Door adjustment is a good thing!
Senior Member
Joined: 08-26-2008
Posts: 1,488
From: Sequim Washington
"Can't the body catch be also adjusted a little up or down as Well as In to keep it level?
SF"
You're right. But if you use the catch to "lift" the door, the catch and/or the latch will wear out quickly. And you'll put stress on the hinges. It's possible, too, that the hinges are worn. Lifting up the door (if its hanging) will tell you if that's the problem. I'm pretty sure there are kits you can buy that include replacement hinge pins and bushings.
SF"
You're right. But if you use the catch to "lift" the door, the catch and/or the latch will wear out quickly. And you'll put stress on the hinges. It's possible, too, that the hinges are worn. Lifting up the door (if its hanging) will tell you if that's the problem. I'm pretty sure there are kits you can buy that include replacement hinge pins and bushings.
I have Two 2011 HHr's both with low mileage and can tell you that on one, the drivers door which is the one that gets all the wear, opens and closes perfect and has perfect alignment.
The other one closes OK and has perfect alignment but just seems to have a slight bit of resistance and different noise in closing.
Neither one has any rattles or excess "air noise" from the door gaskets.
Thats just the difference in factory assembly and available parts I guess.
I am going to try to make a slight adjustment @ the strike on the one that I feel is not quite right and see if I can make it better without changing fit.
I usually use masking tape to mark my strike plate start point as a reference.
You have to assume that there could be a slight bit of misalignment of strike adjustment from the factory as you start.
If so, that could increase the wear.
Even though they use nylon or plastic strike points I still use a little door ease as an added lubricant.
Picky ..Picky
SF
Administrator
Joined: 10-13-2011
Posts: 40,083
From: Welland,Ont Canada
when I learned body work at a shop years ago, I was taught to hang and adjust the rear doors first as the quarter panels can't be moved, then the front doors, then the fenders and then finally the hood. a small adjustment can improve the wind noise effort to close factor. But, it's way to cold out to adjust now, so I'll wait till the warmer weather!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 01-29-2014
Posts: 140
From: New England
"That's just the difference in factory assembly and available parts I guess."
That's crossed MY mind. Being the 2011 was the last year, maybe some "reject" parts were tossed in? The 11 may have suffered a "we-aren't-making-this-thing-again-so-just-use-what-we-have" quality drop. Just a thought.
That's crossed MY mind. Being the 2011 was the last year, maybe some "reject" parts were tossed in? The 11 may have suffered a "we-aren't-making-this-thing-again-so-just-use-what-we-have" quality drop. Just a thought.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 01-29-2014
Posts: 140
From: New England
I'm having other issues, too. The infamous clunk? Well, I'm pretty sure I have that. Driving over abrupt road crevices, etc. will produce the sound. And my RR brake lamp has blown twice. Once upon test driving and again about a week ago. I've had the thing less than a month. Add to that the doors needing adjustment (lots of wind noise from the driver's door) and the crappy gas mileage... You get the picture.
But not one to give up easily, I bought it and I'll get the bugs out one way or another. And I don't want to be a "negativity spreader" so, on a positive note, I drove to work this afternoon in a raging snowstorm and the HHR did quite nicely. And that's with NO snow tires. I was happy with that.
Deceased
Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
It's taken me many hours of tinkering and tweaking to make it as nice as my '06 daily driver and the pick of the litter, Paddy the '07 LS.
Those two run like fine Swiss watches, the '11 runs like a Timex in comparison.
Just the luck of the draw I suppose, mass produced doesn't mean they're identical by any means.
The '07 Panel ran pretty good for its mileage, over 300,000 miles, and all but 20,000 of those were racked up by the pharmacy that used it for deliveries.
But it's in a state of complete disassembly right now, and with my schedule, it will be many months before its done.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 01-29-2014
Posts: 140
From: New England
Funny thing is Don, I've found the opposite to be true with mine. The 2011 has the worst fit and finish of the bunch. And its had more warranty work done like a shifter replacement, fuel pump replacement, head unit replacement(twice), and a failed XM radio module.
It's taken me many hours of tinkering and tweaking to make it as nice as my '06 daily driver and the pick of the litter, Paddy the '07 LS.
Those two run like fine Swiss watches, the '11 runs like a Timex in comparison.
Just the luck of the draw I suppose, mass produced doesn't mean they're identical by any means.
The '07 Panel ran pretty good for its mileage, over 300,000 miles, and all but 20,000 of those were racked up by the pharmacy that used it for deliveries.
But it's in a state of complete disassembly right now, and with my schedule, it will be many months before its done.
It's taken me many hours of tinkering and tweaking to make it as nice as my '06 daily driver and the pick of the litter, Paddy the '07 LS.
Those two run like fine Swiss watches, the '11 runs like a Timex in comparison.
Just the luck of the draw I suppose, mass produced doesn't mean they're identical by any means.
The '07 Panel ran pretty good for its mileage, over 300,000 miles, and all but 20,000 of those were racked up by the pharmacy that used it for deliveries.
But it's in a state of complete disassembly right now, and with my schedule, it will be many months before its done.
Wonderful... things I can look forward to.
"Luck of the draw" and timing helps, too. Sort of like having surgery. You never want to be the first patient. Or the last.
Seriously, though. My wife and I bought an Aveo (yes, an Aveo) new off the lot in 2007 (it's an 08). Still have it. That thing got the worst reviews of any car in recent memory. But GM was practically giving them away. And the warranty was good, too. So we bought it. Well, lucky for us, that car has been spectacular! In almost 7 years, haven't done a thing to it. Even with the way my wife drives, nothing breaks (just one TPS went). Feels and runs like new. I took it down to Alabama last summer - 2500 miles round trip. Not a single hiccup. Cruised @ 75 most of the way and kept meticulous gas records. 38.5 mpg, average!
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