MajorCommonEngine

Holden Colorado: RC Colorado suction control valve (SCV) sticking, low rail pressure (3.0 4JJ1-TC diesel)

RC Colorado suction control valve (SCV) sticking, low rail pressure (3.0 4JJ1-TC diesel) is a common engine fault on the Holden Colorado on the 2008–2012 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $400 to $1,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 14 documented faults on the Holden Colorado.

Vehicle: Holden Colorado
Engine: 4JJ1
Years: 2008–2012
Fuel: diesel
System: Engine

This page covers the Holden Colorado as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Holden Colorado faults14 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the High-pressure fuel pump yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The 3.0 4JJ1-TC diesel in the RC Colorado is known for its high-pressure fuel pump suction control valve (SCV) sticking or blocking. The early short SCV with a beige connector is the main culprit; a longer revised valve with a turquoise connector came into production around mid 2009 and is the usual fix. Dirty or contaminated fuel can also make the revised valve stick. Symptoms are hard starting, flat spots, surging and an engine light with rail pressure codes.

What you would notice

Long cranking or hard starting, hot or cold
Loss of power or flat spot under load
Surging or rough idle, occasional stalling
Engine warning light with rail pressure codes (P0087, P0088, P0093, P1093, P1094)

How to check it

Where to look. Engine bay, on the high-pressure fuel pump

Start the engine from cold and again when hot and note any long cranking. On the test drive accelerate firmly through the mid range and feel for surging or flat spots. Ask whether the SCV has been replaced with the later long-style valve and when the fuel filter was last changed. If a workshop inspection is possible: scan for stored rail pressure codes and compare actual and desired rail pressure.

Parts involved: High-pressure fuel pump.

What it costs to put right

$400 to $1,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the suction control valve ever been replaced, and with the later long-style part?”
“Has it ever had hard starting or gone into limp mode?”
“When was the fuel filter last changed?”

Now check the Holden Colorado you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Holden Colorado buyer questions

Is rc colorado suction control valve (scv) sticking, low rail pressure (3.0 4jj1-tc diesel) serious on a Holden Colorado?

We rate it major and common on the Holden Colorado. The 3.0 4JJ1-TC diesel in the RC Colorado is known for its high-pressure fuel pump suction control valve (SCV) sticking or blocking. The early short SCV with a beige connector is the main culprit; a longer revised valve with a turquoise connector came into production around mid 2009 and is the usual fix. Dirty or contaminated fuel can also make the revised valve stick. Symptoms are hard starting, flat spots, surging and an engine light with rail pressure codes.

How much does it cost to fix on a Holden Colorado?

$400 to $1,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Holden Colorado years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2008–2012 Holden Colorado. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.