Starting Problems with 2008 HHR (2.2)
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New Member
Joined: 07-01-2014
Posts: 27
From: Texas
Spent my life as Air Conditioning/Heating Mechanic. Have tore apart and rebuilt more Air Conditioning compressors (from 2 and 3 ton to 500 tons) than I care to remember. Have used hand tools, and power tools out the ass. Worked day in day out 'turning the wrench' .... no need to tell me to 'learn how to wield a few tools' ....
As a young man (when I had no choice) I've changed out car transmissions (auto and standard), pulled engines and overhauled them, replaced water pumps, fuel pumps, changed valve cover gaskets, adjusted lifters, replaced carbs ... but, I "do have a choice these days" .... and my time is worth something ....and anyway .... 'you can't take it (money) with you, now can you?
Have a good day Don.....
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 07-01-2014
Posts: 27
From: Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 04-14-2010
Posts: 432
From: Wisconsin
UPDATE: Damn CEL irritated me too much. I took car back to dealership and Service Mgr re-diagnosed it (no charge) and told me it was 'definitely' a bad fuel pump assy.
Fine! I told him. So how much to change it out? $650 was the reply.
I told him I'd pay $500 (out the door tax and all) on the condition that "I could cold start it" after it was repaired and if it didn't start correctly then I "owed him nothing." lol.....
He accepted!!
I let them change it out. It took 2 days to get it back. According to Svc Mgr, the first "new" pump they put in was defective ... in that it wouldn't register the fuel level.
So.. they had to order another pump assy, which is why they had it for 2 days.
btw... I would of been "pissed" had I been changing it myself and had 'drawed' a "bad" new pump....sheeeet!
In any event when they called and said the car was ready I went and picked it up (several hours later) .... raised the hood and felt the motor (to make sure it was a cold start) ... closed the hood and started the car.
It started 'perfectly' (just like it used to)... and has started great (and run great) in the two days I've had back from the shop, and "no CEL" either.
All in all, I'm satisfied although given different circumstances and more time I would of changed it myself .. but what the heck.
On a different note: During the time my HHR gave me all this trouble I did quite a bit of research (on this site and online at other sites) and from reading through different comments from different people I got a picture of the HHR being a somewhat "cash cow" to alot of folks.
In my case we've had this car for 6 years (99,900 miles) and except for this 'fuel pump issue' it's been a great little car, but now I'm wondering if I should 'sell it' before it starts to 'breakdown' more.
It's the age-old question - keep it or trade it. Of course a new car will be more dependable (in most cases) but then again - we've taken care of this one, and it's been a good one - and we only use it as a 2nd car.
Question: what's you guys opinion of a 08 HHR with a hundred thousand miles on it.
Keep it or trade it?
Thanks again for the help.
Fine! I told him. So how much to change it out? $650 was the reply.
I told him I'd pay $500 (out the door tax and all) on the condition that "I could cold start it" after it was repaired and if it didn't start correctly then I "owed him nothing." lol.....
He accepted!!
I let them change it out. It took 2 days to get it back. According to Svc Mgr, the first "new" pump they put in was defective ... in that it wouldn't register the fuel level.
So.. they had to order another pump assy, which is why they had it for 2 days.
btw... I would of been "pissed" had I been changing it myself and had 'drawed' a "bad" new pump....sheeeet!
In any event when they called and said the car was ready I went and picked it up (several hours later) .... raised the hood and felt the motor (to make sure it was a cold start) ... closed the hood and started the car.
It started 'perfectly' (just like it used to)... and has started great (and run great) in the two days I've had back from the shop, and "no CEL" either.
All in all, I'm satisfied although given different circumstances and more time I would of changed it myself .. but what the heck.
On a different note: During the time my HHR gave me all this trouble I did quite a bit of research (on this site and online at other sites) and from reading through different comments from different people I got a picture of the HHR being a somewhat "cash cow" to alot of folks.
In my case we've had this car for 6 years (99,900 miles) and except for this 'fuel pump issue' it's been a great little car, but now I'm wondering if I should 'sell it' before it starts to 'breakdown' more.
It's the age-old question - keep it or trade it. Of course a new car will be more dependable (in most cases) but then again - we've taken care of this one, and it's been a good one - and we only use it as a 2nd car.
Question: what's you guys opinion of a 08 HHR with a hundred thousand miles on it.
Keep it or trade it?
Thanks again for the help.
You won't get much on a trade in so it depends on what it's worth to you.
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