Hello Everyone,
My first post, but I have been getting educated by this forum for some time now, so thanks to everyone for that.
I must admit, I am getting frustrated with my 2009 HHR SS with the GM stage1 installed because of the ongoing issues I have been having. So if anyone has had this particular issues, I would love to hear from you.
I am having problems with power surges, meaning throttle staying constant but power surging on and off. it usually happens when I'm heavily into the throttle.Boost stays fairly constant but the timing seems to be retarding. Also I sometimes do not get more that 10 psi boost when I start off slow and then call for big power. If I get into the throttle heavy right from the start, I usually get the boost. No codes. I have spent around $700 already on this issue with no improvement. (the car is not under GM warranty) The GM tuning has been re-programmed, new boost solenoid, new blow off valve, had the wiring checked on the upgraded sensors. Has anyone had these issues or have any ideas on what it could be?

Thanks,
Paul

 

is this only in first gear or all gears? if only 1st that is normal since there is no load. why are you not covered under warranty????? one of the sensors themselves could be bad.

elaborate more on what you mean by power surging

 

He had it tuned, essentially. "the gm tuning has been reprogrammed".

 

^^^i took that as he had a reflash of the gms1......dunno???

 

The surging actually occurs in 2nd and 3rd gear.(its an auto) I have never noticed the surge in 1rst. The surge: car pulls really well and then just drops off for a second or two and then comes right back. That is one scenario. The other one is travelling at a constant speed and getting in the throttle gradually and the car starts to pull and then just seems to lose its full power, not that it completely stops pulling, just not like it should be and then just continues that until I let off or go flat to the floor. If you have ever driven an engine that retards timing, that's what it feels like. I am wondering if I have a slight boost leak, since I only get 19-20 lbs and the most when I used to get 22-23lbs.

The GM stage 1 was done by one dealer and when the first dealer couldn't figure out the problems, I took it to a second dealer who claimed the original dealer never installed the stage 1 upgrade, so they re-flashed it with the stage 1 upgrade again, but guess what, still no better. What really burns, is the fact that it cost me over $500 and a week at the dealership with no results.

 

ummm....what do your spark plugs look like and what brand are they???

 

Good question. I was going to check them myself, but have not got that done yet. They are the original plugs and only have about 30k miles on them.

 

i would try changing your plugs or at least check them out and check the gap. it sounds like what you are saying is it is sputtering or misfiring. .....stockers are ac delcos, or go with ngk's.....do not use anything else....theyre no good on this engine.....gap at .32. just from what i have read about gms1 issues it does not seam like there is a problem with it. wouldn't rule it out but i would check the basics first. get some maf cleaner and clean the maf sensor in the intake and clean the the map sensor in the manifold and the lower charge pipe. gms1 guys chime in here but there is also something that needs to be zip tied to the lower charge pipe, the wire harness or something so it doesn't contact the ac compressor under load. check that.

also have it scanned with an obdii scanner to make sure there are no pending codes that are not actually tripping a cel

throwing ideas at you man. good luck and let us know what you find out

 

Do the SS's have a fuel injector cut off? When I had my DSM this was a common thing to hit under full boost if you did boost upgrades but continued to use factory injectors. These ones being direct injection may eliminate that possiblility but I thought I would throw that out there.

FWIW this fuel cut would be even more common if one had a boost leak.

 

Did the 2009 Kit use the same or similar wire splicers? I know when I had this in my 2008 the only cure was to have the wires directly soldered.