Good idea but in the GM world it is not that easy.

Software can be made faily easy and cheap. But this is not a quick fix as it would also have to be tested like the hardware would be. If there is something or bug that would fail it could make a bad situation even worse.

Also for legal reasons car companies walk a fine line between disclosure and cover up. They try to inform the public to a point or in dire danger but they also clam up as much of what they say or publicly do can be used against them in court.

Right now they are going to work on a hardware fix behind closed doors and if you complain they will fix the problem with a TSB. I do not expect any recall etc.

Also the fix will be added to the 09 line as a running change.

Right now we need to see who go to the dealer fist and recieves the fix and then passes the info to us. Once we have a TSB number and part numbers the dealers will jump on this and fix them. But as I stated before we may know more about it than most dealers.

Stay tuned.

 

Perhaps "Quick Fix" isn't the best way to phrase it but a temporary software fix should be able to created and tested in a much shorter time frame than a final hardware upgrade. They may be able to do that while still waiting on the vendor for the new pumps. I work in IT and also have done a lot of work in embedded design and real-time control. Anything changes and upgrades need to be tested throughly. I am all for a rigorous test plan and would not skimp on that.

At the moment it sounds like we're waiting for some hardware to be made and then they may still have to update the software for that. A temporary software fix may help those experiencing the problem now and tide them over until the new hardware upgrade is ready.

Luckily I have yet to run into this problem myself with my HHR SS 08 automatic but I am concerned with it and want to make sure it is going to be safe.

 

Nice idea but it is unlilkley they would do a temporary fix. GM seldom works this way.

 

You know I did have to hold my tongue on your first post. I wanted to say that you were the biggest ass*ole I'd ever seen posting on the internet, but I took the high road. Now I just consider you a gigantic airbag as you have nothing to offer, you are just around to flame people. Just for your benefit Mr Frickin KnowItAll, I have had it in and had the brakes checked out. They re-programmed the BCM. At this point it is a mere inconvenience. I have to wait in my driveway every morning for 30 sec and make sure that the vac gets to 12 inches before taking off. I haven't wasted anyone in my driveway yet. The root problem is with VACUUM, not brakes. Once vacuum has had a chance to build up, the braking is no longer affected. Now for the biggest line of crap you have spewed, "It seems to me like he is hoping something bad happens". Where in the he** did you get that?!?!?! All I stated was that I was picking my battles. I suspect that you put that line in there to try and support your improper first post. "I'm right because insert made-up line of crap here..."

 

They tried the software fix and that did not work.

 

They may have tried a software fix but did they try this specific software change? I've written more than my share of code for other embedded systems and sometimes it may take a few revisions to get it perfect.

Only GM knows for sure what was included in their last trial. I just suggested a possible option that might be worth trying if it hadn't been suggested yet or part of their previous firmware.

I haven't had this issue yet with my HHR. I really like my SS and want to see a proper fix so we can all relax and enjoy them without having to worry about the brakes.

 

1) start car
2) put on seatbelt
3) release parking brake
4) adjust radio and/or AC to your preferences
5) check mirrors in L-R-L fashion
6) drive away...

You won't see the issue. Then, when GM engineers the proper fix, get the update. There's no compelling reason for them to rush a stopgap fix to market. The "stopgap" here is to wait a few second for vacuum to collect in the booster. If they did an interim fix, they'd have (at least) 4 permutations to support in the field-- unfixed, fixed A, fixed A+B, and fixed B. That ASSumes the don't have to spin the stopgap fix. If they do, then you have 7-- unfixed, fixed A, fixed A+B, fixed B, fixed A+C, fixed C, fixed A+B+C.

I too have involvement with code and embedded systems. I am not a programmer, but I play one on TV.

 

My dealer said he had heard about the brake problem and proceeded to replace pads, turn the rotors and work on the vacuum line. I'm not sure how that part of it works seeing I'm more of a computer geek than a car guy.

 

Those are the things that the not-yet-released TSB will advise the service department NOT to do. But you got some free parts out of the deal

 

Or they will make matters worse. Pads for a vacuum problem? They must be having a slow month in warranty repairs at that dealership.