Stability Control Fault VE Calais

[whitels1ss]

the earlier VT-VZ cars appear to have been made by pre-school children,
the quality of the ute compared to even my VE is night and day.

Rod, I think that might be a little bit of an unfair comparison.

Your ute is just a base model commercial & your VE is a top of the line Calais V.

I just hope you get your xmas light display problem sorted quickly,
I wish I knew a decent auto electrician who I could recommend but it seems these days, no matter where you go
they just want you to keep replacing the entire car piece by piece until it is fixed
& it can be very costly.

Did you end up fitting that replacement rear loom which you bought or did someone discard the idea?

Could the problem be from some of the aftermarket wiring of stuff which has been fitted like the flappy paddles, updated audio or even the blower conversion?


After all you do have a fair bit of modifications on that beast!

[Red CV8 R]

Yeah I had/have similar issues when I bought the ute. Probably not as bad as a special edition Monaro, but a few ute specific bits like drivers side door sill seal and drivers side seat rail cover are non existent. Doesn't help that the earlier VT-VZ cars appear to have been made by pre-school children, the quality of the ute compared to even my VE is night and day.

I have to say, my experience is quite different. My Monaro has been put together beautifully and is actually the most reliable car I've ever owned and I've owned 3 Lexus I've also had 3 VE Berlina and Calais work cars and they had many more issues, luckily under warranty. The general quality of the VE was certainly not better than the Monaro and I got them new. Never had a VF though.

For my Monaro, that I purchased new for myself, the issues with the factory stuff is limited to a replacement radiator, and needing the radius suspension bushes replaced. The radiator was more related to how much the car sits around now, started to leak. Although, the original lifters did go but that was with an aftermarket cam that was very hard on the valve train. I can't blame Holden for that.

So, including that, everything else that has caused me grief has actually been performance bits I've added, e.g. I'm having issues with this stupid UDP belt squeaking (and I can't work out what the right replacement is).

However, my big concern is wear and tear items like CV8-R mats and gear knob and in particular, if the car is damaged. Getting stuff like the CV8-R specific headlights and tail lights, badging etc. Impossible, even second hand which I don't want but no choice. Even Monaro drivers windows are apparently impossible to get new now. Scary stuff!

[BLACK 346]

Rod, I think that might be a little bit of an unfair comparison.

Your ute is just a base model commercial & your VE is a top of the line Calais V.

I just hope you get your xmas light display problem sorted quickly,
I wish I knew a decent auto electrician who I could recommend but it seems these days, no matter where you go
they just want you to keep replacing the entire car piece by piece until it is fixed
& it can be very costly.

Did you end up fitting that replacement rear loom which you bought or did someone discard the idea?

Could the problem be from some of the aftermarket wiring of stuff which has been fitted like the flappy paddles, updated audio or even the blower conversion?


After all you do have a fair bit of modifications on that beast!

Hey Ed, I am only comparing the quality of the base car mate, the way it is put together and the actual quality of the plastic parts etc. I have had a VT and now a VX based car and to be honest apart from lure of the V8 and the loyalty to Holden they are/were both pretty awful quality wise I agree with your other comments though, the Calais is heavily modified and who knows what that has caused over the years. Brad did not put that rear loom in as he reckons his software shows that their are no communication issues with that particular part of the car, so it was still sitting on the passenger seat last I looked. Personally I would have thrown it in just as part of the elimination process, but what would I know.
As for the Flappy paddles, they have been in the car for a while and no reason to doubt them, but once again, what would I know. Will keep updating

[BLACK 346]

I have to say, my experience is quite different. My Monaro has been put together beautifully and is actually the most reliable car I've ever owned and I've owned 3 Lexus I've also had 3 VE Berlina and Calais work cars and they had many more issues, luckily under warranty. The general quality of the VE was certainly not better than the Monaro and I got them new. Never had a VF though.

For my Monaro, that I purchased new for myself, the issues with the factory stuff is limited to a replacement radiator, and needing the radius suspension bushes replaced. The radiator was more related to how much the car sits around now, started to leak. Although, the original lifters did go but that was with an aftermarket cam that was very hard on the valve train. I can't blame Holden for that.

So, including that, everything else that has caused me grief has actually been performance bits I've added, e.g. I'm having issues with this stupid UDP belt squeaking (and I can't work out what the right replacement is).

