Any input on the best dealer to install the upgrade kit here in SoCal? Just got it and want to eliminate the problem issues noted here on the forum about the install issues if I can. Experience and quality work is what I'm looking for.

 

Your kidding me right? No one here in SoCal has had the stage 1 kit installed yet?

 

I've been to 4 in Los Angeles. 2 won't attempt it, 1 did it wrong, and again wrong and again and the 4th would attempt it but wasn't wild about the thought.

Vegas has a good chev repair that I would trust, Dallas has Reliable Chev. in Richardson that does it right, but if you don't want to travel that far, buy a net book, call Vince at Trifecta and get the same results with much less problems.

I have the stock Trifecta on top of the Stage 1 and it will light up the right front at 50 mph for 1/4 to 1/2 a block.

It just pulls and pulls.

IMO

 

This made me

 

Can't drive 5 to 22 hours to get this damn thing installed.. and a Trifecta is out of the question.. Not messin with the warranty.

 

Cant help you on what dealership but just be sure to take along the two important things that will help them out:

Print these out and give to the tech:

1) http://www.sandyblogs.com/cgi-bin/mt...gs=10&limit=20

2) https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...5&postcount=33

I used a dealership that had never done one but they managed quite well and did it in just over 3 hrs.

 

Thank you. That is GREAT info to provide an unfamiliar dealer.

 

No problem

 

Do what you want, but in southern california you can carry in twenty pounds of instructions but in my experience they won't follow them.

In fact when it goes south they'll tell you it's the acuator and that's been on backorder for a decade so even if it's under warranty if they say it's a part they can't get then . . .

In my case I did a lot of research and realized they broke the hose nipple on the actuator and went to the dealership owner and they semi fixed it.

First they glued it, (that lasted a week) then they replaced the hose.

They also moved the IC forward with ties, those broke in two weeks, so . . .

The rest like moving the IC forward, soldering, wrapping the upper t=map wires, adding turbo tech motor mounts, I had done by an outside shop that did it well.

I did the gm stage 1 because of warranty, but GM service in LA is so bad I don't think the warranty is worth much anyway.

The good thing about Trifecta is if you pop a motor, just download the original software and your good to go.

I wouldn't do the Stage 1 again if it was free and they promised to paint my house, at least not in LA.

IMO

 

Had mine done in Scottsdale AZ because I was there anyway, had the parts in the back of the HHR, and the dealer was a GMPP "certified" place. BIG mistake. Had all the symptoms written about here and elsewhere - intermittant loss of boost, CEL, yaddah, yaddah. Took it to my regular Martin Chevrolet service writer and he and the tech worked it all out. Soldered, wrapped and strapped everything the way it should be and there's been no problems since (well, there was that transmission that had to be replaced and the whistling mirror syndrome but that's not their fault). PM me if you want the name of number for my guy.