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Where to get a crank pulley key?

Old Oct 3, 2022 | 11:23 AM
  #21  
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If the balancer backed out far enough to let oil out, it may have chewed up or bent the oil pump drive "ears" that mate with the flats on the balancer.

A quick look at them should tell you if they survived or not.

Steve
Old Oct 3, 2022 | 11:38 AM
  #22  
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Not torque to yield. Inspecting and cleaning the threads should be enough. GM says to discard most bolts, because they sell them.
Old Oct 3, 2022 | 11:48 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by fastsuv
If the balancer backed out far enough to let oil out, it may have chewed up or bent the oil pump drive "ears" that mate with the flats on the balancer.

A quick look at them should tell you if they survived or not.

Steve
Does the timing cover need to be removed in order to inspect?
Old Oct 3, 2022 | 03:41 PM
  #24  
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No you can see the oil pump flats in the front cover , see the photo I posted in #20
Old Nov 4, 2022 | 03:25 PM
  #25  
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Well, guys, the little HHR is back, surgery complete. The engine is fine, no damage from our stupid mistake.. Had a slight problem when we put in the new key and crank bolt, we (my son and I) got the timing chain off a tiny bit. It ran, but the poor computer and cam phasers tried to keep it together, and sent out more codes than the CIA. So I sent the HHR on a flatbed trailer to a friends place that had a garage, and my son redid the timing chain and balance chain from scratch once again. As every part was new, they were no problem. I did have him replace the timing cover gasket and seal again, and we used the 2nd crank pulley bolt that finally arrived via USPS. She's running fine, and now I will have the lower control arms replaced and get her aligned. I would do it myself as I have watched a ton of videos on it, but no matter how hard I try I cannot get the back bolts out. So the Chevy dealer will do it for 270 bucks and I'll have a good winter (I hope). I'll just be 270 bucks poorer
Old Nov 4, 2022 | 03:35 PM
  #26  
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Steve, we checked that first thing. The ears are good but the seal was chewed up a little. It got replaced.
Old Nov 4, 2022 | 03:43 PM
  #27  
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One last thought; When I talked to the Chevy service department to ask about having them install my lower control arms, they were having a hard time not laughing. I'm not sure if it was about me needing them to do it and them insisting it needed an alignment afterward or if it was because I bought an HHR. I get a lot of looks when I drive her, but when I talk to people they ask what the heck I was thinking when I bought it. What's with the HHR hatred? I love this little car. It's comfortable to sit in, fun to drive, and makes me happy. I also get an average of 24 mpg in town and close to 30 on the freeway. I'm baffled by people who think this car is a joke.
Old Nov 4, 2022 | 04:39 PM
  #28  
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They were laughing about their trip to the bank with your money. Why would you even consider having the work done at a dealership?
At 12 years old it would be a good idea for an alignment after ALL of the front end components are replaced. Keeping in mind only the toe can be adjusted and if it was ever aligned in the past it was with worn parts. The alignment gets worse every time it is corrected with wearing parts.
Old Nov 4, 2022 | 05:20 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by AngieK
I have owned GM vehicles my whole life. I have been to a dealer 2 times in all that time (I'm in my mid 60s). Dealers, at least in my experience are over priced, do all they can to belittle women who come in knowing exactly what part they need, and when the woman insists on the part because she knows it's correct, they are generally rude while they look it up, ask stupid questions to see if she knows why she needs it. Most times I know more about the mechanics of a vehicle than the parts guy does anyway, having done my own repairs since I was 15. I usually search Ebay, or Amazon. or Rock Auto or even Oreilly and Advance Auto. If I didn't have an urgent need for the part, as I explained in my first post, I'd have just ordered one from GM parts online (if it's even listed). I am relying on my son to do the work because I no longer can due to health issues. He has limited time due to his work schedule. So yeah, the dealers can go jump in the lake, I'll cut a key from flat stock before I go to one of those guys.

I think I'll buy the GM service manual for my 2010 HHR and see if it lists all the part numbers. That way I won't irritate you so bad when I try to get a quick answer without going to a dealership
You need to know how to fight back if that's the way they treat you. Grab them by the throat and tell them you are the customer and to find what you need.
Old Nov 4, 2022 | 05:35 PM
  #30  
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Replace the LCA’s yourself or with help , I have checked my alignment after changing them and nothing changed, only time it changes is if you get an alignment with bad bushings.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...ol-arms-44378/

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