Battery/start problems-now dash is melting
03-30-2007, 07:28 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: 03-30-2007
Location: Niceville,Florida
Posts: 2
Battery/start problems-now dash is melting
About two weeks ago with only 4000 miles on my HHR, it wouldnt start. Had it towed to the dealership and they replaced the battery. A few days later was at the hospital and the car wouldnt start again. Waited a few minutes and tried again and it started-drove home. It happened again a few days later, had it towed and they said it was a loose wire. Today, I go out and it wouldnt start again (this is the 7th actual time) but I switched keys and it started right up. I changed back keys and both started the car. I look down, and my dashboard all around the airbag,radio controls and AC controls are melted. Actually, it looks as tho it was painted and it is bubbling off all around. It wasnt a cleaner because I havent even used anything on this car on the inside. I am wondering if something is melting behind the dash.
See, this car was purchased specifically to drive our two yr old back and forth to the hospital for chemo/cancer treatment. I cannot have these problems. Last week he had just had heavy dose chemo and we went out to the car and it wouldnt start!
Anyone know what the lemon laws are for this type of problem. I love this car! BUT, I need a reliable car that will get him to the hospital. (The cancer hospital is 1.45 hours away) Can I take it back to the dealership at this point? Or are they just going to keep trying to fix it even though they havent yet figured out the problem? Thank you for any help as to what to do.
See, this car was purchased specifically to drive our two yr old back and forth to the hospital for chemo/cancer treatment. I cannot have these problems. Last week he had just had heavy dose chemo and we went out to the car and it wouldnt start!
Anyone know what the lemon laws are for this type of problem. I love this car! BUT, I need a reliable car that will get him to the hospital. (The cancer hospital is 1.45 hours away) Can I take it back to the dealership at this point? Or are they just going to keep trying to fix it even though they havent yet figured out the problem? Thank you for any help as to what to do.
03-30-2007, 07:31 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: 04-30-2006
Location: Maryland Heights, MO
Posts: 9,149
03-30-2007, 07:33 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: 07-15-2006
Location: n/a
Posts: 4,179
First Welcome to the Club and Trye to Enjoy the Ride.
Second, is your HHR new or Used?
I have had my HHR almost 1 yr and I have never had that happen, nor have I heard about this happening.
I would take it back to the Dealer and show the Owner, Sales man, and Service Advisor about what is going on.
Take it from there.
I am sorry I know I have heard of Niceville, but where bouts in FL is it?
I found you up in the Panhandle.
Second, is your HHR new or Used?
I have had my HHR almost 1 yr and I have never had that happen, nor have I heard about this happening.
I would take it back to the Dealer and show the Owner, Sales man, and Service Advisor about what is going on.
Take it from there.
I am sorry I know I have heard of Niceville, but where bouts in FL is it?
I found you up in the Panhandle.
Last edited by karen1953; 03-30-2007 at 07:42 PM. Reason: Added
03-30-2007, 07:36 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: 04-30-2006
Location: Maryland Heights, MO
Posts: 9,149
This is from FL statute.
681.104 Nonconformity of motor vehicles.--
(1)(a) After three attempts have been made to repair the same nonconformity, the consumer shall give written notification, by registered or express mail to the manufacturer, of the need to repair the nonconformity to allow the manufacturer a final attempt to cure the nonconformity. The manufacturer shall have 10 days, commencing upon receipt of such notification, to respond and give the consumer the opportunity to have the motor vehicle repaired at a reasonably accessible repair facility within a reasonable time after the consumer's receipt of the response. The manufacturer shall have 10 days, except in the case of a recreational vehicle, in which event the manufacturer shall have 45 days, commencing upon the delivery of the motor vehicle to the designated repair facility by the consumer, to conform the motor vehicle to the warranty. If the manufacturer fails to respond to the consumer and give the consumer the opportunity to have the motor vehicle repaired at a reasonably accessible repair facility or perform the repairs within the time periods prescribed in this subsection, the requirement that the manufacturer be given a final attempt to cure the nonconformity does not apply.
(b) If the motor vehicle is out of service by reason of repair of one or more nonconformities by the manufacturer or its authorized service agent for a cumulative total of 15 or more days, exclusive of downtime for routine maintenance prescribed by the owner's manual, the consumer shall so notify the manufacturer in writing by registered or express mail to give the manufacturer or its authorized service agent an opportunity to inspect or repair the vehicle.
