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Holden Commodore: ZB LTG 2.0T Timing Chain Rattle on Cold Start

ZB LTG 2.0T Timing Chain Rattle on Cold Start is a common engine fault on the Holden Commodore on the 2018–2020 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,800 to $3,800 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 51 documented faults on the Holden Commodore.

Vehicle
Holden Commodore
Engine
2.0L
Years
2018–2020
Fuel
petrol
Gearbox
auto
System
Engine

This page covers the Holden Commodore 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 Commodore faults51 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

The front of a dual overhead camshaft engine with the timing cover removed, exposing the timing chain and sprockets.Example of the part — not this vehicle

The front of a twin-cam engine with the timing cover off — chain, sprockets and guides.

Logansenf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The ZB Commodore (rebadged Opel Insignia) uses the GM LTG 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder. This engine shares chain tensioner characteristics with the broader GM Ecotec turbocharged family (and EA888-derived units) and is documented to rattle on cold starts before oil pressure builds. The variable valve timing phasers rely on oil pressure and can rattle until the system pressurises. Extended-interval oil changes or low-viscosity oil worsen the condition. GM issued calibration and tensioner updates.

What you would notice

  • Metallic rattle from front of engine on first start of the day, lasting 2-10 seconds
  • Rattle worsens in cold weather
  • Cam timing codes (P0011, P0014, P0021) in scan data
  • Slightly rough idle until engine warms

How to check it

Where to look. Front of LTG 2.0T engine, timing chain and VVT phaser assembly

Cold-start the engine (not started for at least 3 hours) and immediately listen for chain rattle from the front of the engine. Scan for cam phaser and timing correlation codes. Verify oil change records show correct 5W-30 or 0W-20 spec and intervals under 10,000km. If a workshop inspection is possible: Hold phone or stethoscope to timing cover area.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$1,800 to $3,800 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

  • “Any rattling noise on cold starts?”
  • “What engine oil specification and interval has been used?”
  • “Has the timing chain or tensioner been inspected?”

Now check the Holden Commodore 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 published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Holden Commodore buyer questions

Is zb ltg 2.0t timing chain rattle on cold start serious on a Holden Commodore?

We rate it major and common on the Holden Commodore. The ZB Commodore (rebadged Opel Insignia) uses the GM LTG 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder. This engine shares chain tensioner characteristics with the broader GM Ecotec turbocharged family (and EA888-derived units) and is documented to rattle on cold starts before oil pressure builds. The variable valve timing phasers rely on oil pressure and can rattle until the system pressurises. Extended-interval oil changes or low-viscosity oil worsen the condition. GM issued calibration and tensioner updates.

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

$1,800 to $3,800 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 Commodore years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2018–2020 Holden Commodore. 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.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Cold-start the engine (not started for at least 3 hours) and immediately listen for chain rattle from the front of the engine. Scan for cam phaser and timing correlation codes. Verify oil change records show correct 5W-30 or 0W-20 spec and intervals under 10,000km. If a workshop inspection is possible: Hold phone or stethoscope to timing cover area. Look here: Front of LTG 2.0T engine, timing chain and VVT phaser assembly