ill start off with saying i love chevy and i love my hhr. i have been a bowtie guy ever since i started driving. today has shaken my love though. i was driving down the highway today and the temp started skyrocketing and the warning lights came on and then the service light came on. i took the car to the first chevy dealer i saw(about one mile from where the problem started). they looked at my car and said im sorry there is a pinhole leak in the radiator and it was more then likely from a small rock or road gunk. then the nice guy told me they will replace it for 700 dollars or i could use my insurance company. i was bordoring on insane mad, i just bought the car, only a couple thousand miles on it. what should i do? i am not paying 700 dollars for a radiator on a brand new car! i saw the "hole" that they found and it looked like a scratch. so just normal driving will void the bumber to bumber warreny i suppose. and even worse they didnt give me a rental car or a even a ride back to my work, i had to walk 5 blocks in the cold and snow ina not so great part of town! i have bought 2 new chevys this last year (07 cobalt). im so mad i might do the most insane thing ever and trade my chevys in on hondas! well i wont do that but im sure mad!

 

Man, that sucks! I've had run ins with "service" departments before. There should be a customer service number in the back of the owners manual, give that a call and explain what happened. I had a problem with a car that was covered under warranty, but the dealer wouldn't give me a loaner. Called the number, the CSR put me on hold while she called the dealer. 5 minutes later the service manager came out, apologized and set me up with a rental. Since they may say it was from normal wear and tear they may not replace it, but for $700 it's worth a try.

 

Now I hate to be a bubble burster but here goes....

Sorry, but damage caused by rocks are NOT covered under warranty. Bad things happen to good people.

Here's a story, I had a few MINI Coopers, fun little cars (traded one on my HHR) but they are prone to rock chips in the windshield...long story short, driving on the way back to the office after I got my new glass put in :::POW::: a rock decides to find my nice new shiny glass...not their fault, turned around and went back to the shop to try and have it repaired. Lucky they fixed it, but my brand new $350 windshield was broken within hours AND a $50 repair bill.

If a weld cracked or something went structurally wrong with your radiator, you have a warranty claim. If a rock hit it and caused you problems...you just have to be pissed off at the rock, not GM.

With most of the cars going to "bottom breathers" for all the cooling this will happen more and more.

Sorry, I do feel your pain (5 windshields in the two MINIs over three years)

 

I'd have it towed home and do the repair my self. radiator swap isn't that hard. BUT, if it were a rock I would think it would have had to make it through the air cond condensor coil first to get to the radiator. And for it to still perforate the radiator after going through the air cond coil it would have to have left an obvious path through the coil, plainly visible. So, belay my DIY suggestion for a moment-- I'd have it towed to a reputable shop and properly diagnosed, in writing and then if it is determined to be a rock hit, then DIY, and if not, take the 2nd opinion to a reputable chevy dealer service dept and demand warranty claim service.

 

to the site! I'm sure it's frustrating with it being new, but Lone Ranger gives good advice...damage would show. Sounds more like a manufacturing defect in the radiator. Find the right chevy dealer...maybe where you originally purchased? It should be covered under warranty. Good luck! If you still own it in july, maybe you can join us at the Cedar Point G2G!

 

Search for the lower grille mod, a lot of us HHR owners are putting it in after SOCal Mike got a rock in his AC condenser 2 years ago and it cost close to 700 or 800 that I can remember..

 

my reply wont help you feel any better but.

This isnt a "Chevy" thing. Honda would do the same.
The warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship, basically.
if a part fails during it's normal service useage, it will be covered.

But expecting a warranty to cover your car's paint finish because it chipped when debris hit it, is no different than them covering a radiator.

My condolensces to you. I would have shopped around to see if a radiator company had a cheaper unit.

$700 for a radiator is insane. Not sure the labor price on that bill, but I am sure they did you no favors.

But dont cut off your nose to spite your face...this isnt Chevrolet's fault, or the HHR's design...it is just bum-luck. The dealer could have worked with you if they wanted to keep you happy...but you need to seperate the dealer from the manufacturer. Dealers can ruin a manufacturer's reputation. Many brand-loyal people are that way because of positive dealership experiences.

I am sorry to read of your bad luck. I am also mad that they wouldnt try to show some pity...having a broken down car sucks. Paying to fix it sucks more. But walking 5 blocks to work in the cold, just so you can earn the money to pay for the repair....more than sucks. That's enough to make you write to the service manager at that dealer and let them know that you are spreading the word as to how heartless they are.

They have room in their pricing for discounts...they could have offered you one. The old "give a guy a break" thing.

many dealer techs are good, but their hands are tied.
many dealers suck.

 

Great sentiment, IMO. ^^^^^^

 

Man, this place is great! I will be doing this as soon as it warms up a bit,
thanks kindly for posting, Tom.
here's the first mod I found
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...t=lower+grille

 

I am glad you posted that link, Mikey. I always thought the lower grill mod was just for people to spice up the front of their HHR. After reading this thread, and the one you linked of CJ's lower grill mod, I understand that it is more than just a mod...it is protection against road debris.

I am going to do this mod as well.

Thanks to all who contributed.