1st car in 30 yrs
Thread Starter
Joined: 11-26-2023
Posts: 1
From: Oregon
1st car in 30 yrs
Hello HHR fans,
I rode a bicycle everywhere, visited many states with my two wheeler. 4-5 years ago bought a silver 2009 HHR panel LS. 3rd owner. 146K, now has 165K. Summer 2022 drove to the east coast, Hiked some AT, drove all around. Didn't visit every state, only GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WV, WI, WY.
HHR never had a tune up AFAIK, never failed to start on first touch of the ignition, No burn oil, no leak. replaced control arms before trip. Did trial and error wheel alignment(s) in rest areas etc. GREAT CAR. Replaced front bearings in KY rest area 'bout midway through trip, didn't need to though, must have been tire noise. Only last week replaced the starter. Dummy lights, LOL.
I rode a bicycle everywhere, visited many states with my two wheeler. 4-5 years ago bought a silver 2009 HHR panel LS. 3rd owner. 146K, now has 165K. Summer 2022 drove to the east coast, Hiked some AT, drove all around. Didn't visit every state, only GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MD, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NY, NC, OH, PA, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WV, WI, WY.
HHR never had a tune up AFAIK, never failed to start on first touch of the ignition, No burn oil, no leak. replaced control arms before trip. Did trial and error wheel alignment(s) in rest areas etc. GREAT CAR. Replaced front bearings in KY rest area 'bout midway through trip, didn't need to though, must have been tire noise. Only last week replaced the starter. Dummy lights, LOL.
to the forums!
Member
Joined: 11-20-2011
Posts: 32
From: Pulpwood Holler, extreme NE GA
Welcome! And wow-that sounds like quite the trip! A suggestion: yer car prolly needs new spark plugs and sway bar bushings-unless you know for certain they've been recently replaced.
Some backstory: I've been dealing for a couple years with an incompetent 'mechanic' who could not-or would not check my sway bar bushings. I went thru a very great hassle of obtaining OE front struts, having them installed and still had the annoying and infamous 'front end thump'...
Three more trips back and still no solution! He even had me out into the bay as the car was on a lift to show me that he 'could not find any problem...'. and this was after I told him SBB's are a known problem with these cars!
Fast forward a few months and I finally have found what I believe to be a compentent mechanic (Eureka!!) that listened to my complaints, took one look from above and quickly pointed out just how worn out my SBB's were!
He quickly replaced them, both camshaft sensors and solenoids, new spark plugs and a rear engine mount and now my beloved Sassy drives and even hoons like a brand new car!
And to think I was _this_ close to replacing her!
Some backstory: I've been dealing for a couple years with an incompetent 'mechanic' who could not-or would not check my sway bar bushings. I went thru a very great hassle of obtaining OE front struts, having them installed and still had the annoying and infamous 'front end thump'...
Three more trips back and still no solution! He even had me out into the bay as the car was on a lift to show me that he 'could not find any problem...'. and this was after I told him SBB's are a known problem with these cars!
Fast forward a few months and I finally have found what I believe to be a compentent mechanic (Eureka!!) that listened to my complaints, took one look from above and quickly pointed out just how worn out my SBB's were!
He quickly replaced them, both camshaft sensors and solenoids, new spark plugs and a rear engine mount and now my beloved Sassy drives and even hoons like a brand new car!
And to think I was _this_ close to replacing her!
Moderator
Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 26,536
From: Fredericksburg,VA
You don't even need to look at them. Car in park, try to roll each front tire; if the car stays and the wheel moves the bushings are bad. If the car feels like the brakes are letting loose as you come to a stop they are bad.
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