HELP!! MAJOR MPG/oil life issue, only had car 2 mo.!
Senior Member
Joined: 12-20-2007
Posts: 105
From: Fullerton, California
We have to keep in mind that the retro body styling of our great looking little cars comes at a price - they are portly for thier size coming in at over 3,100 lbs.
In our case, I'm sure the wide low profile tires aren't helping much either.
Since most of our HHR driving is in stop & go city traffic, the weight plus our nearly constant use of the air conditioner have prevented us from realizing favorable MPG unless we get her out on the open road.
Randy
In our case, I'm sure the wide low profile tires aren't helping much either.
Since most of our HHR driving is in stop & go city traffic, the weight plus our nearly constant use of the air conditioner have prevented us from realizing favorable MPG unless we get her out on the open road.
Randy
Senior Member
Joined: 01-04-2008
Posts: 2,366
From: Long Beach, Ca
Well put Randy!
we have to keep in mind that the retro body styling of our great looking little cars comes at a price - they are portly for thier size coming in at over 3,100 lbs.
In our case, i'm sure the wide low profile tires aren't helping much either.
Since most of our hhr driving is in stop & go city traffic, the weight plus our nearly constant use of the air conditioner have prevented us from realizing favorable mpg unless we get her out on the open road.
Randy
In our case, i'm sure the wide low profile tires aren't helping much either.
Since most of our hhr driving is in stop & go city traffic, the weight plus our nearly constant use of the air conditioner have prevented us from realizing favorable mpg unless we get her out on the open road.
Randy
Senior Member
Joined: 11-05-2010
Posts: 1,492
From: Detroit, Michigan USA
0xMaLx0,
I'm sorry you have been experiencing these problems. The ChevyMgr brought up a lot of good points. What type of extended warranty did you purchase? Do the Chevy Dealerships that you contacted know you have an extended warranty? Please contact me either on here or in a private message.
Thank you,
Evan, Chevrolet Customer Service
I'm sorry you have been experiencing these problems. The ChevyMgr brought up a lot of good points. What type of extended warranty did you purchase? Do the Chevy Dealerships that you contacted know you have an extended warranty? Please contact me either on here or in a private message.
Thank you,
Evan, Chevrolet Customer Service
Hello Everyone and thanks in advance for your suggestions,
I just bought a used 2010 HHR on 10/27/11 with just under 40k miles, also bought the extended warranty and was told today that I still have the Chevy powertrain warranty. It is supposed to get 22/32 mpg, I've been lucky to get 20-21 (got better gas mileage in my 2002 honda accord 3.0L V6) with mostly freeway driving in which I usually use cruise control. I've also left work which is about 20 miles from my house with the gauge reporting I have 70-80 miles left in the tank, but will literally run out of gas about half way home.
I've also noticed that my coolant is running in the 200-215 degree range, a bit hot? It's reporting my oil only has 70% life left and haven't even put 1,000 miles on it!
The front driver side tire is making a low kinda "thwump-thwump" noise (bearings?). Will powertrain warranty cover this?
My engine light is NOT on, the Chevy dealership told me there's "nothing wrong with it" unless the light is on. Is that true? (I'm thinking no.)
I've called 2 Chevy dealerships and the Nissan dealer I bought it from and haven't gotten a straight answer from any of them.
So my question is why such low fuel economy? Are the problems I listed contributing or indicating what's causing the low mileage? And do you think either of my warranties will cover it or will it be one of those "normal wear & tear" BS lines and I'll be stuck with a $400+ repair bill? And can I "return" the car under some sort of lemon law protection? What should I do, any suggestions what my next move should be?
PLEASE HELP! I'm SO frustrated, and REALLY regretting buying a Chevy at this point...
I just bought a used 2010 HHR on 10/27/11 with just under 40k miles, also bought the extended warranty and was told today that I still have the Chevy powertrain warranty. It is supposed to get 22/32 mpg, I've been lucky to get 20-21 (got better gas mileage in my 2002 honda accord 3.0L V6) with mostly freeway driving in which I usually use cruise control. I've also left work which is about 20 miles from my house with the gauge reporting I have 70-80 miles left in the tank, but will literally run out of gas about half way home.
I've also noticed that my coolant is running in the 200-215 degree range, a bit hot? It's reporting my oil only has 70% life left and haven't even put 1,000 miles on it!
The front driver side tire is making a low kinda "thwump-thwump" noise (bearings?). Will powertrain warranty cover this?
My engine light is NOT on, the Chevy dealership told me there's "nothing wrong with it" unless the light is on. Is that true? (I'm thinking no.)
I've called 2 Chevy dealerships and the Nissan dealer I bought it from and haven't gotten a straight answer from any of them.
So my question is why such low fuel economy? Are the problems I listed contributing or indicating what's causing the low mileage? And do you think either of my warranties will cover it or will it be one of those "normal wear & tear" BS lines and I'll be stuck with a $400+ repair bill? And can I "return" the car under some sort of lemon law protection? What should I do, any suggestions what my next move should be?
PLEASE HELP! I'm SO frustrated, and REALLY regretting buying a Chevy at this point...
