[Guest]

My buddy has a 05' SSR with about 350 miles on it he doesn't dive it much. About 2 months old.

His problems have been back firing while in deacelleration, like coming up to a stop sign.
REALLY BAD gas miles... he thinks the car is running extreamly rich. and the most important is lack of HP! He's owned many exotic cars. Cobras, Vettes.. etc.

The first week he owned the car he felt the car wasn't performing to it's stock potental. He called the dealer and they told him that the car will electronicly break in over time/miles. For instance after every tank of gas the car will get stronger and stronger. But they would not give him the exact mileage??

I've never heard of that but hey that doesn't mean that it's not true.

He took it to the dealer yesterday and they said that the car's ECU needed to be reflashed?
He's planning to have it dynoed to see what it's really putting to the wheels.

Anyone else having any of the same symtoms.

 

[HD-Fatboy]

My buddy has a 05' SSR with about 350 miles on it he doesn't dive it much. About 2 months old.

His problems have been back firing while in deacelleration, like coming up to a stop sign.
REALLY BAD gas miles... he thinks the car is running extreamly rich. and the most important is lack of HP! He's owned many exotic cars. Cobras, Vettes.. etc.

The first week he owned the car he felt the car wasn't performing to it's stock potental. He called the dealer and they told him that the car will electronicly break in over time/miles. For instance after every tank of gas the car will get stronger and stronger. But they would not give him the exact mileage??

I've never heard of that but hey that doesn't mean that it's not true.

He took it to the dealer yesterday and they said that the car's ECU needed to be reflashed?
He's planning to have it dynoed to see what it's really putting to the wheels.

Anyone else having any of the same symtoms.

:bs

Now here's a dealer who sounds like he knows what he's talking about, NOT!

Have your friend take it to another dealer ASAP!

With the LS2 there should be no question of performance, it should put you back in the seat when you stand on it.

It might take a little to break in but it should be driving like a V8. That's like telling me my laptop needs breaking in and will work faster after every charge. From what I recall JimG saying the computer does adjust for fuel types.

Bad gas miles, like what? Mine sees a consistant overall 17 to a tank.

Backfiring, bad gas maybe or out of tune, lose or broken plug wires, list could go on. Best to have it diag. on a computer first. I would have this done before the dyno run, unless it's a free run.

 

[Guest]

Normal driving he says he's getting under 10 miles per gallon.

He also tells me that his 05 Dodge Turbo Desiel has more power that the SSR.
And he knows that shouldn't be the case.

Again I'm looking to see if this is an isolated case or if this is a comon case. Anyone else having the same problmes or heard of similar problems?

The one that I'm most interested in, is this whole.. milage deal. That after so many miles the car will gradually get more and more power until it's finally broke in. He said they made it soud like 500 to 1000 miles, but wouldn't give him exact numbers.

 

[Noel & Deb]

The average on my '05 6 speed is 14-15 miles to a gallon (city) with the LS2. During my break in it was around 12. I will admit I was a little heavy on the gas at times though. If it is under 10 he needs to take it somewhere else. Mine has plenty of power. It doesn't feel the same as the vette because of the weight but it has plenty of it.

 

[Guest]

So I found out that the dealer did do a reflash on PMC, I think he called it that. (Performance Modulator Computer)

And he said it still is the same. As well they said the car wasn't backfiring when they drove it.
But the first light he came to after he picked it up, the car back fired or was making the poping sounds. It's not as loud as some big shot gun but noticalbe.

 

[Noel & Deb]

2nd Opinion

He should contact another dealer for a second opinion. Warranty work can be covered at ANY chevy dealer.

 

[Guest]

He's ready to turn it back in.. I told him to go dyno the car as proof that the car isn't performaning to it's "quoted" performance. I believe he plans to do that some time soon.

They do have another dealer here in Austin. I'll sugest it., but I don't see what that is really going to accomplish. Both dealers should find the same thing. Either, nothing at all or something substantual. I mean they are all using the same diagnostic tools to read the PMU or PMC's, correct?

 

[raveschi]

Backfire

I personally spent a day in an automatic 05 SSR and then the next day in an standard 05 SSR in the past couple of weeks. If your friend had a standard then I can tell you that my experience with both backfire and lack of performance was consistant with his. On the other hand, the automatic did not exhibit either of the aforementioned characteristics. I spoke with the dealer and ask if the standard had been modified to keep folks from killing themselves off of the line. He told me that he had driven several and they all performed the same way. So, I have to ask, is your friends an automatic or a stick?

