You have the brake issue if the TSB was not done. Take it to the dealer and if it is under 36,000 miles they will add the vac pump for free. No more brake issues after that.

Unless you have them do the up grade you will have to sit for a min or two till the vacume comes up.

 

Do it while you still have bumper-to-bumper warranty.

I have an 08, but it only a 2LT, & haven't had this problem (so far)........

 

You should not have the issue on the LT since it does not have a Turbo. It only effects the 2.0 Turbo engines with Automatic though we have had a couple 5 speed SS claim to have it.

 

hyper6-

That news ain't hurting my feelings.. Thanks man...

 

Our '08 SS AT started having this brake issue after only a few hundred miles. Until recent, this forum's posts showed no sure fix for it. We just were extra careful on cold starts. But once we saw the vacuum pump add-on solution we took it into our local dealer. We are in southern CA and they claimed it was the first install their 'region' had done. They got a GM tech to assist and we just got it back. I have to admit, I scanned the engine compartment and couldn't find the new pump. I'm curious to see what they did. If anyone can advise with words or pics, please do. More important, it does seem to have fixed the problem although time will tell for sure.

With all the publicity of Toyota's throttle issues (with braking issues that go with it), I would think that GM would have elevated this to a recall (it doesn't involve THAT many vehicles). Aren't the odds pretty good that someone is going to have a serious accident ? Apparently they weighed that risk against the recall expense and owners lose, again. I hope others will benefit from this excellent forum and address this brake issue before someone gets hurt.

 

Here is the location in words since you can't really get a good photo of the pump.

If you look between the starter on the front of the block and just behind the intercooler the pump is located there. Just follow the hose from near the HP fuel pump on at the end of the cam cover as it goes down the front of the engine behind the radiator.

It is a little easier to see from under the HHR.

You should no longer have an issue as this is a good fix that is on the new factory HHR's.

It really should have been fixed by GM but I expect since this fix came out last winter when GM had no money that it played into it. As od now I would say well over half of the 08 HHRs have been repaired and to be honest for some reason some never had the issue? Mine never did it till winter 6 months after I got it.

Either way if there is something wrong the people will tell the dealer and if they know what they are doing will see the TSB.

To be honest with the issues GM was having at the time we were very lucky they came up with a fix as fast as they did. The last couple years some non safety issues were left unresolved.

 

The saga continues. Got notification that parts were in. Set up appointment with service at dealership. Dropped off SS night before. Got call the next afternoon that the service department could not do install because all the parts were not in, and that they would call us in one-two weeks when all the parts are in. To top it all off my center dashboard stack is making more and more noise. That would be the noise the dealer could not hear the last time I brought it in for servicing. Oh, and when they rotated the tires last time they did not reset the TPS so I had to do it myself. I didn't even realize there was a problem until a month later when I was trying to fill one tire that was down about 3 psi.

Words cannot describe how pissed I am at this dealer. After I get the brake fix done, I will be switching dealers. Lucas Chevy in Lumberton NJ can kiss my turbocharger.

 

Thanks hyperv6, Turned out I spoke too soon. Cold starts still had problem. So back to dealer it went. This time they they calibrated the EBCM. Apparently the aux vacuum boost alone was not enough to solve the issue. We just got it back today and will advise results.

 

I am pretty sure the ECBM calibration should have been done the first time. At least that is what they did when they installed the aux vacuum pump in my HHR. It has been good ever since that has been done.

 

I never heard a word back from this Chevy dealer, so I am bailing on them and ordering the brake fix from the dealer I bought the SS from. This is a much further drive for me, but I liked the saleman I dealt with originally, and I will never return to the inept dealer again for service. I gave them two chances and they really blew it. I can only hope they send me a customer satisfaction survey.