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Power Steering

15 messages,  Last post on Jun 15, 2013 at 11:55 AM

You are in the Chevrolet HHR Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet HHR, Wagon

Messages Page 2 of 2

#5 of 15 Re: Power Steering [gmcustsvc] by lulu76

Jan 09, 2013 (1:51 pm)

Replying to: gmcustsvc (Jan 09, 2013 1:38 pm)
Sarah,
I am trying to get ahold of my dealership to have them check it out. I'm guessing since there have been so many problems with the motors that is the issue, but poking around the forums others have suggested fuses and things like that. But it seems like a lot of HHR owners have had similar issues.
 
I am just worried because it is getting worse. At lunch today, my power steering went out four times in less than an hour and I didn't make any hard turns. It resets itself when I turn my car off and back on, but that's not really an option when you're on the interstate.
 
I don't have my VIN number in front of me, but I will get it for you as soon as I can.

#6 of 15 Re: Power Steering [lulu76] by lulu76

Jan 09, 2013 (3:22 pm)

Replying to: lulu76 (Jan 09, 2013 1:51 pm)
After reading around here and seeing folks say that it's an $80 part and there are detailed instructions on how to fix it, I figure that I can convince my friend who's handy with cars to help me.
 
So, I call my local dealership to order the part. Holy guacamole, he wants $389.95 for the power steering motor! WTF? No one on here has paid that much for the entire repair, I don't think.
 
On the plus side, he was $15 cheaper on the cargo net than anyone else I'd asked.
 
However, I thought GM parts had pretty standard prices from dealerships. Needless to say, I think we know where I won't be buying my next car.

#7 of 15 Re: Power Steering [lulu76] by laserblue

Jan 10, 2013 (5:31 am)

Replying to: lulu76 (Jan 09, 2013 3:22 pm)
In doubt...call again for a price check. The clerk might have just entered the wrong part # or wrote a bad number in it.
  A wrong part # can make a big difference and if the parts department didn't notice, he only gave you the price that he saw on his monitor without revering to the name of the part.
  I once went to a G.M. dealer to buy a "gas cap" and the sales clerk came back with on and told me;"That'll be 89.99$" without realizing what he was saying...that when I ask him to check it over again. That's when he told me that he had made a mistake while entering the part number.
  Instead of 89.99$ it came up to 9.49$. What a difference.

#8 of 15 Follow up by lulu76

Jan 22, 2013 (12:48 pm)

Follow up: There is clearly something electrical going on with my car. In addition to the power steering going in and out, the "Service ESC" warning goes on and off and the check engine light is going on and off too (my mechanic that works on my car says there's nothing he can see causing that one). I'm also having issues with the remote starter, but I think that's because those are the absolute biggest piece of garbage General Motors has ever made (yes, including the Nova and the Sunbird).
 
Anyhow, I am going to have my friend check all the fuses and if there's nothing amiss there, then I will be sucking it up and paying a dealer to take a look at it.
 
I wish I could find a newer one still under warranty and I'd trade this thing in. Unfortunately GM doesn't currently make a car I would drive. Between the end of Pontiac and the end of the HHR, I may have to hoof it when I'm done with this car.

#9 of 15 Update by lulu76

Jan 29, 2013 (10:29 am)

I am taking my car into the dealership tomorrow to have them look to see what codes come up. It is going to be $80 for diagnostics, but my friend who fixes cars says you have to have the dealership look up the codes when all those lights are coming on.
 
I am hoping it is an easy fix, but to be honest, I am figuring the dealership will try to rip me off. I have made it clear they are not to do any work without telling me what's wrong and how much it will cost and that I will shop around if I don't like what they say, so perhaps that will help.
 
As much as I like GM products, the guys in the repair shops always treat women like idiots. When I was well-connected back in Detroit, I called someone very high up because I was once told I broke my Pontiac with my purse. That didn't go over well.

#10 of 15 Re: Power Steering [lulu76] by patti17

Mar 21, 2013 (5:38 pm)

Replying to: lulu76 (Jan 09, 2013 8:57 am)
The power steering in my 2009 HHR goes out w/o warning, at various speeds. When it started I contacted my local dealer and Chevy and was led to beleive that this was an unusual occurrence. Since then, I have seen hundreds of complaints, similar to mine, dating back to 2006. The power steering motors in these cars are faukty and dangerous and Chevy knows it. They have already recalled the same ones in Ions, Cobalts, and Malibus and have only failed to recall all of them because they have not yet been made to do so. Hopefully, they will take responsibility for wrecklessly endangering so many trusting consumers and adress this issue before someone gets killled, if it hasn't already happened.

#11 of 15 Re: Power Steering [patti17] by gmcustsvc

Mar 22, 2013 (8:06 am)

Replying to: patti17 (Mar 21, 2013 5:38 pm)
patti17,
Have you ever tried to get this repaired at all? Let us know if we can check into anything for you! We can be reached at socialmediagm.com (include your name and contact information, the last 8 digits of your VIN and mileage, and a summary of the situation).
 
Sarah, GM Customer Service

#12 of 15 Mine's fixed by lulu76

Mar 22, 2013 (9:07 am)

Patti, go to the dealership and tell them exactly what you told me, which is what I did. They changed the part and only charged me for a service call, which I felt was fair. I'm sure they just turned it in to GM as a faulty part (since it has been recalled on every other GM vehicle). If you have any trouble, get in touch with the Sarah and the rest of the Chevy Customer Service team. You just have to stand your ground on it, because the first service advisor I talked to acted like I was an idiot but then next thing you know, they are fixing it!

#13 of 15 Power Steering by angelad1

Jun 12, 2013 (5:05 pm)

I have a 2006 HHR that I purchased last October and have just started having the exact same problem 3 days ago. Not only that but one of my co-workers has a 2008 and she also has had the same problem. It does seem that this is a defect with this vehicle. I am taking mine to a dealer approved shop tomorrow and see what they say. I do think Chevy should make this right, I've seen sooo many complaints about this. Any suggestions from Chevy??

#14 of 15 Power steering by angelad1

Jun 13, 2013 (7:49 pm)

I went to the dealer approved shop today and found out that the power steering motor is going. Thankfully its covered by warranty and my dealer has approved the fix and the shop is going to put in the new part tomorrow. Such a dangerous thing...you have to be able to control the vehicle. I feel much better now! I hope this helps someone!

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