E3 Oil Pressure Gauge light flickering - HSV Response

[crackelaktor]

My E3 GTS is exactly 3 years 6 months and 16 days old. About 2 months ago, my oil pressure gauge light began to flicker and I took the car into Suttons Holden yesterday for them to confirm the fault. The service manager told me that with 38,000kms on the clock, HSV would most likely replace these under a "Good Will" warranty even though the car was over its 3 year warranty period. I have serviced the car since new at this dealership and purchased 4 new cars from them (2 HSV) over the last 15 years. I got a phone call telling me that the gauge was faulty and they were ordering the part in to replace them under warranty.

When I went in to pickup the car, the same guy that called me told me that HSV had decided to not replace these under warranty as the car was out of warranty. The service manager was embarrassed and apologetic and suggested I contact HSV directly to discuss with them, which I will.

He even gave me the paperwork which confirmed what he told me over the phone and told me he was very surprised that HSV had taken this decision as they have previously shown a little leniency with return customers for cars with low kms, etc.

I have written a letter to HSV asking them to reconsider their position and am hoping they will.

I still love the HSV brand and product but am disappointed that the decision maker in this instance had the power of Yes or No and chose the non customer friendly response. My letter wasn't nasty at all and am hoping they will reconsider as 38,000kms on a well looked after HSV should not be the customers issue when something like a gauge fails.

The Holden service guy told me that had the car travelled 80,000+kms he might have understood but not with such low kms.

When I asked him how much would it cost me to replace he told me over a grand. So if HSV don't change their position, I'll be stuck with an annoying flicker which is fine during the day but really frustrating at night.

Is there any place someone can recommend to repair these as I'm sure it is just some loose connection somewhere. Not keen to do it myself as I don't want to make things worst.

[Blown Monaro]

Cant help with a repair but HSV replaced all three of my E3 gauges when the oil pressure backlight started flickering because they wanted all three gauges to have the same brightness, is a well known fault so Im surprised they dont sort it for you. Mine was
20,000kms and 2 yrs.

[Toddler78]

To be 100% honest that is pretty sh1tty customer service.

Depending on their response, you could speak to your local consumer affair office. Even though there is a 3 year warrenty, there is still an expectance (under consumer law) that a product has a acceptable life span. It could be argued that the lights have failed within 1.5 years of general use (given the average kms travelled per year is approx. 20k km)

if all else fails,

I dare say it is a cold solder joint causing it to happen, you could aways pull it apart to where the SMLEDs are installed and hit them with a heat gun, it will take a bit of time but the hot air will be gental enough not to fry any electronics but give enough to melt the solder.

[crackelaktor]

The good news is that HSV got my email this morning and responded to me today with a great response. They will cover the gauge replacement under good will, not warranty. I'm glad my email to them was not an agro one.

What this means is that it costs me nothing to get them replaced. The reason it was rejected by HSV is that Holden tried to put this through as a warranty claim and the car is not in warranty. Because the issue of flickering gauges is a well known issue by HSV, they cover these for vehicles later than 2010 under good will. Apparently If Holden had requested these under the "Good Will" method, it would not have been rejected the first time.

[crackelaktor]

To be 100% honest that is pretty sh1tty customer service.

Depending on their response, you could speak to your local consumer affair office. Even though there is a 3 year warrenty, there is still an expectance (under consumer law) that a product has a acceptable life span. It could be argued that the lights have failed within 1.5 years of general use (given the average kms travelled per year is approx. 20k km)

if all else fails,

I dare say it is a cold solder joint causing it to happen, you could aways pull it apart to where the SMLEDs are installed and hit them with a heat gun, it will take a bit of time but the hot air will be gental enough not to fry any electronics but give enough to melt the solder.

Had they not responded to me as they did today, I would agree with you. The mixup was an oversight which HSV explained to me. See my updated post.

