Hello, I haven't visited for a while. When I do I always enjoy browsing the various topics and admiring the many HHRs that are nicer than mine. I have a 2009 LS with 130,000 miles. I work as a freelance photographer and put a lot of miles on it, so I try to be diligent with maintenance and repairs. I love the car. Recently I replaced the front struts and the tires. I have one related problem and one unrelated problem. The first concern the car's mileage.

The mileage is one thing I've always loved for the 2.5 years I've had the car. It's rated 22/32, and I've fairly consistently gotten 23/37. About once a year, the MPG takes a dump. Last summer my mechanic replaced a couple intake sensors (I can't remember just what they were called), fiddled with the onboard computer, and my mileage came right back to where it should be. Recently, though, it's been on another downward trend, and right now my combined city/highway mileage is sitting at around 22.8 when it should read around 27 or 28. The same mechanic looked at it again today, found a hole in the main intake hose and a dirty throttle body. He cleaned the throttle body, and I am going to try to patch the hose with tape for now. The car has recently been tuned, and I've run a couple small bottles of Chevron injector cleaner through it. I only run Chevron gas because it gives me measurably better mileage.

The second problem concerns the struts I recently had replaced. In a hard right turn and on rough pavement (and ONLY at those times), the front left corner makes an alarming sound. The best way I can describe it is, hold some small ball bearings in one hand and a metal pie pan in the other. Now drop the handful of ball bearings. Ouch!

The shop that replaced the struts has a good reputation, and they've gone over their work twice and told me they can't find anything wrong. My other mechanic, the one that looked at it today, said, "You just had your struts replaced, didn't you,?" when I described the sound. Apparently the car is safe to drive. Everything feels tight. The car runs just fine. But I'm getting crappy mileage and I have a disturbing noise on right turns. Would love some feedback. Thanks.

 

The mileage is directly tied to the intake leak. So, you got that one, I think.

When your struts were replaced, did they replace the the strut bearings? If not, that might be the issue. Luckily, they are inexpensive parts. Otherwise, they should compress the springs, and make sure everything is properly seated in the noisy corner. It might be that something wasn't in its happy zone.

 

Strut bearings would be my 1st thought too. My other thought is you could have a CV axle going bad. They are known to make a "clackity" noise when turning and the CV joint is shot. They don't go bad very often on the normal HHR's but if the axle's rubber boot gets torn, it lets dirt in and destroys the joint.

Since you have someone else do your repairs, have them look at it and you could ask them to about those 2 things.

 

What is a "tuneup"?

I would look at the hubs.

Do you know about seasonal gas formulas?

 

I'll ask you this, at 130,000 miles have you changed the spark plugs? ACDelco 41-103 is the correct plug , they like to be changed every 100,000 miles! As for that rubber boot do you mean part #7

 

As for that rubber boot do you mean part #7

No, it's the wooly worm, part #6. I'm gonna tape it up with duct tape or maybe use a length of 3" drier hose.

 

That really wouldn't cause any issues though I don't think. I also don't believe it would effect mpg too much unless it was severed

 

It actually was nearly severed on the underside. I just wrapped it in duct tape for now. Actually I'm just now searching for a post that'll tell me the exact procedure to reinstall it. My mechanic just left it off.

 

Some alternative ideas

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...se-good-56573/