Went down to Lexington and met up with Mongosride (Larry) and bought his original steelies. Thanks for the deal Larry, good to meet you!

 

Actually got to detail my own car yesterday. I hadn't really had a chance to give it a good detail since I had purchased it. Been very busy.

So, yesterday I had the day off and decided to treat my HHR to some loving. I also stripped the wax I had applied the day I got it off and put on wolfgang sealant. Which really looks nice on the silver. I actually have a semi-permanent ceramic coating I plan on applying to it when I can find some time to polish out a few spots that came swirled from the dealer.

Grabbed a couple quick pics with my Iphone.

 

Marveled once again at the usefulness of the remote start option. Nothing like walking across the blast furnace that is a Steak & Shake parking lot on a 98 degree day, and knowing your HHR will be like an ice box inside...because you started it while paying the bill.

Still not sure why we had such bad milkshake cravings going on today, but Paddy proved once again that you could keep a side of beef frozen with the A/C in an HHR.

 

Mine's been kinda warm lately..

 

LONG POST WARNING!

Okay..... This morning I had the Euromax and Goodyears balanced and put back on, brakes checked and adjusted (back brakes were not even touching...... Fronts are still better than 75% at 31k miles.) Free alignment check found the toe was out a smidge so I had an alignment done. Their 29 point inspection found nothing else...... Most of the time the mechanics were just ogling the car "did you paint this swaybar?" "What kind of springs are those?" "Never seen an air filter like that? GMPP? Wow" Etc.

I got home, after a little bit took the 17's out of the back and decided to go for a little spin. Checked out the "surplus store" and after I left there I hopped on Rt 30 to go up one exit so I could get some coffee filters at the grocery.... About half way between the two exits, while going 70 mph I heard something bang and clatter from the front tire, along the undercarriage and hit the back tire. I said "WHAT THE HE!! WAS THAT!!!" After several revolutions I heard it exit the tire back tire and hit the wheel well (put a damn hole in the wheel well) I probably said something else at that point .......Tire was still holding air but leaking badly, I made it off the highway and to the nearest place to see what the @%#$ just happened. (I never saw anything, whatever I hit was invisible)

In the process of putting the "stupid spare" on I waisted my back again. With the mini tire on I made it home and called Goodyear. (I've got hazard protection) Pete said, "bring it on in we are here until 7:00, I just checked and we have that size in stock." After walking the dogs with a wasted back I limped on over to Goodyear, about 15-20 miles, on an under-inflated "stupid spare".

We got the car up in the air and fully inspected the front tire and undercarriage, everybody was pointing at the hole in the plastic wheelwell.... I was like.... "yeah..... I know" No other damage but that and the rear tire. Punctured all the way through, it was in the tread and maybe could have been patched but they put a brand new tire on there because the size of hole would have eventually caused the steel belts to separate. Problem is the road hazard warranty goes by months..... The tire was on the car less than 2 months but the warranty goes from when I bought it, regardless. So they had to prorate it and the new skin cost me $45 (Pete waved mount and balance fees )

So, on the way home, about 8 miles out, I heard something kick up from the rear tire and hit the undercarriage..... @&%#$. I swear this stuff is invisable and how did I not hit it with the front? Anyways, no "insta-flat" so I kept going. Checked everything when I got home and all seems well..... tire looks okay and still 32psi. I can't crawl under the car to look because of the wasted back.

IF I can get out of bed in the morning and make my 11:00 appointment I'll see if it's still holding air...... The hole in the wheelwell will have to wait until I can deal with it...... What do you patch that with anyways? It's not big, but I want something that will stick, is black, and doesn't look bad......




Can I go to bed now?

 

 

Wow!! that is one crappy day! I hope tomorrow is better for you brother. Todd (Uma)

 

"The hole in the wheelwell will have to wait until I can deal with it...... What do you patch that with anyways? It's not big, but I want something that will stick, is black, and doesn't look bad......"

Man you had a rough day there Greybeard to say the very least. You can repair the inner liners but its a pain in the butt to be honest. I believe that the parts on the HHR are made from polypropylene which can be repaired with a plastic welding/repair kit from a good parts house or auto body supply house.

To be honest its a pain to work with for the end results you'll see, I'd go with a used part from a salvage yard or ebay first. Stay away from el-cheapo pattern parts though. I think it was Doctuh who had an offshore pattern inner liner installed after hitting a hay bale, nothing but problems.

Take care of that back man, I know how it feels to have a wasted back, trust me.

 

Well.... I just looked and the tires are all still holding air, (visually, I didn't put the gauge to it) Maybe that wheel threw a weight?...... although I was at about 55 (+ a hair) and didn't feel any vibration..... The guy did an extra careful job on that too because of all the trouble.

I'll find out at 10:30 as I have to take Rt. 30, again, to get to my 11:00.......

But hey! (What, exactly, is butt hay?) I can almost walk this morning



Thanks guys!

 

Greybeard hope your back gets better quickly