There are a lot of good service writers at almost any dealer and a lot of good mechanics. Same thing with GM customer service.

They're are also some awful ones and if you catch the short straw then you in for it.

I hit all three on the short end on my install but finally got it worked out.

My suggestion is "write it down . . . write it all down, including names, dates, times, etc."

Be exact. be fair, take out conjecture and stick to the facts and then go to someone in charge. Finally I went to the service manager and owner of the dealership and got a solution.

These are great little cars and like Hyper says, we're lucky GM even came out with an upgrade, we're unlucky that they made it so hard to install, but it's a shame because one really awful experience turns you off on the whole brand.

I own 4 chevys so I obviously like them, but it had me pulling my hair out to the point I swore I'd never buy another, though now that it's fixed I feel different.

Also the manufacturers can do some pretty bonehead stuff to save a few bucks and then they lay it on the dealer to make it right.

The dealers don't help themselves by scrimping either so in the end, everyone loses.

I had a brand new Mitsu Evo that the third gear went out in 1 week. The dealer spent more time trying to download data and find fault with me, rather than just fix it and I wrote it all down, went to their headquarters in Torrance to a VP and they flew in a tech from Japan to rebuild the trans.

That dealer is no longer in business, but barely is mitsubishi cars, so . . .

write it down.

IMO

 

There really is nothing wrong with the Turbo Upgrade if it is installed by a good dealer service department.

Too often the service tech either is not good at putting the crimps in or used the wrong non GM approved tool. Yes there is a special crimper to do this and undo these crimps.

The only thing GM did was they should have done a plug in connector but at the time they were so out of money it was not funny. They did not take the bail outs because they were offered. Thing were really bad and have been for a long time. If they had not used the Bosch Map that was already out and the cheaper connector the kit more than not would have never made it to the market.

As you can see that there have been some with issues and we have passed on how to fix them or what to watch out for or do. The key it to find a well trained and staffed dealer to get it installed. Also if you are working already with a poor dealer stop hitting you head against the wall and find a better dealer. They are out there.

Most of these kits are installed with no issues as you only hear the complaints. If you don't want one that is fine but to those of us that have them and have no issues we are loving it everyday. Many who even did have issues had any regret go away once the issues were worked out.

It is all in what you want. No one ever said life was easy and often the spoils go to those who persevere.

A lot of people today would have never made in in the past with performance parts. Today often you just bolt it on our of a box. In the past you had to play with it and make things work. At times I almost think that in some ways performance comes too easy for some as they really don't understand what they are doing or how to deal with it. In other words there are people doing things they should not even try to do if they do not have the skills or the patients to deal with it.

I know there have been some frustrated people here and I have told them to keep at it and get it fixed properly. Russ I know was as frustrated as anyone here. Now look at how happy he is with the upgrade. Working throught this if there is an issue is well worth the end results.

I can see where the first people to have issues were some of the must upset but now we pretty well know what to do. If issues happen now it is not a difficult fix.

When I had the Map hitting the IC. I was frustrated but I got my butt under the car figured it out [note I am not an engineer or ASE mechanic]. I confirmed my finding with GMPD and the dealer fixed it in just a few hours. Since then highway euphoria.

Often cars are like life no pain no gain.

 

Two years and just over 20k miles since the GM Turbo Upgrade installation on my HHR SS and no problems whatsoever. Been having a blast driving since the day of the install and have no regrets at all. In fact, it's rewarding...

Not going to go into the long story of my incessent qualification of an eligible dealer that would meet my particular standards, but doing so paid off. Bottom line is it's not the kit; it's the method of installation itself that results in success or failure...