Cracked block resolution, 6 months later...
Senior Member
Joined: 01-28-2009
Posts: 154
From: south carolina
I think there most important phrase is "POOR-US". When it comes to quality control, craftsmanship, customer service, etc.; EVERYTHING is a crap shoot. The cook at the "Waffle House" takes more pride in his work than most companies foreign or domestic.
Joined: 03-13-2015
Posts: 4
From: Ottawa
Sorry
2009 at 130k KM. The work order on the replacement said the block was cracked. Spoke with GM rep today who denied that there was a crack.
GM basically told me to go pound salt.
What research have you guy done on this block?
2009 at 130k KM. The work order on the replacement said the block was cracked. Spoke with GM rep today who denied that there was a crack.
GM basically told me to go pound salt.
What research have you guy done on this block?
Platinum Member
Joined: 12-06-2009
Posts: 11,721
From: Alabama
So. Your profile says you have a Saturn Vue. Any reason for posting this on the HHR site ?
Platinum Member
Joined: 12-06-2009
Posts: 11,721
From: Alabama
The early LNF 2.0 had some casting issues that resulted in some of the engines having porosity problems.
Don't know of any block casting issues regarding the 2.4.
Joined: 12-11-2017
Posts: 2
From: Michigan
2008 HHR Turbo Charged - possible cracked block?
So y'all may not remember my thread. Just as a refresher, my car started going through coolant at about a quart per day back in January. It would leak down into the oil and it was pretty evident on the dipstick and under the oil cap.
After MONTHS of fighting and a letter and research, I was only able to get 58% cost assistance on the repair of $5714 leaving me with a $2500 bill. The ONLY saving grace is that they now extended a warranty on the motor for 3 years/100,000 miles. This has taught me a lot:
1) GM doesn't care about their product or warranties. Recall this, recall that..but at the end of the day, "good will" repairs are all about PERSONALITIES and not the problem at hand. I was only able to get the assistance I did by being a "nice guy" to the service manager (who was great through the process, I might add..any local NJ people can PM me and I'll let you know where the dealership is and who to talk to)..but GM basically ignored the issue, likely due to the low production numbers on all of these LNF motors. Mind you I had several conversations with GM's absolutely useless customer service department.. you will never talk to a superior, and "that's all we can do" will start repeating in your head..
2) Don't bother writing to GM. You will get a letter back saying "sorry" and "cars are complex machines that sometimes require repairs". Really GM? You are saying this to a product development engineer who is having engine failure before 60k miles? A power window motor, yes..a broken trim piece, maybe.. not an engine. That is just sloppy engineering as I see it..
3) The part number on the short block assembly has changed 3 times since the car came out. Did I get an updated block? Who knows.. if they are using the LHU block then maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel, as the later blocks had thicker walls (hmm.... if it ain't broke, oh wait it was..)
So all I can really recommend to anyone is that if you don't have a warranty, get nice and friendly with a dealership. GM will side-step you for as long as they can (in my case, why not just offer the end agreement up front? Were they trying to wear me down?)
There it is.. I have the car back, but have become extremely discouraged with GM as a competent auto manufacturer. Their cost-cutting measures and lack of research and due diligence causes serious issues to get out to the market. Once I determine the fate of this HHR, I will NEVER purchase a new GM vehicle again. I will only drive older cars from the days when they actually made a decent car. GET WITH IT GM!! One recommendation: cheap out on anything you want besides safety equipment and powertrain components. We don't like having our cars out of commission for months at a time. That's how the OLD cars were.. the whole thing would fall apart around the powertrain but at least it ran and drove while you fixed it.
That is all.
After MONTHS of fighting and a letter and research, I was only able to get 58% cost assistance on the repair of $5714 leaving me with a $2500 bill. The ONLY saving grace is that they now extended a warranty on the motor for 3 years/100,000 miles. This has taught me a lot:
1) GM doesn't care about their product or warranties. Recall this, recall that..but at the end of the day, "good will" repairs are all about PERSONALITIES and not the problem at hand. I was only able to get the assistance I did by being a "nice guy" to the service manager (who was great through the process, I might add..any local NJ people can PM me and I'll let you know where the dealership is and who to talk to)..but GM basically ignored the issue, likely due to the low production numbers on all of these LNF motors. Mind you I had several conversations with GM's absolutely useless customer service department.. you will never talk to a superior, and "that's all we can do" will start repeating in your head..
2) Don't bother writing to GM. You will get a letter back saying "sorry" and "cars are complex machines that sometimes require repairs". Really GM? You are saying this to a product development engineer who is having engine failure before 60k miles? A power window motor, yes..a broken trim piece, maybe.. not an engine. That is just sloppy engineering as I see it..
3) The part number on the short block assembly has changed 3 times since the car came out. Did I get an updated block? Who knows.. if they are using the LHU block then maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel, as the later blocks had thicker walls (hmm.... if it ain't broke, oh wait it was..)
So all I can really recommend to anyone is that if you don't have a warranty, get nice and friendly with a dealership. GM will side-step you for as long as they can (in my case, why not just offer the end agreement up front? Were they trying to wear me down?)
There it is.. I have the car back, but have become extremely discouraged with GM as a competent auto manufacturer. Their cost-cutting measures and lack of research and due diligence causes serious issues to get out to the market. Once I determine the fate of this HHR, I will NEVER purchase a new GM vehicle again. I will only drive older cars from the days when they actually made a decent car. GET WITH IT GM!! One recommendation: cheap out on anything you want besides safety equipment and powertrain components. We don't like having our cars out of commission for months at a time. That's how the OLD cars were.. the whole thing would fall apart around the powertrain but at least it ran and drove while you fixed it.
That is all.
Moderator
Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 26,533
From: Fredericksburg,VA
Coolant leaked out?
Onto the ground- no
into the oil pan- maybe
However the "porosity" they talk about is usually between the engine block and the gasket. from the casting being too granular and the milling exposing bubbles in the casting.
You are out of the 10/100,000 drive train warranty, that usually shows up much earlier.
Onto the ground- no
into the oil pan- maybe
However the "porosity" they talk about is usually between the engine block and the gasket. from the casting being too granular and the milling exposing bubbles in the casting.
You are out of the 10/100,000 drive train warranty, that usually shows up much earlier.
