Holden Captiva Engine Problems

It won't be a leak of visible damage; it does sound like an internal gearbox problem. It could be a worn bearing. Get another mechanic to check it for you.

The starting problem could be the result of an alternator that's not charging the battery. Have an auto electrician check it.

Trying to find the cause of the engine warning lights coming on is a tough one.

If they are on all the time then take it to a dealer or a mechanic with diagnostic gear to check the system. It must be either a wiring problem or a sensor malfunction.

Does it crank over when you turn the key? If it doesn't I would suspect a problem with the cam timing chains that has caused serious internal damage. If it cranks over, but doesn't fire I would be looking at an engine sensor that has failed. Take it to a dealer and have them check it on their diagnostic gear.

You don’t say why you want to convert your Captiva to LPG and I think it’s important to establish that before you rush into something you might regret. I wouldn’t do it; I don't believe the systems have been developed to the point of acceptable reliability. If you are really intent on doing it I would suggest you talk to the people at Diesel Gas Connection.

It's possibly a wiring problem, but there's no way of knowing until it fails in such a way that the problem can be traced. It would seem that it's not a major problem, so press on until it develops further.

There's no reason why Holden should replace your car because of an oil leak. The company has an obligation to fix the leak under warranty, so it should not cost you a penny. To write it off as a lemon at this stage doesn't make any sense. I wouldn't bother approaching Holden for a replacement.

Holden spokesman Sean Poppitt says: "It's unfortunate Ms Dib has experienced some issues with her vehicle. Customer satisfaction is always our priority and we have contacted Ms Dib to have those mechanical repairs performed under warranty at no cost to the customer. A courtesy vehicle will be provided at no cost for the duration and we will also offer Ms Dib a goodwill gesture at the conclusion of any repairs."

I think you're being a bit harsh. I'm not a fan of the Captiva, but at least the dealer fixed it outside of the 100,000km warranty period.

It's got nothing to do with the fuel you're using; the Captiva is fine to run on regular unleaded. You need to have a mechanic experienced in diagnosing problems with modern engines check it out for you. Clearly the dealer's mechanics are not up to the task.

It needs to go to a mechanic who can properly diagnose it. It sounds like it could be a sensor problem, which should show up on a diagnostic check.