tscott
20-12-2007, 11:14 PM
Just thought that I should put something back as I spend a lot of time using the combined wisdom of others who have seen fit to post to these sorts of places.
Owner of a 2000 VX family Commodore - purchased 2nd hand from local holden agent - all servicing done by said agent.
Fault - about 6 months ago, report that car wouldn't start (from my wife who drives it). Cranks ok but no start. Gradually gotten worse - taken to dealer again who said that his tech2 tool couldn't chat to the computer and I would need to purchase a new PIM (powertrain interface module) so that the tech2 could chat to the computer and see what the problem might be. New PIM is $400 and no guarantee that that would be a fix in itself.
I am a bush mechanic - lots of pre 74 motor rebuilds and proud owner of 2 '74 model XJ6's (BC - before children)
So, the concept of a $400 bill and no result did no excite me - I googled the problem - very little out there that made any sense to me.
Needed to know more about PIMs so rang Chipmaster who I found here on the web. They were very helpful and put me onto a local NSW computer expert - Dick's Electronics.
Rang Dick - he was so helpful that I drove to Sydney to see him yesterday.
Now, a little bit of history - my dealership have always referred to my car as a VT - I never thought to question this so had done all my searching for a VT and had told Dick that it was a VT.
He went to test it and couldn't chat to the computer! Then he discovered that it was a VX - no wonder he couldn't chat to it - it uses a different protocol to the earlier computers.
Dick is only good for checking up to a VT but he was able to fill me in on how the computers in the car work, what was likely to be my problem and... the VX does not have a PIM! unless you have a GenIII V8 - mine is the V6! (That just saved me $400!)
BTW, Dick was amazing. Anyone with an earlier car who is interested in programming the chip in your computer to increase whatever...
Having gone all the way to Sydney (600klm) to get a fix, I headed up Parramatta Rd to find the biggest Holden Dealership - 2 fold here, to have a test drive of the turbo desiel Captiva and to seek advice on my problem.
I can't fault Heartland - everyone was as helpful and pleasant as they could possibly be and this at 4:30pm in amongst lots of punters - their tech came with his tech2 and immediately gained comms with my computer and told me that is was my crank angle sensor or, the same fault is sometimes generated by a dodgy connection in the wiring to the coil pod. No charge.
We are currently feeling that it is the latter - the fault occurred this evening (mum driving again) and my son fiddled the appropriate wiring and the car started! He is feeling very important.
Haven't been back to my local dealer yet...
Owner of a 2000 VX family Commodore - purchased 2nd hand from local holden agent - all servicing done by said agent.
Fault - about 6 months ago, report that car wouldn't start (from my wife who drives it). Cranks ok but no start. Gradually gotten worse - taken to dealer again who said that his tech2 tool couldn't chat to the computer and I would need to purchase a new PIM (powertrain interface module) so that the tech2 could chat to the computer and see what the problem might be. New PIM is $400 and no guarantee that that would be a fix in itself.
I am a bush mechanic - lots of pre 74 motor rebuilds and proud owner of 2 '74 model XJ6's (BC - before children)
So, the concept of a $400 bill and no result did no excite me - I googled the problem - very little out there that made any sense to me.
Needed to know more about PIMs so rang Chipmaster who I found here on the web. They were very helpful and put me onto a local NSW computer expert - Dick's Electronics.
Rang Dick - he was so helpful that I drove to Sydney to see him yesterday.
Now, a little bit of history - my dealership have always referred to my car as a VT - I never thought to question this so had done all my searching for a VT and had told Dick that it was a VT.
He went to test it and couldn't chat to the computer! Then he discovered that it was a VX - no wonder he couldn't chat to it - it uses a different protocol to the earlier computers.
Dick is only good for checking up to a VT but he was able to fill me in on how the computers in the car work, what was likely to be my problem and... the VX does not have a PIM! unless you have a GenIII V8 - mine is the V6! (That just saved me $400!)
BTW, Dick was amazing. Anyone with an earlier car who is interested in programming the chip in your computer to increase whatever...
Having gone all the way to Sydney (600klm) to get a fix, I headed up Parramatta Rd to find the biggest Holden Dealership - 2 fold here, to have a test drive of the turbo desiel Captiva and to seek advice on my problem.
I can't fault Heartland - everyone was as helpful and pleasant as they could possibly be and this at 4:30pm in amongst lots of punters - their tech came with his tech2 and immediately gained comms with my computer and told me that is was my crank angle sensor or, the same fault is sometimes generated by a dodgy connection in the wiring to the coil pod. No charge.
We are currently feeling that it is the latter - the fault occurred this evening (mum driving again) and my son fiddled the appropriate wiring and the car started! He is feeling very important.
Haven't been back to my local dealer yet...