The old GM was like this due to poor managment. You will see some major changes soon with the new managment. Things are moving in directions Old GM would never have gone.

First off your turbo is not a cheap unit. A bushing would not last 3 months in a turbo.

Second the unit is a much improved unit from ones in the past. Today they are water cooled and use oils that will not carbon up.

Third any part will fail and a percentage of all will. For as many Solstice, Skys, Cobalt SS and HHR SS there are running around there are few turbo failures. I have seen more radio failures vs turbo's.

I am sorry you got one of the few bad ones but in life we all draw the short lot at some point and this one was just your turn.

GM and most other MFG's learned their lessons on turbo's in the 80's, They offered cheaper non water cooled units that carboned up and puked berings in 30K miles. Try to find a T type Buick pre 1984 or Monte Carlo Turbo with a original unit with more than 30K miles. THe GN models came out with the new Water colled units and bearings were no longer an issue.

Other makes also had turbo problems back then but today most of all the issues have been addressed.

Electronics also have played a great part of the improvments too.

A turbo engine is not a simple or easy engine to build. That is why we see things in our engine you seldom see on a normal engine like oil squirters for the piston cooling and sodium valves. GM did not take short cuts here. The engineers did their job. THe marketing and tech areas are what got left out on the SS program.

 

Before my SS I had a 2500HD GMC with a Duramax and after 135,000 miles I had to off it when diesel hit $5.00 a gallon. That motor was flawless and TONS of grunt and the turbo was awesome. My SS was one of first 1,000 built so all the parts going into it were new for the vehicle and assembly people as well. Yeah, luck or unluck of the draw it is what it is. When it's running right it is tons of fun!

 

What's the build date of your SS?

 

I know what you mean. When I first looked into getting the stage kit to see if it was available in Canada, the dealership tried selling me the Supercharger stage kit's'. I was kind of tipped off when he kept telling me there's 2 stage kits. And I kept telling him no there's only one stage kit for the Turbo, but there's 2 stage kits for the supercharger. Need less to say before i become a broken record I didn't get my stage kit from that dealership.

 

Guys the HHR SS is a mystery to most people and many dealers as they have never seen one let alone sold one.

With ony around 4500 sold in 08 few dealers ever got one and most dealer service department never worked on one.

Now you know why GM is cutting dealers and working to make a stronger dealer network. The smaller and non active dealers in service have been getting letters and this is part of it. GM was limited on what they could do to poor dealers and now with the Chapter 11 they can take charge of some of the problem dealers.

This should be less of an issue from here forward.

 

... The saga continues. The dealer reported yesterday that the intake tubes were the root cause. I told them the turbo spun a bearing, they said the tubes were the root casue. Today I got the call after the tubes were all replaced that the turbine came apart and the turbo was smoked... "no kidding". The dealer ordered the unit and were told by GM that there are only 2 turbo's in the US and they are slated for cars so I have to wait. GM couldnt even give them a expect date!!!!
Now I am wondering which side came apart and where did the blades go?? The service rep didnt know. I already have 900 miles on my loaner!

 

I would be interest in how the tube caused this?

Did a piece of the tube break and get into the impeller?

 

So would I. I dont believe the tube had anything to do with it, the guy could have cracked it taking it out for all I know. This is where GM service gets shakey, because the guy talking to me isnt a wrench so it's all second hand information. I'll get to the bottom of the turbo failure and report back.

I have read about a couple failures on here and I can't believe there arent any in stock anywhere! It would be nice to have them $$$$ for a Garrett!!!

 

I hope 1 of those 2 will be the one that I was told today will arrive next friday at the dealer to be installed in my SS. My var has already been there 2 weeks and looks like it may be another 2 at this rate. This loaner malibu is uncomfortable, I need my armrest back, starting to get pressure sores from leaning on the console.

 

If it is a new Malibu slide the arm rest forward. It is on a slider.

I just leaned on one all week end with no sore arm.