Holden Barina Engine Problems

The relative complexity of today’s cars means that sometimes things happen that are difficult to explain, particularly if error codes aren’t showing up. It’s then a question of changing things until the cause is found, which it seems is what the dealer is doing.

No. It ran perfectly for five or six years before giving trouble, so I don't think you can blame Holden. Has the coolant been changed in the time since it left the factory, has it been overheated at any time, they're questions I would want answered before trying to find someone to blame.

It's great that your dealer was able to find the cause of your problem and fix it. It's difficult to find a problem when it doesn't manifest itself when the car is with the dealer, he's then fishing around in the dark hoping to stumble on it. Anyone whose car is suffering from an intermittent problem should take heart from your report and persist in trying to get it solved.

The car is under warranty, so the dealer and Holden is obliged to fix it if it has a problem. Their obligation, in fact, doesn't end when the warranty runs out; they are still required to fix the car under consumer laws. The problem sounds like one of those frustrating intermittent ones that never seem to occur with the dealer or mechanic is there to witness it. The first diagnosis that it is a problem with a sensor sounds like the correct one to me. You should persist with the dealer and Holden to get it fixed.

You certainly shouldn't need to recondition the cylinder head after such a short time. I would be checking for reasons the valves might be sticking. As the fuel injectors gave trouble shortly afterwards I would be looking to the fuel side of the engine. First, I would change fuel brands, definitely not use E10, perhaps use a higher-octane fuel, and regularly run fuel system cleaner through the car.

Normally you wouldn't need a new engine if the head gasket is leaking, you would replace the head gasket and machine the head, but if there is more damage it is possible you might need a replacement engine.

There really isn’t much option, if you don’t spend the money to repair it you’re left with a car that is worthless and you are faced with spending more to buy another car. As you say it is in good condition otherwise I would recommend you went ahead and repaired it. If it does have a blown head gasket, as you have been told, there is no other way of repairing other than replacing the head gasket, and there’s no way of reducing the cost of the job. To minimize the chances of being ripped off use a reputable mechanic, perhaps one who is well known and respected in your local area, take a friend or relative with a knowledge of mechanics with you when talking to the mechanic, and get two or three quotes for the job.

It’s hard to suggest where you might look from your description, but you obviously think the rattle is coming from the suspension and is not an engine-related rattle like pinging. If your suspicion is correct I would be looking at the front shock absorbers, but you really have to try and identify the area the rattle is emanating from.

You're correct; it is being phased out in NSW in 2011. It is likely that it will also be phased out in Queensland once legislation is passed by the parliament there, but there's no timing for that yet. In all other states the situation will remain as it is at the moment. The changeover is going to be similar to that which happened when unleaded fuel replaced leaded fuel. BP guarantees its E10 fuel for all vehicles regardless of age; they say they find the additives   make no difference to the fuels. Caltex and Shell are likely to follow with similar guarantees.

The jury is out about E10 at the moment; it is supposed to be satisfactory for modern cars, but there are too many reports like yours that suggest that's not quite right. You could run the Barina on premium unleaded and not have a problem and that's probably the best thing to do if you are concerned about ethanol.