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HHR Engine Problems

219 messages,  Last post on Jan 03, 2013 at 8:54 AM

You are in the Chevrolet HHR Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet HHR, Engine, Wagon

Messages Page 13 of 23

#115 of 219 Re: Problems with 2007 Chevrolet HHR and General Motors [hesjr1972] by rose4hhr

Jun 19, 2008 (4:03 pm)

Replying to: hesjr1972 (Jul 09, 2007 11:55 am)
I had a 2001 Malibu that we bought new that had the exact same issue within months after buying it. I was driving on an isolated country road late at night and it just cut off. I later joked with my husband that it was like I was being abducted by aliens because everything just "cut off" ...that is except the lights...I think. Anyway, I had no cell service and had to wait to flag someone down to call him and he only got a partial message...so I waited for hours. I think strangely enough, it started again after he "showed up" and so he took it to another dealership from the one where we purchased it from, and they fixed it on the first try...no further problems. It was a really good car until I had an accident off an icy bridge this February and totaled it. I credit it for saving my life...had 143.500+ miles and was still going with no major problems and good mechanic reports, no major overhauls!!! (I was trying to make it to at least 250,000! I did a VIN check and someone rebuilt it!)

#116 of 219 Re: Front end grinding/scuffing noise & MPG [brkdrvr] by rose4hhr

Jun 19, 2008 (4:20 pm)

Replying to: brkdrvr (Jan 22, 2008 9:03 am)
I had an issue with the dealer that we purchased our current 08 HHR from (mistake, wish we would have went to one of the other dealerships within a 150 mile radius!)...the issue was over my last '01 Malibu (I have a used '03 now to replace it...didn't buy it from the same dealer!). Anyway, they kept having problems "finding" what was wrong with my cruise control after a routine tune up, it had never had anything before and the car was only about 2-3 years old at the time. They wanted me to buy a $250 motor plus labor and local taxes, etc after selling a $48 button we didn't need and after they messed up my cruise cable, which lodged under my accelerator on my way home from their service shop and almost got me killed. I called them, my family, and they paid to replace the cable. Anyway...I was livid and told them their was absolutely no way that a system that had nothing wrong with it suddenly needs a motor and a button; and that I had experience with buttons before and knew it had nothing wrong with it...that they must have done something wrong when they did the tune up because it worked up until then. I gave them one last chance after about five to fix it. They insisted it was the cruise motor. I told them I would take it elsewhere for a second opinion at my expense, and if they were right, they were right...if they were wrong, they would refund everything. Guess what? They had put the cruise cable in upside down during the tune up and continued to do so....they refunded my money, but not all the time and aggravation. But I did find some honest mechanics in town as a result that only charged me diagnostic charges to fix it. The cost of which I insisted the dealership refund to me, and they did.

#117 of 219 Re: Front end grinding/scuffing noise & MPG [rose4hhr] by poncho167

Jun 20, 2008 (10:39 am)

Replying to: rose4hhr (Jun 19, 2008 4:20 pm)
Looks like your instincts worked. Some dealers unfortunately aren't the greatest for service.

#118 of 219 Re: thinking about buying this hhr i really like [jonnym] by abbyty

Jun 24, 2008 (9:03 am)

Replying to: jonnym (May 22, 2008 8:38 pm)
I'm sorry I have to disagree, I have a 2008 HHR and think it is a wonderful car. No, this isn't my first HHR, I bought a 2007 last summer. My husband and went on a trip to Atlanta and it did overheat, but after being repaired by a local dealership there we were on our way home and didn't have another problem with it. However, on March 17th it became my 'saving grace' when in swerving to miss a semi tire loose on the road, I lost control and hit a guardrail totaling my car. It became my saving grace because although I had to be removed from the car due to the fact the front in was completely crushed, all I sustained was a broken nose and a cut arm. Had I been in another car, the front end of probably would have been crushed in on me or I could have possibly been killed. Because of the accident I was forced to get a new car, of course all I did was call the Chevy dealer from the year before and the next day (over 2 weeks since my accident) I was able to drive away in my new HHR. I believe the 2007 HHR was the wisest purchase my husband and I have ever made. Now I just miss my 2007 but I love the 2008. Hopefully I won't need another 'saving grace'. http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/- emotorcons/emo_blush.gif
blush

#119 of 219 Re: thinking about buying this hhr i really like [abbyty] by ray80

Jun 24, 2008 (9:35 am)

Replying to: abbyty (Jun 24, 2008 9:03 am)
Sorry you had to test the safety of the HHR, but glad it worked out well for you.

