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Save my baby Goldie!

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Old 01-09-2016 | 07:46 PM
  #1  
EricaJohnson's Avatar
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Joined: 01-09-2016
Posts: 7
From: Detroit, Michigan
Save my baby Goldie!

Hello, I'm new and my vehicle is a 2009 Chevrolet HHR LS. Her name is Goldie. lol. So to the problem. Goldie has cold air blowing from the vents, when we drive her, she overheats in about 8-10 minutes. She is also leaking antifreeze fluid, but my fiance and I are not sure where from. The overflow tank is fine, we had her radiator replaced, because before it was cracked and her oil was recently changed.

I can say, before the oil was changed, she was at 1% in oil life, smh. We were putting water in her as the replacement for the antifreeze, but that was a bad idea. I think we blew the head gasket, but not sure and the mechanic at the oil changing place said we may need a new engine. Also our windshield wiper on the passenger's side has stopped working before all of this chaos happened. My question, I need to know why isn't any heat in the vehicle?

Also, the engine light has been on since last year and we don't know why.

Thanks.
Old 01-09-2016 | 07:59 PM
  #2  
Oldblue's Avatar
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Joined: 10-13-2011
Posts: 37,828
From: Welland,Ont Canada
Welcome to the site!
A: low coolant = no heat
B: low coolant = over heating causing cracked head or blown head gasket
C: blown head gasket = coolant in oil causing engine failure
D: stuck thermostat = most of above problems

Most parts places will read the cel codes for free, go get them and post them up here
Old 01-09-2016 | 09:35 PM
  #3  
whopper's Avatar
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Joined: 04-09-2006
Posts: 7,039
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Seriously? Engine light on for over a year, and you did nothing about it? Leaked antifreeze and refilled with water??? - In Michigan were it gets dang cold and without antifreeze engine damage is most likely. Wiper broke some time ago and you still haven't looked at it?

And you ask why there is no heat in the vehicle? If you aren't trolling, the answer can only be owner neglect, and the "mechanic" is probably right saying you need a new engine.
Old 01-09-2016 | 09:45 PM
  #4  
Dbeluscak's Avatar
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Joined: 05-29-2015
Posts: 542
From: Cleveland, OH
Oh my, where to begin. I'd forget about the passenger wiper for now. On to more important issues. Overheating, leaking radiators, etc. All signs would lead to a blown head gasket, after all the abuse it sounds like it's had. Being from Michigan, water isn't a replacement for coolant during the colder months. Just causes more problems. The other obvious issue is 1% Oil Life, shouldn't drop below 50% but that's beside the point. Unfortunately it sounds like Goldie has had a hard life.

While I couldn't tell you whether your engine needs replaced, I can certainly guess that at least it needs rebuilt.
Old 01-09-2016 | 10:42 PM
  #5  
EricaJohnson's Avatar
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Joined: 01-09-2016
Posts: 7
From: Detroit, Michigan
Originally Posted by whopper
Seriously? Engine light on for over a year, and you did nothing about it? Leaked antifreeze and refilled with water??? - In Michigan were it gets dang cold and without antifreeze engine damage is most likely. Wiper broke some time ago and you still haven't looked at it?

And you ask why there is no heat in the vehicle? If you aren't trolling, the answer can only be owner neglect, and the "mechanic" is probably right saying you need a new engine.
I didn't neglect my baby. Things happen and unfortunately, Im now able to get those things done. I do appreciate your help.
Old 01-09-2016 | 10:44 PM
  #6  
EricaJohnson's Avatar
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Joined: 01-09-2016
Posts: 7
From: Detroit, Michigan
Originally Posted by Dbeluscak
Oh my, where to begin. I'd forget about the passenger wiper for now. On to more important issues. Overheating, leaking radiators, etc. All signs would lead to a blown head gasket, after all the abuse it sounds like it's had. Being from Michigan, water isn't a replacement for coolant during the colder months. Just causes more problems. The other obvious issue is 1% Oil Life, shouldn't drop below 50% but that's beside the point. Unfortunately it sounds like Goldie has had a hard life.

While I couldn't tell you whether your engine needs replaced, I can certainly guess that at least it needs rebuilt.
Thanks. :) I appreciate the help.
Old 01-10-2016 | 12:20 AM
  #7  
RJ_RS_SS_350's Avatar
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Joined: 05-01-2014
Posts: 8,173
From: California
Well, you're here now, welcome, Erica.

