Well i just got the news that my HHR is officially dead. Last Tuesday the timing chain slipped and i lost all compression. My mechanic thought the valves were good but it turns out they made some contact and are bent. 7 years and a little over 206,000 miles. I will be the first to admit that i did not always keep my oil level where it should be and went beyond my normal comfort level betwen oil changes (even though i followed the DIC). I dont think i can complain about the car as it has always been a good one to me.

So what do i do with it now? Is there a market for parts yet? I could part it out i guess but who wants the hassle of doing that over the next 3-6 months?

How about i drop an LS in there?

 

Sorry to hear but thanks for posting. You could go to a wrecker and pick up a decent used engine for $500 or so.

 

If the body is good as mentioned look into a used motor,, Not sure if all years would fit or you would have to reprogram your ECM.. So you may be lucky and put in a newer motor and go another 200k miles :)
Good luck and keep us posted!

 

If everything else is solid and the body looks good I'd drop another engine in it in a heartbeat.

 

Is it just me or has there been a few timing chain issues lately? A few too many for me. I feel like ill replace the chain/tensioner at like 90,000 miles, just because it seams like a popoular weak link in the motor right now

 

The body has a few decent years left. The door bottoms are showing rust on the inside and it definitely has some road rash after 206k miles. I have always kept my eye out for "salvage" HHRs with lower mileage motors. Usually you can find them fro around $3,000 and then just swap everything over. Just trying to figure out if i want to put the money into it or get something else. This is the longest i have ever stayed with 1 car and love not having a car payment.

 

Me....I would put in a good engine and drive train. I can do the work myself. The HHR will always be a collector car.
Especially if it an SS or a Panel.

Then buy a new car or look for an SS.

Boydie Back in the Saddle..................

 

It a time now where these cars are finally getting some serious miles on them and we enter the unknown zone...finally get a handle on when certain things need/should be changed/ looked at and monitored. I think we have enough Hot Rodded cars also to determine how those actions will affect longevity. So its a waiting game to determine trends and set standards. Keep the info coming in so we all can benefit. Thing is, those of us who actually use these cars on a daily basis are all coming into the higher milage around the same time..so its a crap shoot and a game of survivor of the week to see who benefits off the misfortune of the others..sorry, but thats the life of of a short production car. I wonder if the factory bothered to find out how long these critters will last.....

 

A used 2.2 motor should be around $2000 installed. That's what I paid 2 years ago. There are thousands of them out there, some almost new due to flooding at coastal storage yards.

 

2006 and earlier Ecotec engines had issues with timing chain and tensioner oil starvation at idle, the design was revised for extended durability from the '07's onward.

Not sure if the revised pieces and oiling nozzle can be retrofitted to earlier engines or not.

Well over 200k on my '06, but I keep an ear out for any odd noises or rattles from the cam drive end of the engine.