I have a 2009 HHR. I replaced exhaust cam timing solenoid. The old solenoid had small flakes of metal on the screens. there were several about the size of the ball on a ball point pen and a couple maybe 1/16 inch in diameter. Question: could this be a sign of bad things to come, or is it a minor thing
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edited the thread title from "fishforem" to clarify the issue at hand.

Reply - hard to say - have oil changes been neglected in the past? and hopefully you changed the oil just before swapping out the solenoid?

 

I added a oil drain plug with powerful magnet in it.. (added insurance), but I never get anything like you have described on it..