ve sv6 ute problems Page 79

The VE SV6 Ute is a fine Aussie workmate until it isn’t, at which point it develops a talent for melodrama.

The big-ticket gremlin is the Alloytec V6 timing chain, which can stretch and trigger warning lights long before your morning coffee kicks in.

Other usual suspects lurk beneath: suspension bushes that wave the white flag, power steering leaks, and autos that shift like they’ve had a long night.

• Timing chain stretch (check for rattles and cam/crank correlation codes).
• VVT/cam phaser and solenoid faults causing rough idle.
• High-pressure fuel pump or injector issues on SIDI engines; carbon build-up.
• Front lower control arm bushes and wheel bearings wearing early.
• Power steering pump/hoses leaking; occasional water pump/thermostat woes.
• Auto transmission shudder/harsh shifts; keep fluid and cooler in good nick.
• Air-con evaporator leaks and random electrical niggles (locks, window regs).

Service history is everything: fresh oil, timely chain kits, and decent suspension components turn drama into a dull, dependable ute—just how you like it.