Had my HHR for a bit over 2 months, love it. Got a letter from dealer today, subject: GM Required Maintenance has changed. In brief, it says that with improvements oil changes are now only required at 7 to 9000 miles when the oil life monitoring system tells me it is time. At that time there are REQUIRED services in order to maintain not just my car but my warranty. There are two service packages. In package one it says the "minimum required service" is:
- oil/filter change
- lube of ball joints, steering, shift linkage, parking brake
- inspect/rotate tires
-inspect/adjust fluids
-inspect air filter
-inspect coolant and condition
-inspect washer fluid
-inspect brakes/rotars/operation of calipers and parking brakes
-inspect brake lines/hoses for tight hook ups, leaks, cracks
This costs $98.12.
They go on to say this has to be stamped into my maintenance log to maintain my warranty.

I for years have rotated my own tires (every 3000) and done lots of my own maintenance, except I do have the oil/filter changed at a shop/dealer. I have NEVER had a problem getting warranty repairs done because I do much of my own, or have it done elsewhere, but I sure do NOT like the tone of this memo nor it's implications.

Further, if one refers to the owners manual it does NOT line up with some of the items they list.

Last, if you look at Service Package 2, their cost is $139.57 and includes such unnecessary items as lubing the door locks, testing my seat belt, testing the parking brake , checking the air bag covers, lubing the weatherstrips with silicone(something I do myself more often than 12000 miles), pressure testing the radiator cap (at 12,000 miles).

 

Just remember GM doesn't own the dealerships. Some, but not all, will tell you that the info in the manual is wrong. Before I had the work done I would demand they they show me the GM directive that changed the recommended maintenance intervals.

 

I totally agree...you might also call another Chevrolet dealership and see if you get the same song and dance. I take my HHR to the dealer for the oil change and they some of that already whe the car is there just as a matter of customer service.

 

Rickh....

I have had a lot of fun with dealers doing this thru the years. Of course, I'm retired and do have the time to screw with them.

GM recommended intervals have changed ???? Show me written data, on GM Corporate/Chevrolet Division letterhead that this change is now required.

Oh, your tests have revealed that this is now necessary? Does GM Corporate understand that with the millions of miles of testing done on their vehicles, each year, that they have errored?

Can you show me your test data?

Hey bottom line is your dealer is "yanking your chain". I would tell them that you are disappointed in their "scare tactics" and it does nor display well on ethics. Find another dealer.

 

Sounds like your dealer wants to charge you $98.00 for things that should just be part of a normal lube job, oil and filter change! Which ought to cost around $30.00 at a dealership. We've had our HHR since August of '05 and the only time we hear anything from them is a phone call every few months asking how things are going and if we're having any problems with the car.

 

On that list, How much do they REALLY DO? Interesting, their labor rate is around $100.00 per hour and there is no ball joints or steering linkage that gets lubrication.

 

American cars.................starting to build them better so now they have to make excuses to make some profit.

"Have you checked the depth of your pockets today?"

 

Thats what they said when i bought my 2003 Tiburon limited.
after my third oil change costed me 300 bucks. I started to change my own oil in it and add lots of aftermarket parts. No more warrenty on that one...lol

My HHR the first 2 dealers told me I had to do their services, I went to another one and they will let me do the oil changes and keep my warrenty. And they really like to see all my mods too!

 

what delership....id like to send them an email with the big ol EFF YOU!

 

Contact GM Customer Service and ask questions on service recommendations. Don't mention the letter until you get your response and then kindly inform them of the letter you received. Unfortunately some independantly owned dealers try to screw over their customers.