I picked up my car this evening at the dealership after having it in the shop for an oil change and to have a no fire situation examined which occurred this weekend.

Oil change should be simple enough. The examined the starting system and fuel delivery system and cleaned the throttle body because of some apparent carbon build up.

So I'm walking to my car and try to fire it up using the remote start, tail lights flash but no start. I didn't think too much of it because sometimes it has issues. I fire up the HHR and the engine light is on (not a good sign.) I throw it in gear and the traction control disabled light comes on (things are getting worse.) I drive away and the HHR shifts really hard between every gear, it's never been like this. I test out the remote start when I get home and it seems to be disabled or broke or something because it won't function at all. When I try to use it while sitting in the car I hear a slight click followed by the lights flash but no actual start.

So back to the dealer tomorrow morning to complain about all these new problems that they have caused. How very frustrating.

I feel slightly better after venting a bit and now it's time to try and find a v-day gift which will be equally frustrating.

Adios!

 

Doesn't sound good. I would have turned right around the block and took it back to complain.

 

Hey, sorry I forgot to mention that the shop was closed when I had picked up my HHR. I usually do a late pick up in which case they turn over the keys and paper work to the sales dept. and I pick it up from there. My only option was to drive it away or leave it at the dealership over night in which case I have no car at all.

 

remote start will not work with check engine light on for safety/mechanical reasons. Shifts hard is also cause by safety reasons when traction control light is on. Know from first hand expierence.

 

Yes, I'll second that NO remote start when the check engine light is on. Mine reacted the same way when my check engine light was on.

TomR

 

[QUOTE=calgaryhhr;238118] now it's time to try and find a v-day gift which will be equally frustrating. /QUOTE]

Not sure about your car problems but this old dog thinks the V-day gift stress less way would be flowers and a gift certificate.

 

Did you at least get the Sales Manager to witness this before driving off?

 

I feel for you (but not in a Valentine kind of way!!).

I forget how many times I have left a perfectly good and clean car for routine maintenance at a dealership and gotten back the car with grease marks on the seat, steering wheel and door, or an entirely new mechanical problem that wasn't there before. You get back in to complain, and you get denial, denial, denial and then the run around.

For the most part, I'm done with them. I'll show up there if there's something weird to diagnose or a big ticket item to be done under warranty. I do my own oil changes, brakes and regular maintenance. It takes longer but I know it's done right. So far so good. The car is almost a year old, 24500 km and it hasn't seen a dealership once (knock on wood).

For your problem, I'd be a the door first thing in the morning. How they react to it should tell you whether you need to shop around for a new source for auto service. And be sure to request a free loaner for the day.... it's their mess; they should clean it up.

Yves

 

DreamHHR, I feel for you (not in the valentine way, lol) about your problems with dealers. I just had my rotors replaced at the dealer and while they were at it, they washed the car. Everytime I go in for service, they wash it, unless it is really terrible out. I can't say enough good things about them (McGee Motors in Goderich, ON), they treat me great. They even offer to drop me off in town and pick me up later while the work is being done.

 

Good for you. I've found that it's not necessarily dealerships that are bad, it just depends on which tech ends up doing the work. Most are good, some are bad. I'm just not willing to gamble anymore.
BTW, did they use a torque wrench to tighten your wheels back on? If not, the problem will likely be back within a couple of months. I've been there too... broken stud and warped rotors after a $600 "brake service". I can f*ck up my own brakes for free thank you; as it turns out, I never did.

Yves