However, my big concern is wear and tear items like CV8-R mats and gear knob and in particular, if the car is damaged. Getting stuff like the CV8-R specific headlights and tail lights, badging etc. Impossible, even second hand which I don't want but no choice. Even Monaro drivers windows are apparently impossible to get new now. Scary stuff!

Hey mate, I probably should have specified that I have never owned a VY-VZ based car, so the quality may well have improved significantly after VT-VX

[Red CV8 R]

You could be right. I had a new VXII SS M6 for 3.5 years before I purchased the Monaro and I don't recall that it felt worse made than the VE company cars as far as the touchy feely side of things but it certainly wasn't reliable in any way, shape or form. It was probably the worst car I've owned for reliability (followed by my MK7 Golf GTi).

Luckily it was under warranty, as despite being stock, it went through multiple engines, gearboxes, clutches and a diff. I thought it was either a complete lemon or it was a mixture of bad dealership's and early LS teething issues but perhaps they took a while to get these things right.

My Monaro is a series 3, basically last variation of many bits that begun with the VT and thus may have been well sorted by the time they built mine. People on here used to suggest the Monaro's were better built. Maybe something in it.

[BLACK 346]

You could be right. I had a new VXII SS M6 for 3.5 years before I purchased the Monaro and I don't recall that it felt worse made than the VE company cars as far as the touchy feely side of things but it certainly wasn't reliable in any way, shape or form. It was probably the worst car I've owned for reliability (followed by my MK7 Golf GTi).

Luckily it was under warranty, as despite being stock, it went through multiple engines, gearboxes, clutches and a diff. I thought it was either a complete lemon or it was a mixture of bad dealership's and early LS teething issues but perhaps they took a while to get these things right.

My Monaro is a series 3, basically last variation of many bits that begun with the VT and thus may have been well sorted by the time they built mine. People on here used to suggest the Monaro's were better built. Maybe something in it.

My VT2 SS was bullet proof mechanically, other than a brand new T56 early in the ownership which was covered under warranty it never gave us any issues. Sold it Heads and cam making 304rwkw at about 140k. Our MK7 118TSI Golf however has had over 12k in repairs (all warranty) including 2 DSG rebuilds, a Mechatronics, ignition barrel failure, water pump (also runs the supercharger), multiple turbo line failures, headliner sagging, repeated EPC warning light for no reason. About the only thing that hasn't happened is total engine failure.
I was told early in ownership to run it on nothing but 98 fuel due to possible detonation on number 4 piston on hot days, I have continued to do that and it seems to be a happy little motor touch wood. A mate with a Skoda Fabia with same driveline ran his on 95 and lost his motor at 40k.

[Red CV8 R]

Shows you that we can all have different experiences with these cars. Although your VW experience was similar, I put about $10k of mechanical work into my GTi when it was out of warranty and while the base motor was fine (I ran it on 95/98), I have to say that even the general quality was poor. Things like the seat collapsing and the badges and rear spoiler starting to fall off is not what I would expect from a 4 yr old German car. GTi was awesome to drive though!

My SS was a nice car, black with grey leather but it really left a bad taste with all the issues. It was not being kept long out of warranty with the way it had gone and was going to be my last Holden and made me feel I made a huge mistake selling my 355ci HSV Senator 5000i (although that was forced as I could no longer insure it and had no room for a 3rd car). I was ready to buy something different but I had loved the Monaro shape so much that I bought a Holden again. An itch I had to scratch.

It's been so good that I still have it and hope to keep it long term if parts don't kill me. I was hoping to add a 997.1 GT3 beside it with more garage space available, but man, Covid has put them through the roof. Still, you don't have to worry about parts with a 911.

[BLACK 346]

Shows you that we can all have different experiences with these cars. Although your VW experience was similar, I put about $10k of mechanical work into my GTi when it was out of warranty and while the base motor was fine (I ran it on 95/98), I have to say that even the general quality was poor. Things like the seat collapsing and the badges and rear spoiler starting to fall off is not what I would expect from a 4 yr old German car. GTi was awesome to drive though!

My SS was a nice car, black with grey leather but it really left a bad taste with all the issues. It was not being kept long out of warranty with the way it had gone and was going to be my last Holden and made me feel I made a huge mistake selling my 355ci HSV Senator 5000i (although that was forced as I could no longer insure it and had no room for a 3rd car). I was ready to buy something different but I had loved the Monaro shape so much that I bought a Holden again. An itch I had to scratch.

