MajorCommonEngine

Holden Rodeo: Cracked exhaust manifolds — cold-start ticking (3.2 V6 6VD1)

Cracked exhaust manifolds — cold-start ticking (3.2 V6 6VD1) is a common engine fault on the Holden Rodeo on the 1998–2002 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $600 to $2,500 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 12 documented faults on the Holden Rodeo.

Vehicle: Holden Rodeo
Engine: 6VD1
Years: 1998–2002
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Holden Rodeo 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 Rodeo faults12 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Exhaust manifold yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The cast-iron exhaust manifolds on the 3.2 V6 crack from thousands of heat cycles, and on this engine family it is one of the most reported faults worldwide — the same 6VD1 powered the US-market Isuzu Rodeo, Amigo and Honda Passport where cracked manifolds are notorious. A crack lets exhaust puff out, making a rhythmic tick when the engine is cold that fades as the metal expands, and can draw exhaust smell (carbon monoxide) into the cabin. A leak ahead of the oxygen sensor also fools the ECU into running rich and can light the check-engine light. The repair itself is simple, but the manifold studs corrode into the alloy heads and frequently snap, which is what blows the bill out.

What you would notice

Rhythmic ticking or tapping from the engine bay on cold start that fades as the engine warms
Exhaust smell in the cabin, especially with the fan on
Black soot streaks on or below the exhaust manifolds
Check-engine light with lean-mixture or oxygen-sensor codes

How to check it

Where to look. Both sides of the 3.2 V6 engine, under the bonnet where the exhaust bolts to each cylinder head

Ask the seller not to warm the ute up before you arrive, then start it stone cold yourself with the bonnet up. Listen on each side of the V6 for a tick-tick-tick in time with the engine that speeds up with gentle revs and quietens over the next few minutes — a tick that fades as it warms is the classic cracked-manifold signature, not tappets. Shine a phone torch down each side of the engine and look for black soot streaks on the manifolds. On the test drive, run the fan on fresh air and sniff for exhaust smell. If a workshop inspection is possible: have both manifolds inspected for hairline cracks and check whether any studs are already broken — get any repair quote written on the assumption studs will snap.

Parts involved: Exhaust manifold.

What it costs to put right

$600 to $2,500 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 either exhaust manifold ever been replaced, and is there an invoice?”
“Does it tick when started cold in the morning?”
“Have you ever smelt exhaust inside the cab?”

Now check the Holden Rodeo 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.

Go-Parts Garage guide: Cracked Exhaust Manifolds on 1998-2003 Isuzu Rodeo & 1998-2000 Amigo (same 6VD1 platform)
RepairPal: Isuzu Rodeo Engine Making Ticking Noise
PlanetIsuzoo.com owner forum manifold and ticking threads

Holden Rodeo buyer questions

Is cracked exhaust manifolds — cold-start ticking (3.2 v6 6vd1) serious on a Holden Rodeo?

We rate it major and common on the Holden Rodeo. The cast-iron exhaust manifolds on the 3.2 V6 crack from thousands of heat cycles, and on this engine family it is one of the most reported faults worldwide — the same 6VD1 powered the US-market Isuzu Rodeo, Amigo and Honda Passport where cracked manifolds are notorious. A crack lets exhaust puff out, making a rhythmic tick when the engine is cold that fades as the metal expands, and can draw exhaust smell (carbon monoxide) into the cabin. A leak ahead of the oxygen sensor also fools the ECU into running rich and can light the check-engine light. The repair itself is simple, but the manifold studs corrode into the alloy heads and frequently snap, which is what blows the bill out.

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

$600 to $2,500 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 Rodeo years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1998–2002 Holden Rodeo. 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.