Holden Trax Problems

Basically, the light is telling you that there’s something wrong with the car’s driveline and that you need to have it checked out before the problem does any permanent damage. This can be taken care of at a workshop that has the correct scanning tools.

Possible causes are numerous, but can include a dud sensor, a bad earth, wiring problems, damaged exhaust or any one of about a thousand engine or transmission glitches. Don’t bother trying to guess the reason, have the car electronically scanned and home in on the actual problem that way.

A lot of workshops that aren’t too familiar with a certain make and model will often neglect this little detail, mainly because they either forget or don’t know how to cancel it. The good news, it’s a pretty simple procedure.

Switch the ignition on but don’t start the engine. Then, press the little black button inside the tachometer (just above the 'RPM' symbol) until the oil-can symbol appears. Then, hold the same button for a few seconds until you hear a beep and the number next to the oil can changes to 100 (per cent). That’s it, you’re done.

Holden’s factory maintenance schedule for the 1.8-litre Trax suggests a 150,000km (or 10 years, whichever comes first) timing belt change interval. Don’t forget to change the relevant tensioners and belt idlers at the same time. Many owners also elect to replace the water pump at the same time while this area of the engine is apart for the timing belt change.

The turbocharged 1.4-litre version of the Trax used a timing chain rather than a timing belt. This chain should be good for the life of the vehicle.

This is one of those 'how long is a piece of string' questions. It all depends on where the oil leak is coming from and what is involved in fixing it. If it’s a simple loose fitting that can be tightened in a minute or two, then it won’t cost much. But if the leak is coming from a gasket that requires the entire engine to be removed and disassembled to replace, then the cost will be much, much more.

Oil and coolant leaks can emanate from a huge number of locations on a modern engine, Sometimes just finding the source can take longer than actually fixing it. The best approach is to thoroughly clean the engine of all oil and gunk, and then drive it and keep checking until the oil reappears and track it back to the source.

ZS pros include cheap pricing, an easy driving experience and a comparatively spacious interior compared to other direct rivals like a Mazda CX-3. The dash is pleasant, there is a decent amount of equipment and the controls are all simple to use. It should also be fairly inexpensive to run and service, though earlier ZSs like yours require six-monthly rather than 12-monthly service intervals.

There are two engine options - a 1.5-litre four-cylinder model with a four-speed auto on the base Excite, or a 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder version on higher-specification Excite Plus and Essence grades with a six-speed auto. Note that the latter powertrain is more expensive to service.

Plus, there's still a fair chunk of the manufacturer's warranty left, which is seven years, while capped-price servicing is also offered.

But the ZS does not offer AEB Autonomous Emergency Braking, so only rates a four-star ANCAP crash-test rating.

Additionally, the ZS's suspension is on the firm side in terms of dealing with road bumps, which might upset some occupants, yet there is not much of the 'fun factor' in regards to steering and handling finesse that rivals like the CX-3, Suzuki Vitara, Honda HR-V, Hyundai Venue, Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport and Hyundai Kona offer in spades.

We've also heard complaints about the interior's perceived quality being sub-par, cabin storage isn't generous and Android Auto isn't supported (though Apple CarPlay is).

Finally, the ZS' resale value trails all of the aforementioned competitors by a significant margin, meaning it's on track to be worth less when the time comes to on-sell it.

If it’s a 1.4-litre turbo you should be using 95-octane PULP, if it’s a 1.8-litre you can use 91-octane unleaded.

For starters it’s not a new car now, it’s four years old, so problems car arise with it. It’s possible you have a worn ignition switch, or it could be an electrical problem that’s behind your starting issue. Take it back to your dealer, or a mechanic to have it checked and fixed.

Our top pick among the Trax's rivals is the Honda HR-V. It's an excellent little SUV, with plenty of interior space and practicality. Check out our small SUV buying guide for all the details.

Are they saying their paint isn't capable of withstanding the odd drop of bird poo? Holden’s response is unsatisfactory. Seek the help of a paint specialist who should be able to give you an assessment of what caused the flaking, and then take that assessment to Holden. Another option is to take your claim to VCAT.

It’s a common problem for us as we get older, but there are no sedans or hatches that have the sort of higher driving seat that you want. The best option would be a small SUV, such as a Holden Trax, Toyota C-HR, Ford Kuga, or Suzuki S-Cross.