OK here it goes guys. I need some expert advise here. I have 07 2.2L HHR. I will be replacing my 2nd Flex pipe/Cat on this car in under 105K miles. WTF? Could I have a broken motor mount which is causing the flex pip to break prematurely? If so how would I determine is any motor mounts are bad and need to be replaced?


On a seperate and more pressing issue, I noticeed today on my drive into work that the DIC said "Cooling Mode: ON"! I immediately looked at my coolant gauge and it was almost in red. The temperature was at like 230-240?! I figured thermostat is stuck closed, causing the engine to overheat. So i went to pep boys in my area and got a Slant stat for $32.00. I replaced the stat, and ran the car, and the car is still going way too high. Can I mix Water & DexCool? even if just for the time being, until I can get a Coolant Flush? What are your thoughts?

Could the Flex Pipe, have to do with the engine temp? My logic is the exhaust which gets 1500 degrees is going into the engine compartment?

Thoughts?

 

Does the car seem to run OK otherwise? If your cat is plugged, it won't. It will be real sluggish.

Is your coolant overflowing? Is the level of it OK? I wouldn't assume anything regarding the temp. If it's going that high, you need to be careful, or you'll blow a gasket just from the heat. Have you considered the water pump as the culprit? Assuming the t-stat was good, and if there no other leaks, then something is clogged or the pump isn't keeping up.

 

Is the elec. fan working ? If it is make sure it is coming up to top speed . Also if the DIC is telling you that something is wrong it is.

 

When you went underhood to change the t-stat did you check to make sure the drive belt was still on the pulleys?Assuming that you did,the advice to check for cooling fan operation is correct.After THAT it would be water pump inspection.Good luck-hope it's nothing TOO serious.

 

It wasn't the water pump, at least i don't think so. so last night when I changed the T-stat, i didn't add any water to the coolant, because not much leaked out to begin with. I went on a short ride and it went back up to 239. this morning, I opened the rad filler cap and dumped almost a gallon of water into it. now it's running to temperature. I obviously have a leak somewhere. I hope it's not the Head Gasket.

I thin kit is because there was like white milky stuff on end of rad filler cap. Any ideas?

 

Check your oil dipstick.... any white milky stuff there?

 

No milky stuff on the dipstick at all. the fluid level is fine as well. must be a very light headf gasket leak from oil to antifreeze. who know when this even happened. lol

 

Head gasket can also leak into the exhaust... and then exhaust could be leaking back into the coolant too. To test for that there are tools that can "sniff" the coolant for traces of combustion gases. Hopefully this isn't it but it sure sounds possible given your symptoms.

 

Hello my question is when im at a stop I have noticed that my cooling mode comes on? I has happened a few times and i'm not sure why. Also I recently had a oil change and the percentage has not moved. Is there a reason why?

 

Welcome to the site neensmiles.

Cooling mode will come on when the computer detects an excessive coolant temp reading. I think it's 217 degrees on the regular HHR's. Check your coolant level to see if it's low.
Cars usually run a little hotter at stops because there is no outside air blowing through the radiator like when the car is in motion.

Oil change percentage has to be manually reset. Whoever changed the oil did not reset it in the DIC (digital info center )
How to reset it is in your owners manual.