#120 of 219 Re: Nevermind [mah123] by stacker

Jul 01, 2008 (5:51 pm)

Replying to: mah123 (Jun 10, 2008 2:53 pm)
I just purchased a 2008 hhr ss and it also wouldn't start after 50 miles, but when the tow truck arrived about an hour later it started so we went on home then the next day it did the same thing after a 5 mile trip to the store, and once again after about an hour and the tow truck arrived it started , but this time it got towed to a chevy dealer and they couldn't get it to do it again so I brought it home , where it did it again. but this time it just shut down while I was driving and then wouldn't start,but this time the mechanic came with his test box and it threw no codes so it now has 203 miles on the vehicle and two wrecker trips to a chevy dealer. Any ideas or tips on what the problem could be??

#121 of 219 I need help with my HHR by harmonyblue760

Jul 02, 2008 (10:54 am)

I puchased the HHR about six months ago and I have had no problems....I travel a lot for my job and I've been noticing since the weather is warmer, when the A/C runs the car will pull and jerk at higher speeds. Now if I'm sitting idol, the car just dies and won't start. All my lights are on and I can tell it's not the battery....but if I shut the A/C off, it will evetually start back up....What in the world is going on???

#122 of 219 Re: I need help with my HHR [harmonyblue760] by stacker

Jul 03, 2008 (5:30 am)

Replying to: harmonyblue760 (Jul 02, 2008 10:54 am)
Yesterday the dealership that has our hhr called to tell me they think they have found the problem. They think it's the ECM module breaking down when the tempature gets to a higher tempature and GM is trying to locate one, so we'll see, I really hope it works because we really like the vehicle and it's 34 mpg.

#123 of 219 Re: I need help with my HHR [harmonyblue760] by ray80

Jul 03, 2008 (7:14 am)

Replying to: harmonyblue760 (Jul 02, 2008 10:54 am)
My 06 had an issue with A/C where the air flow would be freezing cold than be warmer for a bit, back and forth. At the same time engine was sort of stuttering/fluttering performance wise. I had already heard of the problem and had the dealer check (and correct) and refridgerant (overcharged). I have also heard of a couple cases where compressor locked up and resulted in broken belt (tow time), which may be due to same thing.

#124 of 219 Is my HHR a lemon? by chevymom350

Aug 05, 2008 (6:46 pm)

So I bought my '07 HHR (LT 2.2) in Nov. '06. LOVED the car at first and had the dealer install a sunroof. Good to go! Then, within the first 2K miles I had to take the car back to the dealer to have the whole exhaust system fixed. It was chirping loudly all the time. My 3 year old kept asking where the crickets were! Was told by the dealer it was installed wrong from the factory. OK. Fast forward to today (it is in the shop AGAIN), it just turned 17K miles, has had the rotors worked on, has had a safety recall, the headliner is coming down caused by wind from the sunroof, and it is currently in the shop for the second time due to the car sputtering, chugging, and trying to stall out on me while slowing down or coming to a stop. Was told it had something to do with the ECM and that it was fixed the last time. I believed them until I about got t-boned last Friday on my way home from work because my car couldn't get out of it's own way. No Service Engine light comes on, and the dealer says the car is not producing any codes. I'm only getting 22-24 mpg at best. I thought that was normal 'til I started seeing other people report mpg in the 30's! What the... Anyway, does any of this sound familiar to anyone else, or does anyone think I should look into the Ohio Lemon Law? I know I only have until 18K miles if I do so. I would really love to just swap it for a Trailblazer and be DONE.

Messages Page 13 of 23

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