My wifes 07 HHR has 27,000 miles on it and the past two years has been driven only once a week for weekend grocery shopping. She doesn't work due to injuries and I use a company truck. Would anyone recommend a transmission power flush with filter change for this car. We live in hot humid north Florida and the car isn't in a covered parking space. Any suggestions other than start driving it and enjoying it more, I'm trying to. Thanks

Jim

 

Honestly Jim I'd say that servicing the transmission would probably be wasting your money, its essentially a sealed unit designed to go 100,000 miles before requiring a fluid change.

The more important things to do would be an engine oil change, and flushing the cooling system and refilling it with fresh coolant. Engine oil can become highly acidic over time with absorbed contaminants, and the coolant needs to be changed at five years according to the maintenance schedule established by Chevrolet.

Obviously driving it more would be greatly beneficial for it, the worst thing you can do to a car or truck is to just let them sit. Even my 75 year old Chevy gets regular exercise to keep everything happy.

 

I have regularly changed the oil myself and will try to drive the car at least 2 or 3 times a week. Would this also contribute to a hard shifting problem developing. I will go this weekend and get the codes read so I have basis to work on. Again thanks.

 

We all have gotten lax on checking coolant levels. Dex-Cool seems to disappear more than most people are used to, and Chevy made it very difficult to check. Please add check coolant level to your regular maintenance schedule, and I mean with a flashlight down the neck while looking from the driver side make sure that it is fluid level that you see, not stain level. Over heating can cause "hard shifting". Don't waste your money on a "flush" or "transmission service" before 100,000, if it is giving you trouble, check your warranty first.

If you go to your local GM Service Dept., (or any shop that makes money from servicing cars) for any reason they will probably "recommend" a trans. flush along with a power steering flush (it's electric); the service dept needs a profit, too. Don't fall for it, read the book for your service recommendations!!!!

 

Because we do have a second vehicle {very reliable 99 astro with low mileage} I plan on researching and repairing the HHR myself. Again thanks for the help.

Jim

 

Jim-

Rather than adding 2 or 3 short rides, I would take at least one that is maybe 25 miles (minium) each way..

That will get everything to a full heat & burn off the internal condensation.

Short rides don't let everything get hot enough to do this..

 

Going to be politically incorrect here Jim, but what it really needs is something we used to call an "Italian Tune-Up", get it out on the road for a good long run and once you've gone 30 or 40 miles...give it the beans and let it stretch its legs a bit.