On my last oil change, the service writer jumped my tail about not having the manual tranny serviced at 30k miles (I'm at 42k). I told him the manual doesn't even note the interval to change gearbox oil and for the AUTO tranny it only mentions servicing at 50k intervals. Had to show him that to prove it, but he continued to rant about changing the gear oil at 30k. Then a tech walked up hearing the fray and made a comment that the the HHR SS gearbox doesn't even have a filler location. That really set him off.

Anyways, what's the real story on our manual gearboxes as far as service and is there any truth to their not being a drain/fill plug???

 

On my last oil change at 48k, the service writer jumped me about not having my auto tranny serviced at 30k. I told him that the owners manual says 50k. He told me that the owners manual is wrong. Time to find new dealer.

 

Service writers do that kinda stuff. You have to be armed to engage in a battle of wits...usually writers show up unarmed.

They are on comission and sometimes get "spiffs" for selling additional work on a repair order.

The MU3 transmission in our "SS" cars definitly have a drain plug and a fill plug, (GM SI Document ID: 1386854) both on the drivers side of the lower case.

I'm glad I no longer work in dealerships (over 40 years) because even some of MY techs couldn't learn anything.

There is no "routine service" interval on that transmission.

 

There's nothing wrong with changing ATF more frequently than minimum spec, particularly the first charge of oil, which contains a lot of wear metal from the gears breaking in. BMW and Mercedes are very anal about changing out ATF regularly, and those companies are traditionally more engineer driven than MBA driven. American automakers are selling us on the belief that long service intervals mean that it's a better car, and it's really just a sales pitch. Try getting spark plugs out of an aluminum head after 100K Mi. That having been said, I do my own maintenance and don't pay shop rates for simple things like that.

 

If a dealer was ever a jerk to me after I had just given them my business, I'd never go to that dealership again. It's one thing to try and educate someone about their car, and it's another to be a jerk and give someone a hard time for not being quite as knowledgable about their car as a mechanic. Not everyone's perfect when it comes to service intervals and that type of stuff. If it were me, I'd find another dealer fast!

 

As I said in the first post, I have the manual and my biggest concern is the dealer refusing warranty work on the 5-speed if something happens since I refuse the 30k service. Since the manual doesn't even state a service interval on the 5-speed......I don't see how they could even have a leg to stand on

 

Talked to the 2nd in command at the dealership whom I have bought many cars from about it. He began the conversation with discussing how the service writer I dealt with is a true a**hat so that explained alot from the beginning. He said that there is indeed no service interval on the 5-speed in writing but he would recommend 100k. He also said that I could drive 99,999 miles and have the tranny explode and there's no warranty problem from me refusing the 30k change. He immediately stated the auto had a 50k service interval so he knows his vehicles.

This guy is a Corvette dictionary (there were 2 ZR-1's next to his office) and I don't think he would intentionally steer me wrong. THere was also a metallic burgandy colored HHR SS on the lot......that is a gorgeous color. If offerred when I bought mine in 2008 that would be my ride.

 

Your owners manual is your best friend...and that Assistant Service Manager is 100% correct.

 

Thanks for the reminder that I have to get my auto tranny serviced in the next 6K miles!