I posted a request for information/assistance on anyone who might be having problems with soft reacting brakes on their 2008 HHR however, never saw any replies or the fact that my post got "posted" so I am trying again. My 2008 along with 2008 Solstices, Skys, and some Daewoods, have a service bulletin out to repair soft brakes and other issues. The last one posted to GM service people was in September 2008. Thye problem on myh car is still not fixed and I am wondering if I am the "only one out here" with the problem. GM refuses to take the car back on the safety issue and I am preparing to go to court over the matter. Can anyone with an SS help me with my problem> GI JOE

 

Links to a number of threads on the issue are below. I personally went into an intersection once shortly after startup one time when I was in a hurry, and forgot to wait for sufficient vacuum to build for the brakes to work. I have the newer programming, so the ABS kicked in to assist, but my stopping distance was double.

GM says brakes that don't function are "normal" for their vehicles. And people wonder why they are going bankrupt. NHTSA isn't doing a recall because GM says they are working so hard to fix it. GM has known about the problem for well over a year. Now that important things like the stage kit are out of the way, maybe they'll get around to giving us the functional brakes which should definitely be at least an available option on GM vehicles. It would be really swell if they ever get around to it. Maybe they can use some of my tax dollars to buy pizza for a couple of interns to work on it.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...?t=9989&page=4
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/hhr-ss-45/start-up-brake-issue-17343/
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/ss-specific-service-issues-repairs-61/2008-hhr-ss-brake-issue-buy-back-18413/
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/hhr-ss-45/automatic-ss-brake-problems-dealer-results-17740/
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/hhr-ss-45/08-ss-brakes-suck-18321/
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/hhr-ss-45/ss-brake-problems-17549/
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/hhr-ss-45/no-brakes-16982/

 

I don't have a SS but there is some talk about low vac. at start up after car sits overnight. GM is working on a fix, Some tech bulletins but I don't think that is fixing them. I think some of the SS owners are just letting it run for a min. to letthe vac. to bulid up before driving off. Maybe one of the SS owners will post what there are doing

 

If your speaking of the same issue it is not soft brakes but a low vaccume that creates a harder pedal or loss of vaccume assist after sitting over night.

GM has been working on a fix [Vaccume Pump?].

A few people get freaked out but to most is is just a little annoying once in a while. If you have the issue and let the SS run at least 15 seconds to 30 seconds it is not an issue.

If you go right away you just need to step on the pedal a little harder and the anti lock brakes come in and assist.

There is a computer update for some to bring in the anti locks sooner.

The NHTSA has looked into the Kappa cars and found no reason to do anything at this time. With out the goverment steping in there is little more that can be done.

There is also not much documentation there have been many crashes or injuries. I am sure there may have been a couple as one was mentioned here but other wise there are few document cases.

Right now it has been quite here on this topic and we are enjoying it. We really do not want to stir this up till GM anounces the fix for it as there is nothing more anyone can do. Pictching a fit on this web site is not very productive as your preaching to the Choir.

IF anyone wants to complain best to do so to your Dealer Service to document your complaint, Regional Zone rep and GM directly.

There have been a couple buy back but I suspect GM did this to get vehicles with the issue to test fixes on as that is what they normally do.

As for a complete buy back it is not going to happen and all a lawyer for the most will do is take your money.

Wish I could give you a fix but we are waiting too.

I have an SS that does this. I find it annoying but not life threatening. The low vaccume condition is no worse than my Chevelle SS was with no power brakes and 4 wheel drums. It stops but if your in a hurry you might have to use a little more leg for the first minute of driving if you can't sit for 15 sec.

 

Mine Too has this cold no breaks problem and I've been waiting. However after talking with the tech which just installed my turbo upgrade. He said that during the install - either when getting the tune or programming it. A question was presented if the car had the brake vacume pump installed. So something is on the way. I just hope that when the vacume pump addition come out it does not mess up my now working turbo upgrade.