 

[Guest]

It's a stick.

 

[raveschi]

Bad News

Well my friend, your friend is exactly where I was. I wanted a stick so bad that I could taste it. I had convinced myself that it was all in my mind and that over time these issues would resolve themselves. The fact is that the more I drove the standard 05, the more I convinced myself to hold onto my automatic 04. I was quite impressed with the performance gain on the automatic but found it hard to believe that the standard could keep up with my 04. I am certain that I could take it from a dead stop.

 

[Guest]

That is not my friends problem.

My friend's SSR obviously has a problem. If they can give him the true power that the car is quoted for then he is happy. But if not then he is going to bark the Lemon Law at the them.

Thus, the reason for the dyno. He feals this car in particular, not every SSR, has a few problems and at the price he payed it's not living up to it's expectation. An examle: Mazda's RX-8.

That's his problem.

 

[WOW_FCTR]

one dealer or another

I think that a look by the other dealer 'could' result in a different opinion. Just because they have the same tools doesn't mean that they use them in the same way. And I believe that experience is a huge difference. If you got a guy with a year or two working in one place, he will have less overall knowledge than the guy with 15 or 16 years. And just a proof that the mechanics sometimes just don't have a clue, read through these threads and see where Fanatics printed out info from the forum and took it to their dealers to have the problems resolved correctly.

As for whether this is a common problem or not, I don't recall many or even one other person saying that they've had a backfiring issue.

If your friend has patience, he could be driving around in a great vehicle (I have a 2003 which has been serviced 14 times now, but I'm keeping mine) or he could just drive something else.

 

[pdmracing]

Poping usually indicates a LEAN fuel condition, If it popping (backfireing when reving up) could explain the power loss.

 

[Guest]

I'm no Mechanic, but I thought back fireing is a result of raw fuel combusting in the exhaust chamber... If you have raw fuel combusting, that's a RICH condition.

A LEAN condition is when there is more air than fuel. I've never heard of a lean condtion ever resulting in back firing?? That doesn't mean that I'm right, but it would be a first for me.

Please correct me if I'm wrong?

 

[Guest]

Now I could be totally wrong with this next statement but here goes nothing.

I thought a Misfire most often occurs while accelerating. While a backfire will most often occur while in a de-acceleration. True or False?

 

[Guest]

Backfire

Hi,
Not sure if your friend has an actual backfire or just popping from the exhaust on 'over-run' when decelerating ? My 05 stick has a burble and popping sound when you step off the gas, especially in low gears as it slows down. Can be quite loud.

I actually love the sound and do it deliberately ! Great with the roof down.

Had not caused me concern at all as I do not think it is firing on unburned fuel, just the resonance through the exhaust.
I believe the 05 has a louder exhaust (so I read in some Chevy blurb about the changes for '05) and you may find that the automatic doesn't make the same sound as the torque converter would likely not turn the engine as directly as the manual transmission and may not turn the engine as fast under decereration.

Not a very technical explanation I know but makes a little sense (to me!)

I have not driven an automatic but hope this is some help - I am very happy with the performance of my 05 but as someone else has said you have to bear in mind the weight of the SSR is a major factor.

 

[freezer]

There should be no question about performance from mile 1 with an '05 stick. The SSR described has a problem and it should be fixed.

 

[WOW_FCTR]

Knowing

There should be no question about performance from mile 1 with an '05 stick. The SSR described has a problem and it should be fixed.

whodeani,

I case you didn't know, Freezer who be the guy who knows

 

[Scheide]

I just read what Robmac wrote to you. He explained it perfectly and used a good choice of words in the process. My 05 stick has a nice 'rumble' on decel. It sounds good, not a backfire of misfire. I agree that when you have a rich condition it sometimes causes a little pop or light backfire. Mine runs as expected but I'm not overly impressed with mileage but it's an SSR. I'm more concerned about 'over heating but I better not go there'. Tell your friend to lighten up on the foot pedal, check his mileage and maintain a log. Then have discussion with dealer.

 

[Guest]

He next plan of action is to the dyno. He feels that if he dyno's under 300 WHP. Then his hunch would be correct as well he plans to do an A/F to also determin if he is running rich.

This might give him some power over the stealership along with his poor gas mileage.

He too believes that his car should have way more power. I'll keep you all posted.

It will be on a dyno jet. FYI