I cleaned my MAF just to see if that would take care of the Sputter but It didn't.. and still no CEL on either. After they fix the oil leak Im going to have them check this Surging problem out. If that doesnt solve the problem, Im going back to Stock and removing the stage kit and MAPP sensors. Seems like all these surging issues have somewhere with that.

 

I had my dealer solder the wires and I have not lost boost in a month now. That does not take away from all the frustration I have had since installing the kit. I still worry that one day it will lose boost again and all the problems will come back again. Fun car but all the BS I went through killed it all for me and I now am looking forward to the day when it is close to being paid off and I get rid of it.

 

I wish there was a list of good dealerships per region, that know how to get to the issues with this upgrade.

I know the Service Manger of the Texas dealer is good, but what about the rest.

I do like this little car, but I have serious doubts about it's reliability. I could recount the issues I've had with this upgrade, but they pretty much mirror everyone else.

Somedays it's 23 to 24 lbs, then an hour later it cuts out and gets to 20 lbs only, with a lot of on and off with the power.

If anyone knows of good service departments in each major region, maybe we could build a list.

If not, then I'll probably sell it.

Life's too short to worry about a car.

James

 

The upgrade is only as good as the installation. Some dealer get it right and some have no idea. I firmly believe this is why some have issues and many do not.

I see the same thing on other related service issues on other parts of the SS. I had similar service issues on a Ford a while back. They would try to bluff me with some story and they did not know I knew better.

Too many have no issues for it to be a hardware issue so it has to be install issues. I too agree GM should have made a plug in harness. If someone could get the reverse connector for the factory harness one could make one themselves.

I think this one small point that was due to GM money condition has been the main issue. If they did not cut the cost of the kit they would have never got it approved for production is my hunch and this is the price for this mistake.

 

I agree with most of what you say, but get past the dealer and go direct to GM and the information gets worse and more clouded. Had I listened to the GM rep about the repair (accuator) my car would have been sitting for 6 months.

The dealer wanted to wash his hands of it, GM blames the supplier and life goes on.

Regardless, I know there are qualified good repair, service techs out there, it's just finding them.

As far as GM, I have 3 Chevys (two virtually new) and this may be my last.

We'll see.

I will admit without this forum I know I would have had to wait 6 months.

James

 

A lot of the GM side of the issues once you get past the poor dealer is the fact this car was built in hard times and GM had cut many things to the bone. Tech help had just gone through major changes.

Add to this that many suppliers were holding up on GM because they knew they were going to Chapter 11. GM is still playing catch up and many of the suppliers are also in a world of hurt now with the economy. Unless GM or some one orders so many parts they will hold up production or it just takes time to get production back on line. I deal with this in my line of work. I have seen some parts go over a year till enough are ordered to make.

Companies will not just make a few and ship in hard times.

Things will get bad for some parts on other makes and brands too in the future. Next year is going to be tough no matter what the commerce department is selling.

 

Pulling the wires tomorrow and Im going to seperate all of them individually with electrical tape to see what that does. I thought the soldered mine but I pulled the loom back to see they did not. Dealer Lied....

I can only say that the only people having this issue are the ones with the stage kit. There lies the problem then.

 

I'll post up as I hear any news. In the mean time they gave me a huge four-door Silverado as my loaner. Pretty cool, never driven a pickup before. Can't get over how much interior space there is. One odd note, truck drivers must get pretty thirsty - there are seven cupholders in the front of the cabin alone.

 

Given that . . . what happens to use know that the 2.0 liter turbo is not used in any current gm car. HHRSS, Solitice, Cobalt SS, Sky Red Line and Saab all gone.

If an actuator is on back order for more than 6 months presently what is the likelyhood that anyone is going to make any parts for the HHR SS?

Now, regardless of the parts and upgrade issues, GM is going to have to go a long way to replace the HHR SS.

What other car is a hot rod and a semi sports wagon, has exceptional handling, good mileage, loads of power and can hold 4 large suitcases?

I just rented a Cadillac CTS and drove from Detroit to Chicago and though the built quality is slightly higher, I'd rather drive the SS.

I'm not that old and not mypopic when it comes to American cars, but the beauty of the HHR SS is you can take the badges off of it and it still looks like a Chevy. Try that with the Cruze, or any other car in the Chevy lineup.

Oh yea, it also hauls ass.

It still fascinates me that Chevrolet didn't update this car, rather than take it off line. A few sheet metal touches, a little better interior bits, a few extras, the bugs worked out and a real advertising campaign and they wouldn't have sold 9,000 SS', but triple that amount. but hey I guess they know better than I.

James

 

The 2.0 is far from dead just the cars it was in. Buick will get it soon and various versions are still used in the Saab, Opel, Vaxhaull and Even Alfa Romeo. [Yes GM supplies this to them, Note the MAP sensor for the 2.0 Upgrade is the same used MAP sensor]

Buick GS and may also be in the comming wagon version will use this engine soon and GM has more plans for it even in a small RWD Alpha platform. Think just have to get caught up once they went back into motion after the chapter 11.

I do not know for sure but they could also be doing a replacment redesign and fix the issues on the replacment part. It is common for changes to be made and often delay parts for extended times. The brake fix was a good example.

The reason GM did not do anything to change the HHR is it was going away. There is no reason to upgrade a SS when you sell less than 4,000 units per year and it was going to die soon anyway. The Delta plarform is very very old and needed more help than a upgrade in styling or engineering. I think we will see somthing in this class but just have not been given any clues yet.

GMC looks to be getting the Granite and Chevy killed the Orlando. THis may open the door to Chevy getting a new vehicle on the Granite wheel base that is similar to the HHR. If they do it will be totally different from the GMC in styling like the Terrain is from the Nox. We just need to keep watching as the next 5 years a lot is comming and little of it has been offically anounced.

As for the HHR vs CTS. I love my SS but it would be hard to pass up a CTS. IF it had a V on it there would be no contest. I have not driven the CTSv but have Autocross the old one and it was a Corvette with 4 doors.

Keep in mind too that the Performance division people who fixed the SS to drive as it does are now working from the start of these programs on all trim levels just not the peformance cars. Check out the reviews on the new Regal and see what they say and rememeber it is not even the GS they are testing yet.