IMO......

Last 2 post are excellent information.

 

Sorry for the old thread revival; but has any one with a manual trans and a hitch been denied?

I'm sure most would say, "I'm towing with no problem", but has anyone been hit with denied warranty claim?

Thanks!

 

I'm out of warranty now, but mine was at two seperate dealerships for other warranty items and they never questioned my hitch. I also have not had any problems using it, granted, it's rare I have to use it.

 

I love it. "This can't apply to us because we know how to drive with a clutch" (?). Warranty claims are looked at with a jaundiced eye because so many people try to get by the system (cheat, lie, etc). It says no towing with a manual trans. Why would you ask about this any further? If you're going to be towing & you want to do it in an HHR, then sell the manual trans model & buy an Auto. Problem solved! Warranties are in place to help with legitimate problems. They are not there for enterprising individuals looking to beat the system. Be honest with yourself & others. Suck it up. Do the right thing. God Bless.

 

Towing with a manual can shorten the life of the clutch. That is about the worse that can happen unless you overload it. When was the last time you heard of a manual tranny failing? I can't think of any. You would probably have to tow a heavy load several times a week at least to wear the clutch out within the warranty period. You overload and blow a gear, totally different. Same thing can happen to the auto, and that does happen quite often, especially overdrive.

But it is indeed true, not to many people today can drive a stick correctly. I've been driving one since my first stick, 1976 Mazda 808, 4 speed. Since then, I've had to replace a clutch twice, and one was that Mazda (gotta learn somplace) ant eh other was a 88 Civic with 190K on the clock (original clutch). My hitch was installed before it had tags on it. I never though twice about it. Still don't.

 

Hope that wasn't directed at me. If it was, thanks for the pontification there...

I have a stick and a certified used warranty. I don't plan to install a hitch or tow while the warranty is in place.
I was asking out of curiosity (if anyone had their warranty voided), not looking to cheat/beat the system...

 

This is not a debate nor is it intended to be.

Just interesting viewpoints and experiences. Here's some food for thought on this subject.

It occurred to me that a hitch does not necessarily imply that the car was used as a tow vehicle. For instance, my kids race bicycles. I use hitch mounted bike racks to carry them on my SUV and sometimes on my motorhome. If I were to get a class 1 receiver for my HHR with manual trans and hauled around 19lb bikes (+the weight of the hitch/bike rack) I have to wonder what the chances are that a sleazy dealer would try to deny a claim for a power train issue. (I'm sure that the honorable dealers would have no gripes).

We have many parents with vehicles that have receivers and do not own nor ever towed a trailer, so this is probably more common than many people might think. People also use receivers for platforms for coolers and baggage. This is not towing.

It's almost getting to the point that you may need a lawyer on retainer just to follow through on a warrantee claim.

 

All valid points to consider. I put a hitch on my Civic and the guy thought I was crazy. I told him it was for my bike rack (the truth).
That said, a friend of mine has a '98 Saturn wagon stick that he tows a small trailer loaded with wood and other junk and has 178K on the clock. He beats it to no avail.
Take your chances if it means that much to you. Spend one day at the red-neck racing circuit and see just how much abuse these cars can take before dying!

I'd say trailer-away! Just be smart about it. Don't expect it to drive normal with a trailer and drive cautiously.
Jim

 

I'll suspect that if a warranty claim for a powertrain issue has been denied because of a trailer hitch, it's because towing with HHR manuals is not recommended.

Why is it not recommended?

Several reasons:
1) the clutch is not robust enough for good reliability/durability in a towing duty cycle because the final drive ratio in first gear is not low enough for an HHR at GVW pulling a 1000 lb trailer.
2) the axle ratio is not low enough for trailer towing. Sure a lower ratio might be possible, but then, to get the gas mileage required, you'd need a six-speed. Currently, GM has no six-speed transaxle.
3) the manual transmission's first gear is not robust enough for good reliability/durability in a truck at GVW with a 1000 lb. trailer.

Why is the automatic HHR ok'ed for towing?

1) The automatic, by virtue of the torque multiplication inherent with its torque converter offers a suitability low final drive ratio in first gear under heavy load.
2) The transmission may be capable of higher loading in lower gears than is the manual.

Now...I think there are some modifications one could perform to a manual trans truck to make it more suitable for towing.

1) Intstall a more heavy-duty clutch. With HHRs sharing so much of the Cobalt parts count, there is undoubtedly a number of aftermarket clutches available which may have pressure plates with more clutch pressure, discs with better materails or both.
2) Use a premium trans. lubricant. Almost since new, I've used Red Line Superlight Shockproof Gear Lubricant in my five speed and that would be my choice for towing.

Even with an upgraded clutch and better lube, you'd still need to be careful when starting out in first gear. If you had the truck at GVW and were towing a full 1000 lbs, the load on the trans first gear and its bearings would be very high. Where you'd need to worry is in first gear, when you're at your GCWR, the engine is at WOT, or near so, and the rpm is in the mid-range or near peak torque. Drive it easy when starting out from a stop or pulling up hills, and I think it would last.

 

The manual has a lower final drive ratio and lower first gear ratio than the auto.

Type: F23 5-speed manual Hydra-Matic 4T45-E 4-speed automatic
Gear ratios: (:1):
First: 3.58 2.95
Second: 2.02 1.62
Third: 1.35 1.00
Fourth: 0.98 0.68
Fifth: 0.69 –
Reverse: 3.31 2.14
Final drive ratio: 4.17:1 3.91:1


This was the '06 model, the later auto had an even higher final drive ratio.

It's the clutch. They don't want to cover the clutch for the warranty. Towing will wear out the clutch faster.