays. Find out if the car has been well serviced, and if it hasn't think about getting it serviced.

I've put your concerns to Shell's technical people and requested an answer. Hope to be able to report back to you soon.