Hello, all. As the title states, I'm having some issues and I think they are related to the Stage 1 upgrade. The local dealership has undergone an overhaul with new owners and practices - definitely for the worse - and is telling me they cannot replicate what is happening to me - even though it happens every time I drive the SS now. I either get the loss of power, which eventually comes back, or even if simply maintaining speed or even have my foot off the gas the car surges like it is getting a quick thrust of throttle. To be quite honest, it is almost to the point of being a safety issue rather than just an inconvenience. The dealership told me the car showed no codes - whether they actually looked or not - and I'm taking it to a different one in the next few days. Any giveaways as to what is going on? Anyway I can look up the codes when it happens (I apologize as I am not tech savvy).

On a side note, I've developed a substantial vibration at about 65 which the dealer is calling a bad front right axle that is being replaced next week. Seems odd for an 08 SS with only 40000 miles to have such serious issues already. I like the car, and want to keep it, but this can't continue too much longer before I look for a replacement - which I've declared will probably be a G8 GT.

Thanks!

 

Your issue has been covered plenty of times on this forum. Its a poorly installed pigtail harness for the new MAP sensors.

 

What he said.

I had them snip & solder instead of using the connectors when I got mine installed.

 

What they both said.
Happened to me too many times........

 

Thanks for the responses. I asked them, as I had mentioned they seem to be pretty crooked, and they said they were soldered. That's why, even though it had been discussed, I made a new thread. Simply take it to another dealer for repair? Thanks again.

 

I'm sure your dealer checked this out, but my car had similar symptoms (my car would surge at steady speeds) and mine was that the aircharge pipe was loose at the turbo end. They tightened it up and it's been running fine.

 

I have the same issue and my HHR has been to several local dealers for repair and many of them say they cannot recreate the problem. Tomorrow I am going to a dealer that is over an hour and a half away from me where I had the Stage Kit installed hoping they can resolve the problem. I have mentioned the wire harnesses as a primary part of the issue and they say they clean up some wire corrosion but the problem never goes away.

 

Depending on how long ago the Stage 1 was installed, you could have sensor rub-through from the wires bumping up against the AC compressor. Even though they soldered the connections, they should have put that lower sensor wire in a protective wrap. Took six months for mine to rub-through and it wasn't obvious from casual inspection. Tech took the whole thing out and went over evey inch until he found it.
John

 

It sounds as if the connectors were not done properly. Like they said you can either have them soldered or find a dealer that can properly install them with the correct tools that the original dealer more than not did not use.

There is nothing wrong with the connectors but there has been a major issue with the techs that just do not install them properly. There are many who have the crimp connectors that have no issues and often it goes back to a proper install. The Solder joints are a good defalt for those who can not locate a good dealer tech.

Note if they do solder them they need to be supported. Solder can break with viberations and time. I fear some may have issues again later with this fix again depending on who did the work. GM used the connections for a reason and the fragility of the solder long term was a consideration.

I would recomend a shrink sleeve on the solder joints to support them and that should really help.

As for the axle it is not a common thing but it can happen. I have seen these issues on all FWD makes and models. The same thing can happen on a G8 drive shaft too.

Note there has been an issue with the lower MAP on the intake tube hitting the AC. It is only under hard acceleration. The engine torques back and make contact. It will keep the power and reset with no code. It could be this if it happens under WOT. Normal driving it normally is not an issue. THey only need to shim the IC forward with washers to gain 1/4 of clearance. This is not something that comes up often but it can happen.

 

Thanks for the helpful response. Where are the upgraded parts located? Can I check to see if they were in fact soldered? Thanks again.