Ummmm.....If the rear hatch is open then do you really need the manual release?? Until someone takes the panel off the rear hatch and takes pics to show the release mechanism I will always be a nonbeliever.

 

You need to do more reading... I quess GM might have installed a switch that could have reset the miles before oil change when the oil filter is removed... but that doesn't say that you actually cahanged the oil at the same time.

MBOC... read the owner manual and other posts... this site and others. MBOC is not based SOLEY on miles... there is a cute little computer chip that has programmed to keep track of many of your driving habits... the more you mistreat your little engine the sooner the oil needs to be changed. Maybe someone out there knows all of the perameters that the computer keeps track of. The system must be fairly reliiable... GM upped graded power train warrenty to 100k.

Think green... just imagine how much oil could be conserved if someday every car produced could go 25, 50 or even 100k miles between oil changes vice 3000 miles or three mounths.

100k miles... 5qts/filter plus servicing 25 to 50 dollars
100k miles between oil changes eliminates approx 32 oil changes at savings of approx 160 qts of oil/32 filters a saving of approx $400 in oil/filters alone let alone the labor on 32 service fees (approx $800 - $1600) if you go to your dealer or one of the many oil an lube places. Some owners may never change the oil before they trade or sell their car.

The only thing that I might be concerned about is... under the old rules you normally had all of your fluids and other consumeable checked which included airfilters... tire pressures... coolant... washer fluid... brake fluid... transmission fluid level and might even check your lights for proper operation etc most places vacummed the carpet while you drink your free coffe.

In other words every three months you were getting a MINI SAFETY CHECK... I wonder if soccer moms/dads are going to remeber to keep track of all of these things?

Oh by the way... GM is not the only one computing MBOC (ACTULLY PERCENT OF OIL LIFE REMAINING).

Remember the days before selfserve... every time you bought gas... this kid ran out and asked if you wanted to have you fuilds and tire pressures check... we sure have come a long way haven't we.

 

I read just fine. I still won't trust that indicator in lieu of my gut. So maybe I should rephrase...the oil life indicator is virtually useless TO ME.

 

One other thought... for those of you that are worried about metal particals in the oil... aircraft have what is called a chips light... a magnetic plug that when shorted by metal particals lights a light that warns the pilot that there may be a problem... feather or not to feather... how many of todays drivers are going to pull off the road and call for a tow...

If you are really really concerned about metal shavings... change your filter... install a magnetic drain plug... magnitize your dip stick or attach a harddrive magnet to you oil pan.
check it every month or 1000 miles... that is if you are really worried.

 

get rid of your hhr and get 55 FORD... you'd be replacing the oil every 3000 miles without ever doing an oil change... appearently money and the environment are of no concern to you either... my mother liked the good old days too... but I could never convince her to trade in her Ford for the horse and carrage she remebered as a young girl... you will most likely will be dismayed that your HHR steering is "fly by wire" no mechincal linkage... another one of those new fangled ideas. try pulling the EPS 60 amp fuse and driving down the road... it's called "arm strong steering"... i can only guess that you have disconnected the power breaks and all the techno stuff that has come out in the past 50 years

 

Geez, come on guy....think a little bit!!!

I had the hatch open to check the mechanism function....instead of laying on the floor and "wiggling around (I'm to old to do that, unless it IS necessary).
Oh, and just showed my neighbor the same on his HHR. So, it's there.

But, you can be stubborn and be a nonbeliever. And, when the time comes that your hatch won't open, you'll wish you tried it (and I'm smiling, because I know I'm right and you will regret it).

 

Really - I never understood that arguement. What is the filter doing if there is metal particles still in the oil?

 

I don't think a magnet will do much with aluminum chips.

 

That time has come and gone!! See following thread.........

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/general-hhr-4/rear-lift-gate-365/

 

O'k jx3...I'm confused, please enlighten me to what you mean.

I went to the suggested thread and found nothing in regard to the question here. I did find your post duplicating your first message to me. And, again it was explained why someone checked it the way they did.

So, please be precise in what your rebuttal is !!

And, Just additional info for others..... I just returned from my dealer, buying parts. Talked with a service writer who had no problem opening the rear gate with a screw driver.

After going over that entire thread again, I see what you are saying. I think a post at the end addressed the manual "emergency" release. And , he found the same results as I did. So, for CH, nfboy, and others who wondered about the manual release it is restated.....and if this troublesome, the MODERATOR can remove or relocate it.