How is it amateur legal opinion for me to state that If it were me I would tell the truth?

One of us needs to calm down for sure... don't think it's me.

 

And this is the icing on the cake - gone!!!!!!!

 

I just finished watching a CSpan program on the GM Ignition Switch Recall - a meeting held outdoors on Capitol Hill. (Today is Sunday 4/06 - I assume the presentation was live but I am not certain - the weather was sunny).

One of the "official" speakers (not from the group of victim's families) was holding in his hands an entire ignition switch and key cylinder assembly (along with all of the supporting structures that hold the assembly together). He lifted it up above the podium so that the spectators could see it, and he said, while working the key back and forth from the Accessory and Run positions - "it is amazing how little effort it takes to move the key from Run to Accessory."

Now - the key cylinder is what moves the ignition switch to any of it's positions. Only one single presenter claimed that the ignition key in a fatality case was found to be in the Accessory position after the collision. However, several presenters emphasized the point that the engine shut off mainly after hitting bumps or potholes at highway speeds. This means that a sudden force transmitted up through the steering column is sometimes enough to not only break the electrical contacts inside the ignition switch, but also to compel the ignition switch to move the key cylinder to the Accessory position. Hmmmmm......

After the show, I went out to my 2007 HHR LS and started the engine. I shut the engine off by turning the key from Run to Accessory, but I immediately returned the key to the Run position and, before the engine RPM's had dropped to zero, the engine resumed operation. I did not have to re-start it.

I know - this does not prove anything. It is possible for the concussion brought on by hitting a pothole or bump at highway speeds to simply move the ignition switch away from the Run position far enough to break electrical contact but not move the key cylinder to the Accessory position. This is, seemingly, what happens and what makes the ignition switch inherently defective.

I also pounded on the steering column and attached extra weights to my key chain and could not get the key to move or the engine to shut down.

All of the fatalities discussed at the gathering were Cobalts. Also, one of the cases discussed involved the driver inadvertently contacting the ignition key with a knee. I challenge any one reading this to go out to their HHR and try to make contact with the ignition key with your knee. 'Tain't happenin', McGee.

GM CEO Mary Barra (in a segment presented after the outdoor meeting) said that any drivers of the vehicles involved in the ignition switch recall who feel unsafe driving their cars will be given a loaner or rental unit until the switches are replaced. Wait 'til that gets out! When asked how she cold not have known about this issue after having been a high-level executive at GM for the past ten years, she did her best to keep from melting on the spot.

Like I said - just my take on the issue. I feel very safe in my HHR and I will keep driving it until the local dealer has the replacement switches in stock.

 

Just a heads up to others. I just got my recall campaign for the ignition switch on my 09 SS so it looks like the sites are updating for the later models

Campaign #:2014092
IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT
Please visit your Dealer for service.

 

Oh, I see in a post above that the King has been banned. I thought it seemed a little quieter here lately.......

 

I watched a show on cspan showing a reporter trying to get a sostice to shut off and guess what he couldent do it even with alot of weight on key ring but did get it to shut off with a laynyard catching on his knee. SO guess what all your guessing as to whos at fault for this is NOT fair to GM. YOU DO NOT KNOW the whole story. I see it every day at my work in the service drive. You who jump on the news band wagon do not know BOTH sides of the story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!! Sorry my opinion!!!!! Oh yea my SS is recalled and im still driving it and have no plans to sell it eather.

 

You know....I feel a need to say this again.......

There is 70,000 + owners of HHR's on this forum and I DO NOT remember one complaint of the ignition being "bumped off" by a sudden pot hole or heavy keys.

Yeah we have had stuck keys with the motor running and in the "Off" position could not be turned off and removed, but that is about it.

And yeah, there have been documented reports of the problem with injuries and deaths, but I'm beginning to believe this is more a political and media brainwash.

 

That is the reason the newer HHRs and Cobalts are getting the recall because they MIGHT have gotten one of the bad switches on the sticking switch recall. Thanks Snoopy

 

I'm not sure why he was banned. I didn't see anything inflammatory or out of line in his posts.

 

I guess you would have to talk to the families of the fatalities and those injured to really get a feel for the gravity of the situation. It isn't necessary that all, most or even a large portion of the recalled vehicles fail or can be "made to fail" by any of us. This maybe a low frequency failure, but it is a very high consequence failure.
Think of it more like a batch of parachutes having a very, very small number of identified failures. The army is going to discard that manufacturing lot before they take even a small risk of pushing any more soldiers out of the plane with one of those chutes on his back.