Help - engine, airbag, ESC, temp
Thread Starter
Joined: 08-27-2012
Posts: 3
From: St. Petersburg, FL
Help - engine, airbag, ESC, temp
Greetings -
Own a 2010 HHR with approximately 73000 miles. Last week, the engine light went on and stayed on, the airbag light would come on randomly, as did service ESC, and the analog gauge and digital temp readout flatlined.
Came here, searched the forums, printed out the relevent posts and TSBs and off I went to the mechanic I trust. Figured it would at minimum be the thermostat. Asked if at all possible could I have the auto back by 4:pm. He did the codes diagnostic thing and went off hunting down the causes. He indicated that the computer modules were not communicating with each other. Nearing 4:pm (had to pick up wife), he was unable to resolve the issues, but buttoned up the car and told me to bring it back the following day. I drove off and the first time I hit the brakes, it was as if I was driving on boulders. Returned the car and he said it was likely that the antilock brakes were engaged. So I left the vehicle there overnight. (Had all brakes serviced about 4 weeks prior).
Following day, he called and told me that by unplugging/replugging the modules and various electrical connections, it appeared to resolve all the issues, all the warning lights were off, the analog and digit temp were working again, no more code errors and all was good. He charged me $49 for the codes diagnostics service. I also had the driver's side power window switch replaced. It would not allow you to put the passenger window down, but did allow you to put the window back up. That switch was $75 and $25 to install. The driver side door also will not open from the inside. You've got to reach outside the window and open the door from the outside handle. Since he was only able to find that part at the dealer for $350, the dealer advised him to search online and it would be much cheaper. I've found the interior door handle assembly as cheap as $68 on EBay and that repair will be upcoming.
Anyhow, now three days later, the engine light is back on and the service ESC is back randomly. The temp gauge and digit read-out still work and the airbag light has not reappeared. Any ideas or comments of what's possibly going on?
Whether relevant or not, 5 months after purchase, HHR was hit by someone that blew thu a stop sign and was T-boned on the passenger side front. Damage to the tune of $8K, including a bent frame. Allstate really pushed having Sterling Auto Body do the repairs (which I've since found out Allstate owns) and I was not impressed. Since they had the vehicle for four weeks, I asked of they could do an oil change and I would pay out of pocket. Was advised that they do not do mechanical repairs(?!) ... gather they've never had to drain and replace fluids, like in a radiator. But, to repair the body, they had to disassemble the AC and when we got the vehicle back, if you were using the AC, the car would stall out randomnly. Took it to the dealer. They indicated that Sterling misconnected items and had not reset codes/programming. Those repairs were a little over $800. Are my current issues somewhat similar? I have experienced random stalls recently when using the AC.
Sorry for the long post.
Own a 2010 HHR with approximately 73000 miles. Last week, the engine light went on and stayed on, the airbag light would come on randomly, as did service ESC, and the analog gauge and digital temp readout flatlined.
Came here, searched the forums, printed out the relevent posts and TSBs and off I went to the mechanic I trust. Figured it would at minimum be the thermostat. Asked if at all possible could I have the auto back by 4:pm. He did the codes diagnostic thing and went off hunting down the causes. He indicated that the computer modules were not communicating with each other. Nearing 4:pm (had to pick up wife), he was unable to resolve the issues, but buttoned up the car and told me to bring it back the following day. I drove off and the first time I hit the brakes, it was as if I was driving on boulders. Returned the car and he said it was likely that the antilock brakes were engaged. So I left the vehicle there overnight. (Had all brakes serviced about 4 weeks prior).
Following day, he called and told me that by unplugging/replugging the modules and various electrical connections, it appeared to resolve all the issues, all the warning lights were off, the analog and digit temp were working again, no more code errors and all was good. He charged me $49 for the codes diagnostics service. I also had the driver's side power window switch replaced. It would not allow you to put the passenger window down, but did allow you to put the window back up. That switch was $75 and $25 to install. The driver side door also will not open from the inside. You've got to reach outside the window and open the door from the outside handle. Since he was only able to find that part at the dealer for $350, the dealer advised him to search online and it would be much cheaper. I've found the interior door handle assembly as cheap as $68 on EBay and that repair will be upcoming.
Anyhow, now three days later, the engine light is back on and the service ESC is back randomly. The temp gauge and digit read-out still work and the airbag light has not reappeared. Any ideas or comments of what's possibly going on?
Whether relevant or not, 5 months after purchase, HHR was hit by someone that blew thu a stop sign and was T-boned on the passenger side front. Damage to the tune of $8K, including a bent frame. Allstate really pushed having Sterling Auto Body do the repairs (which I've since found out Allstate owns) and I was not impressed. Since they had the vehicle for four weeks, I asked of they could do an oil change and I would pay out of pocket. Was advised that they do not do mechanical repairs(?!) ... gather they've never had to drain and replace fluids, like in a radiator. But, to repair the body, they had to disassemble the AC and when we got the vehicle back, if you were using the AC, the car would stall out randomnly. Took it to the dealer. They indicated that Sterling misconnected items and had not reset codes/programming. Those repairs were a little over $800. Are my current issues somewhat similar? I have experienced random stalls recently when using the AC.
Sorry for the long post.
Platinum Member
Joined: 05-09-2006
Posts: 6,805
From: "Upland" Mesa, Arizona
Can't answer your immediate problems....like Whopper says, the diagnostic codes would sure help. But I do have a question (or maybe a suggestion).....
If the body shop connected everything for the A/C improperly, causing stalling problems, and the result was a trip to the dealer for $800 correction, did the body shop or the insurance company pay for the correction? Seems to me it should be in that direction!!
If the body shop connected everything for the A/C improperly, causing stalling problems, and the result was a trip to the dealer for $800 correction, did the body shop or the insurance company pay for the correction? Seems to me it should be in that direction!!
Thread Starter
Joined: 08-27-2012
Posts: 3
From: St. Petersburg, FL
body shop repairs
Yes, that bill went to the insurance company along with a letter from the dealer stating what they found, and from myself about the manager's comments about not having the ability to do mechanical repairs. It got tacked onto the collision costs.
I will go get the codes diagnostics and I was thinking of disconnecting the battery to see if that possibly helps clear some of these issues, based on some of the reading (and more reading) I've done here.
Thanks.
I will go get the codes diagnostics and I was thinking of disconnecting the battery to see if that possibly helps clear some of these issues, based on some of the reading (and more reading) I've done here.
Thanks.
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