Oldblue has made some good points. I'll tell you a little story. I used to have a 67 Camaro. Living on the California coast, it wasn't a huge deal to have just water in the radiator. When I moved to Washington, I didn't really give it any thought. First winter there, the water froze, popping some freeze plugs and cracking the engine block. Once it thawed, there was no mixing of water and oil in either system, hooray! But, there was a drip, drip of water from a water jacket to the outside of the block itself, aawwww!

Hopefully you won't have something quite so severe, but you may, and it costs a whole lot more to work on these new engines than the old smallblock chevy V-8.

Next time the baby cries, I hope you'll please check to see if she's hungry, or needs a new diaper. Or she may be sick, and need to go to the doctor (just like Goldie needed a year ago).
Old 01-10-2016 | 03:47 AM
  #8  
843de's Avatar
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Joined: 06-30-2010
Posts: 25,739
From: Kannapolis NC
aboard Erica!

Honestly I can't add anything to the input you've received above, sad to say, but Goldie is in need of a serious outlay of time, money, and proper maintenance.

As to my Senior Moderator's reply in Post #3, it takes a lot to get Tom to the point of just "letting fly" with comments bordering on "Incredulous" or "Dismayed". He's so level headed and laid back that we check from time to time just to make sure he's still with us.

Whatever the circumstances were that caused you to get into a position where proper maintenance and repairs went out the window, is none of our business.

But, to put it in the most blunt terms, your HHR is in need of several thousand dollar's worth of work to restore it to a properly functioning vehicle again.

If you're not in a position to spend the money, and take the time to repair all of the problems outlined in your initial post...then it's time to start anew and send Goldie to the Parking Lot in The Sky.

And that's the first time I've ever found myself saying "junk an HHR" to anybody, it's a shame really, because had the issues been addressed early on and correctly...we wouldn't be here.
Old 01-10-2016 | 06:14 AM
  #9  
EricaJohnson's Avatar
Thread Starter
 
Joined: 01-09-2016
Posts: 7
From: Detroit, Michigan
Originally Posted by 843de
aboard Erica!

Honestly I can't add anything to the input you've received above, sad to say, but Goldie is in need of a serious outlay of time, money, and proper maintenance.

As to my Senior Moderator's reply in Post #3, it takes a lot to get Tom to the point of just "letting fly" with comments bordering on "Incredulous" or "Dismayed". He's so level headed and laid back that we check from time to time just to make sure he's still with us.

Whatever the circumstances were that caused you to get into a position where proper maintenance and repairs went out the window, is none of our business.

But, to put it in the most blunt terms, your HHR is in need of several thousand dollar's worth of work to restore it to a properly functioning vehicle again.

If you're not in a position to spend the money, and take the time to repair all of the problems outlined in your initial post...then it's time to start anew and send Goldie to the Parking Lot in The Sky.

And that's the first time I've ever found myself saying "junk an HHR" to anybody, it's a shame really, because had the issues been addressed early on and correctly...we wouldn't be here.
I've read your post and I cried. I don't want to lose her, but I thank you for the advice.
Old 01-10-2016 | 06:15 AM
  #10  
EricaJohnson's Avatar
Thread Starter
 
Joined: 01-09-2016
Posts: 7
From: Detroit, Michigan
Originally Posted by RJ_RS_SS_350
Well, you're here now, welcome, Erica.

Oldblue has made some good points. I'll tell you a little story. I used to have a 67 Camaro. Living on the California coast, it wasn't a huge deal to have just water in the radiator. When I moved to Washington, I didn't really give it any thought. First winter there, the water froze, popping some freeze plugs and cracking the engine block. Once it thawed, there was no mixing of water and oil in either system, hooray! But, there was a drip, drip of water from a water jacket to the outside of the block itself, aawwww!

Hopefully you won't have something quite so severe, but you may, and it costs a whole lot more to work on these new engines than the old smallblock chevy V-8.

Next time the baby cries, I hope you'll please check to see if she's hungry, or needs a new diaper. Or she may be sick, and need to go to the doctor (just like Goldie needed a year ago).
Thanks for your response. I appreciate it.


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