ralphb

My HHR SS (AT) is almost 7 months old, with 4,100 miles. It does everything as it should, except for an irritating sound. It has made this sound since the first time that I drove it off the dealer premises.

When it first starts cold, it makes a scratchy, grating sound at low RPM. After less than a minute, the sound goes away, but I hear it regularly again under certain conditions. It starts between 10" and 0" of vacuum, and between 1,500 and 2,000 RPM, under light acceleration. If I back off on the accelerator, even slightly, the sound stops immediately, but it starts again as soon as I resume accelerating.

I drove another HHR SS and a Sky Redline (both AT) and I heard the same sound at cold statup, but it went away after less than a minute, and did not return.

I took it to my trusty Chevy dealer, and the Service Manager and the lead tech spent over an hour roadtesting and listening. They concluded that it was the turbo, and the SM offered to install a new turbo. I declined the offer for now, because I don't want to go on a hunting expedition until there is more certainty as to the cause and fix. I have also been hoping that in time, GM would come up with something.

I have been watching this website, as well as the Sky RL and Solstice GXP sites, hoping that something would turn up, but I have not seen anything along these lines.

Anyone have any thoughts ?

outlandishhhr

I think i may have had the same problem. The other day driving in to work, i was unable to dodge a tumbleweed and I think it may have gotten caught up against the intercooler, it was making the same sound yours seems to, i would personally check the intercooler and see if something may be caught up against it.

Xsta Z 28

Here's my SWAG: Loose heat shield?