So I traded in my cobalt SS/SC last week and picked up a 09 HHR SS. Yesterday morning while heading back home from work I attempted to pass a slower vehicle on the freeway to notice that I had no boost, however no CEL was thrown. I immediatly drove it to the dealer, and my sales guy pulled some strings to get in the shop to be looked at. 3 hours later I got a call from the service department saying that my car was fixed, claiming the rod to the wastegate had come off. The dealer replaced a nut on the wastegate rod, and test drove it. The sheet I recieved from them said they pulled 10 psi boost on the test drive and that the vehicle responded as it should. However when I picked it up, I could only manage 2 psi in some gears. In third it actually dropped back to 0 under full throttle and passing slower cars is out of the question. So back to the dealer I went where she sits now. Both times I never notice anything "break", but there was just nothing there when I hit the gas. Needless to say I am pissed. I have heard of this problem after the stage one is installed, but have never heard of this being an issue on a stock set up with less then 1000 miles. Any thoughts?

 

Bump for SS/TC owners to chime in.

 

The most common fix has been tightening the IC pipe clamps...all of them. This may or may not be what's happening to yours.

 

I hope that is all it is. Been reading TSB's about the wastegate nipple cracking. Just didn't expect this at 600 miles....

 

Check the charge pipe... I've heard that it is a common issue for a boost leak to occur somewhere along it.

 

really? hmmm

 

Here's the TSB on the actuator:

#PIP4520: Low Boost / Power And/Or DTC P0299 Or P0101 - keywords actuator boost CAC charge control cooler driveability DTC ECM engine gas lnf low maf MIL reduced reducedpwmde SES wastegate - (Nov 4, 2008)
Subject: Low Boost/Power and/or DTC P0299 or P0101
Models: 2008-2009 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Only
2008-2009 Chevrolet HHR SS Only
2007-2009 Pontiac Solstice GXP
2007-2009 Saturn Sky Redline
With Engine RPO LNF Only
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.
Condition/Concern:
A technician may encounter a vehicle with a low boost/power condition and/or DTC P0299 and or P0101 setting. This may be the result of a cracked or broken fitting at the turbocharger assembly.
Recommendation/Instructions:
It has been determined that the nipple for the turbocharger wastegate actuator may be damaged causing this condition. If this concern is noted please inspect the area on the underside of the turbo compressor housing for the wastegate actuator solenoid valve. The nipple (see CALLOUT #1) may have been damaged causing a loss of boost pressure. It may be necessary to remove the charge air duct for a closer inspection. See eSI "Turbocharger Wastegate Actuator Replacement" for solenoid replacement procedure.

 

Just talked to the service department again. They said the nut again was off the wastegate rod. Their second attempt to fix included loctite.... They are gonna do a second test drive in a bit to see if it is holding up.

What would be causing this nut to come off over and over again during normal driving conditions? Is the rod long enough to double nut it to prevent the nut from vibrating off?