Useless functions: oil life indicator
Platinum Member
Joined: 05-09-2006
Posts: 6,805
From: "Upland" Mesa, Arizona
I think most of us know it is electric steering.....but how is it electric. the Owner's Manual (I know nfboy) is no help as far as an explanation.
Is it truely drive by wire (no steering knuckles, linkage, etc,), or electric assist steering pump (for hydraulics), or a combo of anything else???
Is it truely drive by wire (no steering knuckles, linkage, etc,), or electric assist steering pump (for hydraulics), or a combo of anything else???
Senior Member
Joined: 09-13-2006
Posts: 378
From: USA
Snoopy
the other thing I learned in Polson... DO NOT STORE YOUR TOOL POUCH AND JUMP PACK IN THE SPARE TIRE STORAGE. ESPECIALLY IF THE BACK END IS LOADED FOR WEEK LONG TRIP.
Does anyone have a source for a HHR maintence manual... GM or otherwise? wife is getting pretty good with a screwdriver... want her to take an auto mech coarse at one of the colleges... so far all her instruction takes place on her Malibu or part store display engines and components
the other thing I learned in Polson... DO NOT STORE YOUR TOOL POUCH AND JUMP PACK IN THE SPARE TIRE STORAGE. ESPECIALLY IF THE BACK END IS LOADED FOR WEEK LONG TRIP.
Does anyone have a source for a HHR maintence manual... GM or otherwise? wife is getting pretty good with a screwdriver... want her to take an auto mech coarse at one of the colleges... so far all her instruction takes place on her Malibu or part store display engines and components
Platinum Member
Joined: 05-09-2006
Posts: 6,805
From: "Upland" Mesa, Arizona
Yeah, Redflyr....
I have unloaded my share of trunks, through the years, to gain access to the spare, tools, whatever. Especially, on vacations, etc.
I now carry a aluminum camera case with my gear...I call it my "Road Box" and it is always in the car. Hmmm, might be an interesting topic...."If you were to design/create an emergency road box, what would you put in it?".
You know...I need to start posting some pictures. Tomorrow is another day..for the road box.
I have unloaded my share of trunks, through the years, to gain access to the spare, tools, whatever. Especially, on vacations, etc.
I now carry a aluminum camera case with my gear...I call it my "Road Box" and it is always in the car. Hmmm, might be an interesting topic...."If you were to design/create an emergency road box, what would you put in it?".
You know...I need to start posting some pictures. Tomorrow is another day..for the road box.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-02-2006
Posts: 164
From: Seattle
Service Manual
The offical 2006 HHR service manual is available from HELM Inc.
Here is a link: http://www.helminc.com/helm/result.a...F5KHNU3DR01BCE
This is the very same book (actually 2 volumes ) that Mr Goodwrench uses. You have to want one pretty bad, because they are proud of them. $135 + $7 shipping.
Here is a link: http://www.helminc.com/helm/result.a...F5KHNU3DR01BCE
This is the very same book (actually 2 volumes ) that Mr Goodwrench uses. You have to want one pretty bad, because they are proud of them. $135 + $7 shipping.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-02-2006
Posts: 164
From: Seattle
Electric Power Steering
Originally Posted by Snoopy
I think most of us know it is electric steering.....but how is it electric. the Owner's Manual (I know nfboy) is no help as far as an explanation.
Is it truely drive by wire (no steering knuckles, linkage, etc,), or electric assist steering pump (for hydraulics), or a combo of anything else???
Is it truely drive by wire (no steering knuckles, linkage, etc,), or electric assist steering pump (for hydraulics), or a combo of anything else???
There is a Torque Sensor that sends input to the Power Steering Control Module along with vehicle speed, system temperature and "steering calibration" to determine the amount steering assist.
The PSCM has the ability to detect malfunctions with in the EPS system and it will display PWR STR on the DIC.
Senior Member
Joined: 09-13-2006
Posts: 378
From: USA
not wire... not hydralic... what connects the steering wheel to the R&P. what is the Power Unit under the dash... are you saying that there is a physical link from the steering wheel to the electric assist? is the electric assist a servo motor attached to the R&P? without a repair manual I still am not sure how it gets from your hands to the ground. sorry your explanation is very good... I just am not getting all the connections right in my brain.
steering wheel to power unit under the dash
??? mechanical... electrical
then power assist motor? driving the R&P?
if there is no steering linkage to the power assist unit... and there is no hydralic pump... and it is not wire... then what is it? not trying to be disagreeable... really. but Electrical Power Steeing sounds like steering by wire... which piece am i missing? i mentioned before that my eyesight is not up to seeing the compents you are talking about... i have to do most under the hood stuff by feel and wife trying to tell me what she thinks she sees. took me three days to replace the fuel pump on my 55... my hands remembered what i should be doing. this is all new and cool stuff. so be patient with me. '-)
steering wheel to power unit under the dash
??? mechanical... electrical
then power assist motor? driving the R&P?
if there is no steering linkage to the power assist unit... and there is no hydralic pump... and it is not wire... then what is it? not trying to be disagreeable... really. but Electrical Power Steeing sounds like steering by wire... which piece am i missing? i mentioned before that my eyesight is not up to seeing the compents you are talking about... i have to do most under the hood stuff by feel and wife trying to tell me what she thinks she sees. took me three days to replace the fuel pump on my 55... my hands remembered what i should be doing. this is all new and cool stuff. so be patient with me. '-)
Last edited by REDFLYR; Sep 22, 2006 at 08:24 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: 09-13-2006
Posts: 378
From: USA
here is a link concerning fly by wire... most applies to aircraft but is applicable to cars as well. the most interesting thing is that it has been used for more than thirty years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly-by-wire#Fly-by-wire
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly-by-wire#Fly-by-wire
Banned
Joined: 10-14-2005
Posts: 9,121
From: Rochester,N.Y.
You guys are making my head hurt. We have electric power assisted variable speed rack and pinion steering. 
It's not as high tech as you are making it seem. 
Read this! It will point out the differences of steer by wire and electric power assisted steering. 
We have electric power assisted variable speed rack and pinion steering. It's not as high tech as you are making it seem. Read this! It will point out the differences of steer by wire and electric power assisted steering.
Member
Joined: 07-07-2006
Posts: 59
From: ashland ohio
Originally Posted by Snoopy
You bet!!!
But it's kind of like anything else...you need to do something. I'm being stupid here, but why not have the vehicle change its own oil, rotate tires, filters, etc.
On a more serious note, it would be the same with some of the other functions in the DIC. Two trip odometers...the original intent was to accurately measure miles for a portion of travel and then for total travel....maybe people use it, maybe they don't.
But, I still go along with your origianl premise.... maybe a better question is, "How many people pay ANY kind of attention to it?". Then form an opinion from that.
Oh, I do use it. But, I change the oil in the neighborhood of 30-50%.
The oil change issue, is a completely different topic and has been addressed elsewhere.
But it's kind of like anything else...you need to do something. I'm being stupid here, but why not have the vehicle change its own oil, rotate tires, filters, etc.
On a more serious note, it would be the same with some of the other functions in the DIC. Two trip odometers...the original intent was to accurately measure miles for a portion of travel and then for total travel....maybe people use it, maybe they don't.
But, I still go along with your origianl premise.... maybe a better question is, "How many people pay ANY kind of attention to it?". Then form an opinion from that.
Oh, I do use it. But, I change the oil in the neighborhood of 30-50%.
The oil change issue, is a completely different topic and has been addressed elsewhere.