 

you sound like a GM representative. All of your comments are exactley like there's. There is a problem though, you claim there really isn't a problem and GM won't purchase my car back and I am wasting my money; however, you also claim that GM has bought back a couple, "to see how to fix the problem." Then what makes you think they shouldn't purchase all SS's that have the problem and be done with it! Please keep you snooty comments to yourself and supply real solutions to the issue. "Those who can lead, those who can't follow" Myself
ts

 

I have a quick and easy solution to this problem! Start the car, let it sit for 15 seconds before you take off. Is that too simple? All cars have their quirks, I personally would not want a buy-back over this. But I do see how fussy some of the SS owners have gotten on this forum. It is a $25,000 Chevy, not a BMW, or Mercedes. Lots of bickering going on here, so I will add just one, the problem is with the "Vacuum" pump. If you guys are going to get so anal about this...someone spell it correctly. Todd (Uma)

 

sorry mr. redface, comment meant for hyerv6. Your comment about the brake vaccum pump is new. I've been to three chevy dealers, two pontiacs, and on saturn regarding their problems. The other two brands say that the factory re-calibrations of the computer have solved their problems. Chevy seems to be the only vehicle not to have a computer fix. When reviewing the tech repair bulletins for both the Sky, GXP, and SS, I noticed that the Pontiacs and Saturns have a two stage re=calibration; however, Chevy only has one. When talking with the GM Customer Service Rp he had no answer as to why and was suppose to get back with me. For HyperV6, I have a Lemon Law Aribitration hearing set for after the New Year to see about getting a new vehicle. PS: I don't have a lawyer the arbitration is done through the GM program. Maybe you should do more research before you make comments to people who do their homework.

 

Well Mr Homework..if you get another SS you'll get another same problem.Theres nothing actually wrong with the "BRAKES"..its the booster not holding vacuum over nite.When you start up if you observe the boost gage you'll see it rides about -3 psi for about 30 sec.Maybe you can tell me how it can produce vacuum at this rate? Once it settles down to the normal -15 to -20 range everything is normal.No where that I have read of anybody having any problems AFTER this stage.And if they did,its a whole different situation and not the one being discussed here. What Hyper says is true otherwise. The recal you speak of in this case just lowers the idle down sop the turbo isn't spinning right off the get go.As we all know,a spinning turbo creates press,not vacuum.Think about it!

 

Well Bud Sorry and Woody please hold the rude comments as from what he has posted he may not have seen what was posted here as many people have not read them. This topic has been quite for a while.

What I told you is what we have learned form GM.

Second, I hate to see someone go throught the hassle of a buy back the odds are agianst. Good luck to you if they do but GM is not going to buy back near 7,000 SS HHR's.

Third, From what we have heard there is a fix coming. Fixes are not just a quick thing to come up with. The one on my GP head lights took nearly a year and came a year and a half after intro. I assume because the HHR is FWD the fix on the Kappa cars has not or will not work so they have to come up with a new fix. I wish it was easier but it is not always. GM's lack of money also is not helping things I suspect.

Finally I wish your problem was easier to fix. Buybacks are rare and usally don't happen. My comments was not ment to be snooty I just hate to see someone spend a lot of time going through something that is just going to make them more upset. I hope you get what you want but I would not be betting on it.

I expect there is a fix comming due to the replies we have seen like the one above and the fact the NHTSA is not getting involved. I feel they were shown things we have not seen yet and are satisfied.

You also have to look at it from others perspective as this is not a big issue to all of us. Most of us have this problem but it happens not more than once a month. When it does happen we just step harder so it is not as upsetting to many of us just a annoying thing we get once in a while. So please understand why some of us are not as outraged. It is just not as bad for some of us as others.

Also in the case of the SS, buying a 09 is not going to fix the problem as many with the 09's are still having the same thing.

As for now getitng mad has not speeded things up for anyone so as of now many of us are just keep up with any new info and giving GM the chance to fix the issue. At this point this is all we can do.

Your not the first to get mad and end up no farther ahead then the rest of us. I just hope to save you the pain. You can get mad at me but I can't tell you what you want to hear. Buy backs are rare and a fix is coming but I can't tell you when. Wish I could. I hope you now understand where I was coming from. This topic got hot for a while but nothing was solved. We are all waiting for GM to show us the fix and then go from there. We have many post on this that really led to nowhere. Once one of us get news it will be posted here ASAP with a TSB number. We have many people here watching this.

The Stage Tubo kit I am sure was in the works long before they started working on the brake fix. It I suspect was part of the engine program from the start so that is why we have it already.

Oh I was not kidding on the 1968 Chevelle SS. That car would not stop for nothing with no power on 4 drums compared to todays cars. I did add a booster later. There were times after a hard run and brakes faded you just were holding on. Ah the good old days.