Hey folks, I gotta repair my dad's hhr before I give it back to him. The flex pipe is bad and it has a nasty exhaust leak.
I'm not looking to do the weld-in job, so I was looking at the full pipe replacement.

I found this in another thread, and it's super affordable. http://m.ebay.com/itm/New-Catalytic-Converter-Chevy-Ion-Chevrolet-Cobalt-HHR-Saturn-Ion-1-5YR-WARRANTY-/350910338426?nav=SEARCH

My question is, it says up to 07, but my dad's car is an 08. Will the pipe fit?

 

If the car is in Cal. or N.Y. absolutely no.

It may fit, but the warranty won't stand. They are selling it for 05-07. If you call them they may say yes, get it in writing!

In that vein; read the warranty, I bet that it says something about professional installation.

Get under the car and look at it, some have 2 cats some just 1. There is a resonator on the second pipe.

You might check with GM the cat is warranted for 8/80,000 under the Federal Emissions warranty.

 

There were no changes in the exhaust "shape" during the production. If this looks similar to what you currently have, I'd say go for it. Odds are it will last you many years, if the warranty is no good, probably would have cost you as much to ship to them to inspect and they return. Just make sure it visually matches yours. Also, check our current one to make sure the upstream O2 is in the same spot, I see this one is in the pipe, mine was in the manifold, but it came with a bung to plug the pipe. Not sure if this comes with one or not.

Here is a comparison of the one I swapped.


If yours has 2 cats, just ignore this.

 

I know that my 2008 had 1 cat the 2011 had 2. Both had the O2 sensor on the pipe.

I "think" that the O2 sensor on the manifold was 2006-2007 and seems to be mostly on manual trans in 2007 and maybe 2008. I am not sure that there was a rhyme or reason for it's location.

In any case it can be plugged, as noted.

For that matter, a 2006 part will "fit" a 2011 (except SS). Might not "work" or pass emissions.

All of this does not matter if Odessa is in California or NY, they require different replacement parts.

 

I don't know either the reason why some had the upstream O2 in the manifold, but when I was looking for one, those were very high cost. Then I found the ones with the bung and ordered that.

Can't answer about any emission testing where they live. But mine only requires a visual and code test. It passed with no issues. But I don't live in those commie states....

 

The '08 had two cats,

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/162242342628

 

My 2007 ps diameter is 2inches.. get the one that's braided going on two years no problems

 

Take a look at TruBendz. They have custom made down pipes to fit your HHR. They start at $195 and go up from there. I have one for three years now with no problems.
Check your motor mounts, If they are old and let the motor rock around that will crack the flex pipe or the exhaust manifold. Turbo Tech Racing has stronger motor mounts.