Holden Monaro: common faults & what to check

Which Holden Monaro are you looking at?

2 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Petrol

2 variants documented

2001–2006V22001–2006V23.8 V6 petrolPetrolDocumented issues3 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

2001–2006V22001–2006V25.7 V8 petrolPetrolDocumented issues5 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Holden Monaro

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Holden Monaro before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Costly issue

  Start the engine stone cold and listen for a light metallic rattle that fades as the engine warms.

  See why

  Oil consumption and cold-start piston rattle (5.7 LS1 V8)

  The 5.7 LS1 Gen III V8 in the 2001 to 2004 Monaro CV8 is a known issue for high oil consumption and a light metallic piston rattle when cold. Holden said about one in five engines were affected and rebuilt problem engines under warranty with Teflon-coated pistons and tighter piston to bore clearance, but some owners report the problem returning and some engines were rebuilt more than once. Ask for warranty or rebuild records. No recall applies.

  What you would notice

  • Light metallic rattle from the engine when cold that fades as it warms
  • Oil level dropping between services, up to several litres
  • Blue smoke on hard acceleration

  Typically $300–$9,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Listen at idle, cold and warm, for a tapping or ticking from the top of the engine that does not fade.

  See why

  Hydraulic lifter failure and valvetrain damage (5.7 LS1 V8)

  The 5.7 LS1 V8 in the 2001 to 2005 Monaro CV8 is a known issue for hydraulic roller lifter failure, where the plunger sticks collapsed, the spring jams or the roller is starved of oil. A failed lifter can bend a pushrod and go on to break rockers or valves and damage the camshaft. Specialists suggest replacing lifters at about 100,000 km, and failures are more common on engines fitted with high-lift aftermarket cams. No recall or extended warranty applies.

  What you would notice

  • Persistent tapping or ticking from the top of the engine
  • Misfire or rough idle
  • Check engine light with misfire codes
  • Loss of power

  Typically $2,500–$7,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Inspect the sills, lower doors, rear quarters and boot floor for rust, bubbling and previous repairs.

  See why

  V2 sill / lower body rust

  V2/VZ Monaros can develop rust in the sills, lower doors and rear quarters, especially on NZ coastal cars. A structural WOF concern that is costly to repair properly on these coupes.

  What you would notice

  • Bubbling paint on sills
  • Rust in lower doors
  • Rear quarter corrosion
  • WOF rust advisory

  Typically $400–$4,000 to put right.

• Common issue

  Inspect the rear of the engine and bellhousing for oil, and on manuals check for clutch contamination from a leaking seal.

  See why

  LS1 rear main seal oil leak

  The V2/VZ Monaro's LS1 V8 commonly develops a rear main seal leak, dripping oil at the bellhousing. A well-known LS engine issue that worsens with age and can contaminate the clutch on manuals.

  What you would notice

  • Oil drips at bellhousing
  • Oil on transmission housing
  • Low oil level
  • Oil spots where parked

  Typically $500–$1,800 to put right.

• Worth checking

  Check the diff pinion seal for leaks, listen for whine at speed, and test for LSD chatter doing slow tight-lock turns.

  See why

  Rear diff pinion seal leak / LSD chatter

  The Monaro's rear differential can leak from the pinion seal and, on LSD-equipped cars, develop clutch chatter on tight turns if the friction modifier or LSD clutches are worn.

  What you would notice

  • Oil leak at diff pinion
  • Chatter/shudder on tight turns
  • Diff whine
  • Clunk on take-up

  Typically $250–$2,000 to put right.

• Worth checking

  On supercharged models, listen for supercharger rattle, check the blower lid area for oil weep, and assess boost behaviour.

  See why

  Supercharged 3.8 V6 Eaton blower lid gasket leak

  Supercharged 3.8 V6 Monaro models can suffer Eaton supercharger nose/lid gasket and coupler wear, causing oil weep and rattle. A known weak point on the L67 supercharged V6.

  What you would notice

  • Rattle from supercharger
  • Oil weep at blower lid
  • Whine change under boost
  • Reduced boost

  Typically $300–$1,500 to put right.

Holden Monaro service schedule

What falls due, and at what distance, for each generation of the Holden Monaro. These are the model’s intervals — the car’s own service book is the only thing that can tell you what has actually been done to it.

Other Holden models