My engine was replaced under the 5yr/100k warranty that GM started with the 2009 model year. I found out about this engine issue on this forum. While the technician was trying to figure out where my coolant was disappearing to... I told him about this issue, he made a call to GM and they told him to do the essentially same steps as what I told him I had read about and sure enough he found the crack with coolant running down the inside of the block. He also drained a sample of oil into an empty water bottle and it was 2/3 DexCool when it finally settled...

This seems to be a 'known' problem with early LNF engines. I'd be asking to talk with the District Rep about GM helping to cover some or all the cost. In addition, when my engine was replaced, my turbo was not. Needless to say, after 40k miles later, I had to have the turbo replaced. Given what I'd gone through, and being just two months out of warranty, I paid $800 and GM covered the rest (turbo assy retails for $1400+ alone not to mention the exhaust manifold which also had to be replaced)

I wish you good luck. I do not believe this should all be on your shoulders...

 

Hello, everyone. First post. Found your site in July and referenced it several times during my, "unhappy times."

2009 HHR SS. Love the car. someone in one of the other posts made the comment that, "this car saps a smile on my face." I agree. In this world of look-alike sedans, the HHR SS really stands out. But I am having problems with mine and I am tired of throwing money at it.

First problem, misfire codes all over the place. 97K miles. I figured it was spark plugs so I replaced them, had the codes reset and it ran fine for about 2k miles. Took it to dealer number one. They cleaned the MAP sensor, ran better for about 3k then misfire codes, again. took it back, now over 100K miles. The tech could not find anything wrong, cleared the codes. 2K miles later, timing chain guide breaks. OK. Got it. replace the timing chain all should be well. 2K later, CEL, again. SA tells me misfire codes all over the place and the turbo is blowing oil, seals are bad. OK. replace turbo. Now less than 100 miles later, CEL…..Tech doesn't know what's wrong.

I suggest swapping coils and spark plugs around to isolate the misfire. Now it misfires all over the place, totally random. I suggest a leak down test. Tech tells me he doesn't need to do that, he knows it is bad valve because he has seen this before. OK. time for a new tech.

Dealer number two. Tech is their Corvette and SS guy, he does a lead down test first. 40 PSI in cylinder number 4. He can hear the air in the crank case. Bad rings, he does a scope and the top of the piston and the cylinder walls look fine. Hmmmmm. Repair will cost over 4K and I already have 4K in a car that at its best is worth about $9K. Any suggestions?

 

Ok if it was me and the car was paid for and I did not wont a new car payment I would buy a crate motor for the car and have it put in yes your are going to have to spend some money, but it will be less then a new car and you still have a car you like and no the past history on and it also would have a not to old turbo so the only other major thing that could go wrong for say 50,000 to 100,000 would be the trans. and depending on cost i would have it done same time. You would still be under 10 grand