The new cam bolts arrived today at 2:30 pm , thanks RockAuto!!

 

Today, I waited for the chain kits to show up, FedEx rescheduled my parts delivery from Wednesday to today, and at 3:30 I get a text saying they’ve rescheduled delivery now for tomorrow. Yay!!
The Terrain handles great in the snow, we only got an inch or two so now big deal and it’s going into the 40’s on the weekend so I can at least wash it and put it back in the garage, after I get the BlackSwan put back together and back down on all four Snow Tires!
Today, I filled the rad and engine with fresh 50/50 mix Dexcool , Prestone is the brand.

 

The timing and balance shaft chains arrived yesterday afternoon,


Timing chain kit, this one is for VVT Ecotec engines, it includes a new timing chain, new crankshaft sprocket, new front guide, tensioner guide and a new tensioner and oil spigot. This kit doe not include VVT camshaft phasers or sprocket

Balance shaft chain kit, this one includes the balance shaft sprockets and crankshaft sprocket, new balance shaft/water pump chain, a new tensioner and guides
I spent the rest of the day installing the kits , ensuring the chains were in the guides correctly and the tensioner was deployed. It started first crank, I let it idle , then shut it off, to let the coolant cool, I had supper with Sweetie, relaxed and went back out, I checked for coolant and oil leaks, there were none. I burped the coolant, then started it back up, let it idle until the temperature gauge climbed to 182 degrees, the the thermostat opened, I let it idle another 15 minutes, shut it off.
cleaned up my tools and the parts for the job, then went in the house, I’ll check the coolant again for any air.
Today, I’ll take out the jack stands and put all four tires back on the ground, torque the lug nuts, and test drive it.
Stay tuned!

 

I just spent a couple of hours cleaning the garage floor, the coolant splashed everywhere, and I dropped the front cover/oil pump so that added to the mess under the HHR.
I topped up the rad filler , about a quart, then I sprayed the underside with the green formula Rust Check and took seven laps around our block of the subdivision, watching the temperature gauge to get to 180 degrees, at 168 degrees I parked it in our driveway and washed the exterior while it was idling it way to 180.
I checked after 15 minutes and it was showing 190 degrees, so I shut it off and I’ll let it cool off , possibly just needs to burp a little more air.
At least I drove it today!

 

Good to hear. Must be like a new vehicle Eh!

 

Yeah, kinda, same old everything else, which is ok! So, Sweetie suggested taking a little drive and monitor the coolant temperature, good idea, I checked the coolant, no more room, so I fired it up and we drove out to a local roadway it’s a few miles long in a straight line, 50 mph zone.
The temp went to 187 then dropped to 183, then down to 180.
back up to 183 and then 178, and back to 180 then 183 and back down to 178.
so, I’m thinking the thermostat is opening around 182 or 183 and closing at 178, normal.
I will let it cool overnight and look for air under the rad cap, in the morning.

it is quiet, no chain rattling at startup or idle at a stop sign.

 

Blue- Those are about the temps my 2.4L runs w / A/C off..

 

I figured it was normal, no P0128 code

 

So, a nice rainy, mid 30’s December morning, I opened the hood, removed the radiator pressure cap, and there was air space, it took almost another quart of Dexcool. Sweetie went off in the BlackSwan to forage for food at our local super marketplace, and I’ll check again tomorrow morning, after an overnight cool down.

 

10-4, I always re-check the level after a coolant change.