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 01-04-2012
Posts: 10
From: Thouand Oaks, CA
0xMaLx0,
I'm sorry you have been experiencing these problems. The ChevyMgr brought up a lot of good points. What type of extended warranty did you purchase? Do the Chevy Dealerships that you contacted know you have an extended warranty? Please contact me either on here or in a private message.
Thank you,
Evan, Chevrolet Customer Service
I'm sorry you have been experiencing these problems. The ChevyMgr brought up a lot of good points. What type of extended warranty did you purchase? Do the Chevy Dealerships that you contacted know you have an extended warranty? Please contact me either on here or in a private message.
Thank you,
Evan, Chevrolet Customer Service
ChevroletCustomerService:
I bought a third party warranty from a company called Protective Western General Dealer Services. I got the Gold package which has a $50 deductible; the relevant things it lists I'm covered for are: engine, transmission and transfer case, front & rear drive axles and suspension, brakes, non-high tech electrical, cooling and fuel.
So the problems I've having seem like they should be covered. But according to the Chevy dealers I called there is NO problem "until the CEL comes on." I just dropped $2k on a down payment on this thing and I really can't afford to be stuck with an additional repair bill.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 01-04-2012
Posts: 10
From: Thouand Oaks, CA
I understand how that can be giving me a bad MPG reading good point, but how does that explain the running out of gas in 10-15 miles when I'm supposed to have 70-80 miles (gauge usually displays a little more than 1/4 tank) to go?
Senior Member
Joined: 10-06-2011
Posts: 1,150
From: Mesa, AZ
In the past, before MPG read outs, having a 1/4 tank on the gauge but running out of fuel usually was caused by a bad fuel level sending unit for GM's. Occasionally it was the cluster (trucks mostly had this) but most of the time it was the sending unit. But seeing that you are having unusual milage readings on the DIC I am wondering if you have more of an issue with your computers current flash. If the computer takes the sending units info into account then that could explain both issues.
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 01-04-2012
Posts: 10
From: Thouand Oaks, CA
In the past, before MPG read outs, having a 1/4 tank on the gauge but running out of fuel usually was caused by a bad fuel level sending unit for GM's. Occasionally it was the cluster (trucks mostly had this) but most of the time it was the sending unit. But seeing that you are having unusual milage readings on the DIC I am wondering if you have more of an issue with your computers current flash. If the computer takes the sending units info into account then that could explain both issues.
I also just reset my DIC and the oil life reading is now at 100% which isn't right, I drove it about 20 miles after resetting it, will this reading adjust itself eventually to the proper %?
Founding Member
Joined: 11-23-2007
Posts: 8,210
From: Texas
Platinum Member
Joined: 05-09-2006
Posts: 6,805
From: "Upland" Mesa, Arizona
You SHOULD NOT have reset the Oil Life Indicator. That will only make your situation more confusing. After saying this, I will mention writing down the mileage and the percentage prior to the reset, AND when the car was at 99% AND at the now 100%. Keep track of the current OLI percentage and observe if you have a similar reduction as you mentioned previously. Because the OLI WILL NOT "catch up", as you asked, you should change the oil again before something like 50% (current percentage and adding the percentage of the OLI BEFORE your new reset). But to be safe, and as the Owners Manual recommends, you could change it soon.
Again note, as the Owners Manual indicates, the OLI DOES NOT function as a mileage indicator for an oil change. It uses an algorithm relying on other factors (again, in the Owners Manual)
Resetting the MPG is/was a good suggestion. ChevyMgr provided sound info and this should be looked at for your situation. For example, I'd say more than half the complaints of poor mileage are derived from environmental driving conditions, personal habits and situations you can do little about....stop and go, traffic congestion, etc.
Above all, and I'm not "slamming" you, but you need to read the Owners Manual, because it's obvious you are not aware of the functioning characteristics of you vehicle.
Again note, as the Owners Manual indicates, the OLI DOES NOT function as a mileage indicator for an oil change. It uses an algorithm relying on other factors (again, in the Owners Manual)
Resetting the MPG is/was a good suggestion. ChevyMgr provided sound info and this should be looked at for your situation. For example, I'd say more than half the complaints of poor mileage are derived from environmental driving conditions, personal habits and situations you can do little about....stop and go, traffic congestion, etc.
Above all, and I'm not "slamming" you, but you need to read the Owners Manual, because it's obvious you are not aware of the functioning characteristics of you vehicle.
Platinum Member
Joined: 12-06-2009
Posts: 11,721
From: Alabama
Awesome suggestion, thanks But if it was a sending unit or computer issue wouldn't the CEL come on?
I also just reset my DIC and the oil life reading is now at 100% which isn't right, I drove it about 20 miles after resetting it, will this reading adjust itself eventually to the proper %?
I also just reset my DIC and the oil life reading is now at 100% which isn't right, I drove it about 20 miles after resetting it, will this reading adjust itself eventually to the proper %?
From the problems you have described, it sounds like you may have issues with either the ECM or BCM. But,,,, I'm just guessing.