(2)(a) If the manufacturer, or its authorized service agent, cannot conform the motor vehicle to the warranty by repairing or correcting any nonconformity after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer, within 40 days, shall repurchase the motor vehicle and refund the full purchase price to the consumer, less a reasonable offset for use, or, in consideration of its receipt of payment from the consumer of a reasonable offset for use, replace the motor vehicle with a replacement motor vehicle acceptable to the consumer. The refund or replacement must include all reasonably incurred collateral and incidental charges. However, the consumer has an unconditional right to choose a refund rather than a replacement motor vehicle. Upon receipt of such refund or replacement, the consumer, lienholder, or lessor shall furnish to the manufacturer clear title to and possession of the motor vehicle.
(b) Refunds shall be made to the consumer and lienholder of record, if any, as their interests may appear. If applicable, refunds shall be made to the lessor and lessee as follows: The lessee shall receive the lessee cost and the lessor shall receive the lease price less the lessee cost. A penalty for early lease termination may not be assessed against a lessee who receives a replacement motor vehicle or refund under this chapter. The Department of Revenue shall refund to the manufacturer any sales tax which the manufacturer refunded to the consumer, lienholder, or lessor under this section, if the manufacturer provides to the department a written request for a refund and evidence that the sales tax was paid when the vehicle was purchased and that the manufacturer refunded the sales tax to the consumer, lienholder, or lessor.
(3) It is presumed that a reasonable number of attempts have been undertaken to conform a motor vehicle to the warranty if, during the Lemon Law rights period, either:
(a) The same nonconformity has been subject to repair at least three times by the manufacturer or its authorized service agent, plus a final attempt by the manufacturer to repair the motor vehicle if undertaken as provided for in paragraph (1)(a), and such nonconformity continues to exist; or
(b) The motor vehicle has been out of service by reason of repair of one or more nonconformities by the manufacturer, or its authorized service agent, for a cumulative total of 30 or more days, 60 or more days in the case of a recreational vehicle, exclusive of downtime for routine maintenance prescribed by the owner's manual. The manufacturer or its authorized service agent must have had at least one opportunity to inspect or repair the vehicle following receipt of the notification as provided in paragraph (1)(b). The 30-day period, or 60-day period in the case of a recreational vehicle, may be extended by any period of time during which repair services are not available to the consumer because of war, invasion, strike, fire, flood, or natural disaster.
(4) It is an affirmative defense to any claim under this chapter that:
(a) The alleged nonconformity does not substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the motor vehicle;
(b) The nonconformity is the result of an accident, abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modifications or alterations of the motor vehicle by persons other than the manufacturer or its authorized service agent; or (c) The claim by the consumer was not filed in good faith.
Any other affirmative defense allowed by law may be raised against the claim.
681.104 Nonconformity of motor vehicles.--
(1)(a) After three attempts have been made to repair the same nonconformity, the consumer shall give written notification, by registered or express mail to the manufacturer, of the need to repair the nonconformity to allow the manufacturer a final attempt to cure the nonconformity. The manufacturer shall have 10 days, commencing upon receipt of such notification, to respond and give the consumer the opportunity to have the motor vehicle repaired at a reasonably accessible repair facility within a reasonable time after the consumer's receipt of the response. The manufacturer shall have 10 days, except in the case of a recreational vehicle, in which event the manufacturer shall have 45 days, commencing upon the delivery of the motor vehicle to the designated repair facility by the consumer, to conform the motor vehicle to the warranty. If the manufacturer fails to respond to the consumer and give the consumer the opportunity to have the motor vehicle repaired at a reasonably accessible repair facility or perform the repairs within the time periods prescribed in this subsection, the requirement that the manufacturer be given a final attempt to cure the nonconformity does not apply.
(b) If the motor vehicle is out of service by reason of repair of one or more nonconformities by the manufacturer or its authorized service agent for a cumulative total of 15 or more days, exclusive of downtime for routine maintenance prescribed by the owner's manual, the consumer shall so notify the manufacturer in writing by registered or express mail to give the manufacturer or its authorized service agent an opportunity to inspect or repair the vehicle.