[Toddler78]

Had they not responded to me as they did today, I would agree with you. The mixup was an oversight which HSV explained to me. See my updated post.

Great outcome, that's why you always get more bees with honey rather then vinegar.

[crackelaktor]

Got them replaced today at no cost. Happy with that

[Wonky]

My E3 gauges have been running in my SSV ute for almost exactly the same time the OP has had his GTS and a fortnight ago my oil pressure gauge started to do the same thing, though I'd hardly call it flickering because 98% of the time there was absolutely no light. Fortunately had it repaired by a former well known member on here.

[tuckerbag]

Just last week we had our 3 gauges replaced for nothing for the 2nd time, no questions asked. Very happy. 2010 e2 clubsport 127000 kms😊

[Wonky]

E2, so the white faced gauges? I thought it was only the black faced E3 gauges which were the problem, although I do know of one E1 owner who's had a problem with one of his. Pretty bloody shoddy from a so called reputable supplier!!

[Jaredlee]

My E3 GTS is exactly 3 years 6 months and 16 days old. About 2 months ago, my oil pressure gauge light began to flicker and I took the car into Suttons Holden yesterday for them to confirm the fault. The service manager told me that with 38,000kms on the clock, HSV would most likely replace these under a "Good Will" warranty even though the car was over its 3 year warranty period. I have serviced the car since new at this dealership and purchased 4 new cars from them (2 HSV) over the last 15 years. I got a phone call telling me that the gauge was faulty and they were ordering the part in to replace them under warranty.

When I went in to pickup the car, the same guy that called me told me that HSV had decided to not replace these under warranty as the car was out of warranty. The service manager was embarrassed and apologetic and suggested I contact HSV directly to discuss with them, which I will.

He even gave me the paperwork which confirmed what he told me over the phone and told me he was very surprised that HSV had taken this decision as they have previously shown a little leniency with return customers for cars with low kms, etc.

I have written a letter to HSV asking them to reconsider their position and am hoping they will.

I still love the HSV brand and product but am disappointed that the decision maker in this instance had the power of Yes or No and chose the non customer friendly response. My letter wasn't nasty at all and am hoping they will reconsider as 38,000kms on a well looked after HSV should not be the customers issue when something like a gauge fails.

The Holden service guy told me that had the car travelled 80,000+kms he might have understood but not with such low kms.

When I asked him how much would it cost me to replace he told me over a grand. So if HSV don't change their position, I'll be stuck with an annoying flicker which is fine during the day but really frustrating at night.

Is there any place someone can recommend to repair these as I'm sure it is just some loose connection somewhere. Not keen to do it myself as I don't want to make things worst.

Hey mate, just wondering what the address was where you sent the letter of to Hsv? Because I am
Having the same problem now and only have about 55000 on my car. The service yards are saying they won't fix it and wanted to see if Hsv had something different to say, before I go fork out the money to have them replaced.

Cheers

[Wonky]

My E3 gauges have been running in my SSV ute for almost exactly the same time the OP has had his GTS and a fortnight ago my oil pressure gauge started to do the same thing, though I'd hardly call it flickering because 98% of the time there was absolutely no light. Fortunately had it repaired by a former well known member on here.

Unfortunately it started with the same problem again as I was warned by him may happen, so h's going to replace the SMD LEDs in all 3 so they match - much cheaper than new gauges!!!

[tuckerbag]

Hey mate, just wondering what the address was where you sent the letter of to Hsv? Because I am
Having the same problem now and only have about 55000 on my car. The service yards are saying they won't fix it and wanted to see if Hsv had something different to say, before I go fork out the money to have them replaced.

Cheers

My local Holden dealer organised (thru HSV) for my gauges to be replaced both times no questions asked and they aren't even a HSV dealer and as I said in my previous post the car is a 2010 E2 Clubsport with 127000kms on it. I've never had a problem with HSV or Holden for that matter in getting things done. The service yards you are going to are ginnin you around in my opinion.