The dealer didnt say they wouldnt update the program. Only that they wouldnt give me a new MAF sensor. I think they have to do the upgrade. My complaint with them is that they never informed me that there was a TCB about my problem and they had a remedy for it. Instead, they kept telling me they never heard of anybody having this code issue. But then again, they claimed to be unaware of the battery TSB.

 

I guess I've been talking about it too much lately; got the engine light, no TC light and the hard shifting again today. TWICE!! Both times during hard acceleration, no tire spin though. After the 1st time, it reset after being turned off for about 15 minutes, then they came back on when getting back on the highway.

Well, I guess it's time to take it back to the dealer and see what they say about it having a GMPP intake. I really hoped we were through with this. I am so happy my HHR is a 1LT w/o TC!

 

So there goes the theory about it being oil from the filter. I guess this backs up what Joe has been telling us all along-that it is from a change in the airflow from any different intake. Some of our cars are near the upper range limit, and any slight change throws it over the threshold and we get the code problem.

I am trying to find another computer to buy, rent, or borrow for a few weeks. This way I can put it on my car temporarily and send my computer to Matt to unlock, then hook it on my car for the dealer to upgrade, then send it back to Matt for the performance tune again. I am just trying to avoid driving there twice and spending all that time, gas, and tolls.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong...............won't you have to have the new computer set up for your VIN? Sounds like it could cost almost as much as the tune did by the time your done.

 

Thank you , Mike... I was wondering that also.

Another question for Joe, Matt or whoever.

Lee, why not BUY another ECM and switch between the 2. But, I believe, this resolution has a couple of problems also. Something to do with the crank?

 

That is exactly what I want to do, but I am looking for a used one since I only need it for a few weeks then can resell it. Or I would rent or even borrow one. I only need it long enough to get mine unlocked, updated at Chevy, then reprogrammed with the performance tune. Should only be a couple of weeks that I would be using it, then I would switch back to my old one and have no use for the other ECM anymore. I cant disable my car for a few weeks or else I would.

 

Gotcha Lee....

But have you checked into what GDZHHR mentioned?? I think I also heard the ECM is "married" to the respective car by VIN. Meaning my ECM will not work in your car...even on a temporary basis. Or at the least, MAY require rewriting several times to work in both cars.

Lee why not call Matt and ask him about your idea. I think he told me, when I considered 2 ecm's....one stock and one performance, that the new ecm would need to be indexed (?) to the crank and I would be responsible for that.

 

That's what I was told when I first considered the tune. I didn't want my car to be down for a week+. I couldn't justify buying a new ecm, paying a dealer to code it for my car, just to have it as a spare.

I just got off the phone with the service manager at Weber Chevy. Told him about the past issues which were already on file, and that we now have a GMPP intake (which he added to the car's notes). He agreed that the first step is to get all of the most recent updates. So we're dropping it off Monday. I'll keep ya posted on how it goes.

 

Cost would be new/used ECM and then programming to set it up to your VIN, $50-$100 depending on what your dealer wanted for the service. Others have done that on here because they got the part number and costs from me through PM. Actually not a bad investment if you lose an engine. Of course the ECM you buy would be the one to tune because with the last 8 of a VIN I can get the factory original ECM serial number.

 

I just realized that I can hold off doing my ECM until I get my Jeep running then I will just lay up my car and use the Jeep. Of course, that will probably not be for a month or so, being that I need to get a whole bunch of parts from Summit, intall everything I can on my end, then bring it to my friends shop and have the 450 HP SBC installed, along with the 8 point cage, fuel cell, turbo 400 tranny, Ford 9 inch rear end, etc. But that should be a cool car to use while the HHR is out of commission. I will certainly be able to get my kids to school fast.