(2)(a) If the manufacturer, or its authorized service agent, cannot conform the motor vehicle to the warranty by repairing or correcting any nonconformity after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer, within 40 days, shall repurchase the motor vehicle and refund the full purchase price to the consumer, less a reasonable offset for use, or, in consideration of its receipt of payment from the consumer of a reasonable offset for use, replace the motor vehicle with a replacement motor vehicle acceptable to the consumer. The refund or replacement must include all reasonably incurred collateral and incidental charges. However, the consumer has an unconditional right to choose a refund rather than a replacement motor vehicle. Upon receipt of such refund or replacement, the consumer, lienholder, or lessor shall furnish to the manufacturer clear title to and possession of the motor vehicle.
(b) Refunds shall be made to the consumer and lienholder of record, if any, as their interests may appear. If applicable, refunds shall be made to the lessor and lessee as follows: The lessee shall receive the lessee cost and the lessor shall receive the lease price less the lessee cost. A penalty for early lease termination may not be assessed against a lessee who receives a replacement motor vehicle or refund under this chapter. The Department of Revenue shall refund to the manufacturer any sales tax which the manufacturer refunded to the consumer, lienholder, or lessor under this section, if the manufacturer provides to the department a written request for a refund and evidence that the sales tax was paid when the vehicle was purchased and that the manufacturer refunded the sales tax to the consumer, lienholder, or lessor.
(3) It is presumed that a reasonable number of attempts have been undertaken to conform a motor vehicle to the warranty if, during the Lemon Law rights period, either:
(a) The same nonconformity has been subject to repair at least three times by the manufacturer or its authorized service agent, plus a final attempt by the manufacturer to repair the motor vehicle if undertaken as provided for in paragraph (1)(a), and such nonconformity continues to exist; or
(b) The motor vehicle has been out of service by reason of repair of one or more nonconformities by the manufacturer, or its authorized service agent, for a cumulative total of 30 or more days, 60 or more days in the case of a recreational vehicle, exclusive of downtime for routine maintenance prescribed by the owner's manual. The manufacturer or its authorized service agent must have had at least one opportunity to inspect or repair the vehicle following receipt of the notification as provided in paragraph (1)(b). The 30-day period, or 60-day period in the case of a recreational vehicle, may be extended by any period of time during which repair services are not available to the consumer because of war, invasion, strike, fire, flood, or natural disaster.
(4) It is an affirmative defense to any claim under this chapter that:
(a) The alleged nonconformity does not substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the motor vehicle;
(b) The nonconformity is the result of an accident, abuse, neglect, or unauthorized modifications or alterations of the motor vehicle by persons other than the manufacturer or its authorized service agent; or (c) The claim by the consumer was not filed in good faith.
Any other affirmative defense allowed by law may be raised against the claim.
03-30-2007, 07:45 PM
#5
Thread Starter
Join Date: 03-30-2007
Location: Niceville,Florida
Posts: 2
First, Thank you for both of the replies. I do have options according to the Florida Lemon Laws. I just have to give them one more chance at fixing the problem (starting problem). Of course the melting of this dashboard is a new problem unless it is somehow connected. It wasnt like that yesterday or today at noon. By 6 pm tonight, it looks like paint remover was thrown on the dash. (Its the only way I know how to describe it-just bubbly)
My HHR is brand new, only having it since October 31st,06.
Niceville is just across the bay from Destin,Florida between Panama City and Pensacola on the panhandle
My HHR is brand new, only having it since October 31st,06.
Niceville is just across the bay from Destin,Florida between Panama City and Pensacola on the panhandle
to the site!!! Sorry to hear of your problems. Hopefully you can get it taken care of quickly.
03-30-2007, 08:26 PM
#8
Member
Join Date: 02-24-2007
Location: jupiter
Posts: 51
i would agree with gdz, sounds like there may be a short in the dash. i would bring it to the dealer who you had it serviced at and talk to the service manager. if you dont get an answer you like, see the dealership general manager.
03-31-2007, 08:25 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: 03-05-2007
Location: Rochester NY/The Villages, Florida
Posts: 629
Welcome to the club Spookyproud!
I simpithyze with you for having this problem and can understand your frustration.
I have had problems with newer vehicles in the past and it just takes the fun, excitement and confidence you can get from owning a new vehicle and destroys it.
Hopefully, you have a dealer that is going to work with you to resolve this problem once and for all.
Please keep us posted on the progress of this problem.
I simpithyze with you for having this problem and can understand your frustration.
I have had problems with newer vehicles in the past and it just takes the fun, excitement and confidence you can get from owning a new vehicle and destroys it.
Hopefully, you have a dealer that is going to work with you to resolve this problem once and for all.
Please keep us posted on the progress of this problem.