I purchase my HHR used in June, a former Rental Unit. I noticed that the side steps were not in line, front to back and the alignments were different on both sides. When I took it in for a oil change and to get some other warrenty work done. I mentioned it to my service advisor, he tried to tell me that the factory did not align them front to back or each side. Which had to be pure Bull, having worked in Auto Assembly industry for 23 years. I told them to check the alignments and tighten the bolts if necessary. When I went to PU the car, they said that some of the bolts were missing, now either they came out at some point or were not put in during assemble is the question! So I would suggest that if they donot maintain their alignment have them check! I only wish I had suggested they put them on with blue locktite.

 

Unless it has changed.....

The assist steps are installed by the DEALER as a factory option. So, either the dealer did shoddy work, the bolts did in fact work loose (in that case, still shoddy work) or there has been some body repair work. I doubt if a rental agency would install the steps....but maybe.

You are the first, to my knowledge, that mentioned this. So, I might need to check mine.

 

Either they were installed at a dealer or they came from the factory as an RPO. Regardless the loose bolts might just be from normal vibration and mileage, or somebody just didn't torque them down originally. From the sounds of it, I'd find another dealer since this one sounds like trouble.

 

Mine were factory installed, not dealer installed. Apparently they even had a slight differance between the two also. I've never noticed exactly what it was (or if even there was). But heard it was something to do with the step pad. I heard others they had issues with the pads curling were due to the dealer installed ones.

dunno

 

I've never heard of the step pad issue, maybe its a case of improper surface prep by the dealers before mounting the pads if that's required . I'd just always assumed the on the color matched ones the pads were already installed, and on the primer units it was DIY.

 

My HHR is a 2LT which the side steps are factory installed!

 

The step come installed from the factory.

But the fact this one was a rental odds are someone put them on after it left the factory. Most rental do not have the steps.

The rockers go on with bolts and clips. The clips are a one time use deal and are hard to remove.

 

I installed my side-steps myself. The mounting bolts in the middle portion of the steps go into a track system & could easily come loose with normal vibration, etc. If the bolts are loose (or missing), the whole step can easily slide forwards & back along the track. This would lead to mis-alignment between the right & left sides as you mentioned.
I re-checked mine just to be sure & all the bolts are still there!

 

According to 2 sales managers and several sales people at 3 different Chevrolet dealerships (I had lunch with them today)....the steps are INSTALLED AT THE DEALER (I also remember this topic of discussion when the HHR's first came out.....all indicated the steps were installed at the dealer). They say ALL cars ordered with the steps are installed at the dealers as part of the pre-delivery prep. The steps are shipped, with the car, in the interior of the car.

According to the sales managers.....a number of dealers had complained about installing the steps, and they tried to convince Chevrolet to install at the factory. GM said, "NO, we have no provision for the install on the assembly line and we are not chancing the cost of damage done to the steps in, and during, transit".

Dealers also install the ground effects for the Camaro and the steps on the older trucks (the steps ARE installed at the factory on the new trucks).

If in doubt STILL, maybe ChvyMgr can answer, since it is the responsibility of the service department to perform the pre-delivery.


I do agree with Hyper regarding a rental having steps.......probably slim.

 

my 2LT came with steps, who put them on, I dunno ??

But I now know my bolts are there & tight..