Hello! New to the forum, new owner of an 09 HHR LS. Loving the car so far. Has the nice knock sound from the front suspension over bumps, so planning to get that fixed. The only other thing I have noticed on it is a "Wine" from the drivers side front-end when going up a hill giving it decent throttle. I am guessing this is probably just some general transmission noise, but wanted to check here and see if its a know thing or not. Also, what kind of warranty came with the 09s? Is anything still covered? Bought used from a used car lot, 48,000 miles on it, "fleet" model.

 

Welcome to the forum, I have not experienced the noise , could be wheelbearing hub, talk to your GM dealer, should be covered under the 60,000 drive train warrenty My 2007 was just repaired in Dec 2011 for this and warrenty covered it.

 

As silly as it sounds make sure your lug nuts are torqued to 100 foot pounds.

When I had to replace the headlight on the drivers side of mine it was easiest to remove the tire and wheel on that side. When I was finished I just put the tire back on like I have on countless other cars I have owned or worked on.

Because I just tightened the lug nuts down without a torque wrench it caused the rotor on that side to become warped. Figuring out what the new front end noise was and how I managed to get it was a few weeks of puzzlement for me.

I thought for sure the tie rod ends had gone to hell so I replaced them. They were the only thing I had not already replaced when I did the other front end work right after we got the car. I removed and replaced the sway bar bushings and the ends for the sway bar trying to get rid of the knocking up there.

When replacing the tie rod ends did nothing I looked into the wheel bearing on that side. I jacked the car up and checked for side to side play then and ran my dial indicator against the wheel and found no run out. So I pulled the wheel and checked directly on the brake disk.

There I found minor run out so I took the disk and had it turned. When I put it all back together my younger brother stopped by to see how the project was going and he had a torque wrench with him and suggested I use it on the lug nuts.

That was before Christmas and the noise problem I was having with my front end is gone.

 

@gsimpson2g, according to the information I have available to me about 2009 Chevrolet HHR warranty is as follows;
The new vehicle Bumper To Bumper warranty is three years or 36,000 miles whichever happens first.

The Powertrain reads that it runs for 5 years or 100,000 miles whichever occurs first.

If you would like more details about your HHR's warranty please, don't hesitate to contact me with your VIN.

Michelle, Chevrolet Customer Service assisting Evan

 

Is Michelle back?

 

Interesting question. Inquiring minds want to know..

 

Wow, thanks Michelle!

I am guessing the wine sound is not normal if nobody else is hearing it as well. I might try to get some video recorded of the noise and post it up.

 

@gsimpson2g, you are very welcome.

Michelle, Chevrolet Customer Service assisting Evan

 

@sleeper, firemangeorge and other inquiring minds that want to know (LOL), I am assisting Evan with the forum since he has had the past couple of days off. Our department grew and Evan obtained this forum so, I am his back up when he is out of the office.

How have you all been?

Michelle, Chevrolet Customer Service