Hi, I'm new here so this is my first post.

I just bought a 2009 HHR LT with the 2.4L engine. It has a lot of miles on it. I looked under the car and hood before buying it and saw no leaks of any kind but since buying it I was looking under the hood and noticed oil on the serpentine belt. I took it to my mechanic and after looking it over he said the leak is caused by slop in the timing chain. He said it is common with these cars and that the chain hits the valve cover and makes a hole in it that results in it leaking. He said the valve cover gaskets also need replacing.

He said he wasn't sure but the engine might have to come out to do the job so he would check on it.

Has anyone had this problem with an HHR?

 

Welcome to the site, in a word, no it's not a normal issue, the engine does not have to come out to change the timing chain, it could be the valve cover gasket.
You will need to find another mechanic though, this one isn't to up to date on Ecotec's

 

Welcome to the site.

Common in these cars ? No. As Oldblue suggested, find another mechanic. Your's doesn't seem to be familiar with the Ecotec line of engines.

 

If there is a hole in the timing cover GET A NEW CHAIN immediately do not drive the car.

When the chain is replaced a new timing cover gasket is needed.

Stretched chain at high mileage is common on all engines with chains.

You didn't mention a Check Engine Light, a chain that bad would cause one.

 

Thanks for the replies and welcome. My mechanic said he had to check the chain to see if it needed to be replaced. But it seems to me that if it was the cause of a hole that would mean it is bad.

He said the valve cover gasket needed to be replaced but didn't mention the chain cover.

There is no CEL for the timing chain but there is one for the ABS. I have had the car about a week and there were no dash lights at all until today. My mechanic said it was a sensor in the wheel hub and had to be replaced at a cost of $200.00 and to fix the leak would be $400.00

 

ABS & Traction Control ? That might be related to the timing chain. If only ABS a bad hub is a reasonable first guess.

I have a feeling there is game of "telephone" going on here. I think you are relaying what you think he said, not what he said, leaving out things that you don't think are important. That could result in paying a lot of money for exploratory surgery.

I have never heard of a timing chain making a hole in the cover and the engine still running.

A new hub for $200 not a ripoff, $400 for a valve cover gaskets is way out of line, $400 for a timing chain is a very good price.


But, we don't know what he is proposing.

 

I clarified the repairs needed. The $400.00 is for a new timing chain cover, tensioner and valve cover gasket. The chain is not included.

 

Y'all need a new mechanic