It's been so good that I still have it and hope to keep it long term if parts don't kill me. I was hoping to add a 997.1 GT3 beside it with more garage space available, but man, Covid has put them through the roof. Still, you don't have to worry about parts with a 911.

I love our Golf, for a car of it's age it is just so refined and feels really solid. The DSG gearbox when not causing issues is just amazing, seamless gear changes and never seems to be in the wrong gear. My only gripe would be the DSG lag that if you are not used to it can catch you out and the massive delta between normal and sports mode, where one is super lazy and the other has you constantly at high revs in 1st, second or third if your lucky, gets a bit annoying at times. For a car with only 118kw it feels quite quick in day to day traffic. We are thinking of getting a GTI or R next but after seeing your issues with your GTI it just gets my VW ownership anxiety going lol. Seems all the fun cars are going to cost you to own, have heard nightmare stories about BMW and Audi as well, not sure about the equivalent Mercedes.

[Red CV8 R]

I have that same feeling about VWs (I've also had a Passat previously but I was the 2nd owner). They are really nice to drive but you always feel you're around the corner from something happening. I swear I wouldn't buy another one but I probably would... LOL. Ours was a 2015 MK 7. MK 7.5 may have been an improvement in reliability etc. MK 8 being all new, maybe not... I think they now have 5 years warranty though, that makes life a little easier. Although the dealer we used wasn't brilliant. For example, swore blind that the water pump wasn't on the way out. A month later... Busted water pump...

Im surrounded by BMWs, Audi's and Mercedes. I can assure you, they can all have really big and expensive issues. Owning one outside of warranty can be an expensive exercise. Not for everyone, but I've seen some serious coin dropped on repairs.

[BLACK 346]

I have that same feeling about VWs (I've also had a Passat previously but I was the 2nd owner). They are really nice to drive but you always feel you're around the corner from something happening. I swear I wouldn't buy another one but I probably would... LOL. Ours was a 2015 MK 7. MK 7.5 may have been an improvement in reliability etc. MK 8 being all new, maybe not... I think they now have 5 years warranty though, that makes life a little easier. Although the dealer we used wasn't brilliant. For example, swore blind that the water pump wasn't on the way out. A month later... Busted water pump...

Im surrounded by BMWs, Audi's and Mercedes. I can assure you, they can all have really big and expensive issues. Owning one outside of warranty can be an expensive exercise. Not for everyone, but I've seen some serious coin dropped on repairs.

I know exactly what you mean, our Golf was flat bedded three times in twelve months. On one occasion it just lost all gears outside the airport in bumper to bumper traffic. We had to push it off the road and then sprint the last km to the Airport with my daughters luggage so that she didn't miss her flight the NY. Guess it would have been worse if it happened crossing a rail line or other such dangerous situation. That was the mechatronics in the DSG. Has been quite a while since the DSG has failed and ours has the 7 speed which is prone to issues, probably due soon lol.

[BLACK 346]

The new loom is going in now. Just spoke with Brad and he said the old loom is the worst he has ever seen, hard as a rock, whereas the new one is extremely pliable. I guess years of heat, including extra heat from the top mount have taken their toll on factory wiring. Hoping like hell this fixes the issue.

[whitels1ss]

Best of luck with it Rod.

[BLACK 346]

The Calais is back. Picked it up from Enhanced Automotive today and it is running better than ever. Brad really can fix anything. He showed me the old loom whilst I was there and it really was like an overcooked chip, you could actually hear it snapping in some sections when you bent it. Brad drove it around quite a bit prior to handing it back with no issues, and I have given it a good workout today and it has behaved flawlessly. Pretty damn happy to be honest

[whitels1ss]

How is it all going for you after a month?

Been driving it much lately Rod?

[BLACK 346]

How is it all going for you after a month?

Been driving it much lately Rod?

Running fantastic Ed. I reckon the issues with that loom have been there for a while just got to breaking point on our Melbourne trip. I think I posted a while back that it was randomly stalling and idling strange out of nowhere. Used to stall when I went from drive to reverse etc. Also stalled at low speed going through road works a couple of times. It also was idling rough at times when on the brakes at standstill and then would just come good when you released the brake pressure a bit. All of that is now gone and it is like a new car. Hopefully stays that way for a long time