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uwezimmermann9

HHR power loss whistling noise

Hey, I'm having some issues with my 2009 Chevy HHR with the gasoline engine. It's got about 98k kilometers on it. The check engine light keeps coming on, and the car feels like it's lost a bunch of power. The engine response is terrible, and I'm hearing this weird whistling noise, almost like a loud hissing sound when I accelerate. Sometimes, it even stalls at idle. Also, my fuel consumption has gone up noticeably. I'm suspecting it might be something with the turbo, maybe the wastegate? I've read something about a boost pressure actuator fault. Any similar experiences or suggestions on where to start looking?

Summary of the thread

A 2009 Chevy HHR is experiencing power loss, a whistling noise during acceleration, increased fuel consumption, and occasional stalling, with the check engine light on. The suspected cause is a problem with the turbo system, possibly involving the wastegate or boost pressure actuator. A suggestion was made to check the electrical bypass valve, which was confirmed to be defective and replaced, resolving the issue.

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4 comment(s)

rolandmoeller1

Greetings, fellow motorist. Your predicament echoes a similar tribulation I encountered with my 2014 Volvo S60. The symptoms you delineate – the illumination of the check engine indicator, the palpable attenuation of engine power, the aberrant acoustic emissions resembling a high-pitched whistle or hiss during acceleration – all strongly intimate a compromise within the turbocharging apparatus. Specifically, the boost pressure regulation mechanism merits meticulous scrutiny. Have you considered the possibility of a malfunctioning pressure sensor influencing the actuator's behavior? Furthermore, a defective electrical bypass valve could precipitate analogous anomalies.

uwezimmermann9 (community.author)

Thanks for the reply! That's really helpful. You mentioned a defective electrical bypass valve. Is there any easy way to check that myself, or is it something I should leave to a professional? I'm reasonably handy, but I don't want to mess anything up further.

rolandmoeller1

Regrettably, a definitive diagnosis of a defective electrical bypass valve necessitates specialized diagnostic equipment and a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between the engine control unit (ECU) and the turbocharging system. While a cursory visual inspection might reveal egregious physical damage, the subtle nuances of electrical malfunction often elude detection without the aid of sophisticated instrumentation. Ergo, prudence dictates entrusting this particular assessment to a qualified automotive technician possessing the requisite expertise and resources to accurately ascertain the root cause of the anomaly and effectuate a judicious remedy. It is plausible that a pressure sensor or the actuator valve itself is faulty.

uwezimmermann9 (community.author)

Just wanted to thank you for your advice. I took it to a trusted workshop, and it turned out the electrical bypass valve was indeed defective, just like you suspected. They replaced it, and the car is running great again. The final repair cost came to about 250€ Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction!

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CHEVROLET

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HHR