This Car is Driving Me Insane...

"Little Black Coupe Turned Silver" (littleblackcoupe) 01/11/2015 at 14:36 • Filed to: None

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Story time for the issues I've been having with my Sonic since I bought the car brand new. I've reached the point I seriously just want to get rid of the car. But I'm not sure if I'm just overreacting... It's my first brand new car, and I was super excited. But now I sorta hate it.

I ordered the car brand new, to my specs, in May of 2012. Took delivery in mid-June. About a month later I noticed the coolant level was low, I figured it just had an air bubble from being new, so didn't think much of it. Topped off the tank again and went about my life.

In December of 2013 it was low again, and I took it to the dealer. They kept it overnight, did some tests, and told me they couldn't find anything wrong. The burning coolant smell was just my air freshener. Why yes, yes I did file a formal complaint against that service writer. They had me bring the car back in, but again they couldn't find anything wrong. I asked them to dye the coolant and check for a leak that way. They refused, saying that is outdated and any leaks they would find by pressure testing the system.

I then took it to a different dealer, who did another pressure test. And when they couldn't find anything, they dyed the coolant so they could find the leak that way. A week later they replaced the hose clamps on the water pump. That was the end of March 2014.

I've now moved to a new state, and have found a dealer I like. They've already worked on the car, and I was happy with them. I have a friend who is a tech there, and I always request that he works on the car.

The car was fine, wasn't losing anything for a few months. In late October, it was beginning to get low again, so I've been keeping an eye on it, so I could take it into a dealer with the tank low.

It was low enough that I took it to the dealer on Friday. I immediately did not like the service writer I got, she wouldn't listen to me about the car and this leak history, going as far as cutting me off. And then she told me my friend wasn't working that day. I really considered leaving and coming back when he was working, but figured I was already there, so they might as well look at the car.

I waited for it, at least long enough to see what was going on. I was told they found the hoses going to the water pump to be leaking and they would need to order new ones. Fine. I was told if I take the car it would for sure overheat on me (Really? It's been fine for two years now, give me some more Dexcool and let me go. I'm smart enough to pay attention to any idiot lights that come on, since it doesn't have a temp gauge.) Also, they are totally booked and wouldn't be able to put the new parts on until February. But somehow if they keep the car, they can fit it in... Whatever.

The car already had an appointment to get snow tires installed on Monday, which is why I wanted to take it. Like I said, it's not some flood of a leak, just let me get my tires up on! So now I had to cancel that since I have no idea when I'll get the car back. I was given a rental land yacht Malibu that barely fits in my garage.

I'm seriously over this car now. I already paid for the snow tires on Tire Rack, so I guess I'll keep the car for the rest of winter. What I'm thinking of doing is trade it in something that can tow the track car, but who knows.

Jedidiah > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 01/11/2015 at 14:43

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It could just be puking up and draining out of the overflow tank or bad water pump gasket.

Is that the only problem? It sounds like it just needs a good look-over and some chevrolet dealers told to fuck themselves.

Axial > Jedidiah 01/11/2015 at 14:46

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Whoops, wrong reply button!

Axial > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 01/11/2015 at 14:47

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Did they check the heater core? Dex-Cool and heater cores are arch-enemies.

I own dead car brands only > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 01/11/2015 at 14:47

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well it sounds just like a minor issue, more of an annoyance anyway. You sound like a mechanically inclined person, you could do some testing of your own.

First check: look under the oil cap to see if any white foam is on there.

Second check: look at the spark plugs, if they're not tanned, but stark white, may be burning coolant.

Third check: not ideal for winter but on a cold start, observe for white smoke.

I'm assuming you did some of these.

My old Saab had a slightly porous block and was losing a bit of coolant this way. I just bought some of those sealant tabs and stuck them in the coolant resrvior and never had an issue again.

DrScientist > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 01/11/2015 at 14:53

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hate to be a proponent of the "car as disposable appliance" concept, but if youre not upside down on a loan, maybe you should just trade it laterally to something equivalent. of course there may be other problems on any new to you car, but i dont think you should be bored with your primary mode of transport.

you could probably get a reasonable amount of your snow tires back on ebay.

edit: also, a slow coolant leak doesnt sound like too much of an issue here. i know it was a brand new car when you acquired it, and the dealers and writers have been shit, but i dream of the day the only thing wrong with my car is a slow coolant leak.

ly2v8-Brian > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 01/11/2015 at 14:56

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Iirc there can be a slow leak from where the upper heater hose comes from the engine.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > I own dead car brands only 01/11/2015 at 14:57

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I mean, I could do all of that. But like, I bought a nice new car for my daily so that I could not have to do that stuff for awhile. It still has a warranty, I don't want to have to fix my own car. You know? I already deal with prepping and keeping the track car up and running, I wanted something problem free.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > DrScientist 01/11/2015 at 14:58

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No loan, but the silly thing tanked on value... I've been looking at trucks, and it would at least help out a fair bit on a trade-in.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Jedidiah 01/11/2015 at 15:00

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Yeah, the only thing is this coolant keeps disappearing problem. Chevy even issued a service bulletin because they have been having a lot of water pump failures. Something is clearly an issue with that whole system, and I'm getting sick of trying to track mine down.

I own dead car brands only > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 01/11/2015 at 15:03

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i understand but sometimes the dealers overlook small details like these. You're not fixing anything per se but instead gathering evidence to present to the dealer so they can go shove themselves.

Would probably take 10 minutes tops for all three checks.

The sealant tab, gm actually has a part number for it and they have used them on customers' cars in the past.

Conan > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 01/11/2015 at 15:05

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I feel like the issue us finding an independent mechanic to give it a seeing to... a place where code readers isn't how they figure out stuff.

No Prius Needed > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 01/11/2015 at 15:14

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If you think that's bad, you are lucky you don't own a VAG product.

My dad's Q5 has had:

5+ brake failures (complete loss of brakes from the pedal, but the electronic parking brake stopped it)

AC going out after 1 year

A leak in the passenger foot well that turned into a waterfall (weather tech is amazing)

A leak in the sun roof that covers the entire roof of the car ( weather tech isn't saving anything now)

And more. The dealership just loans us A8s instead of A4s when stuff goes wrong now.

JGrabowMSt > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 01/11/2015 at 15:15

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Any chance you could take it to the same people that tune the SS, if they do small jobs? I know Chevy should do it for free, but the Neon I had was a complete disaster that only got cleared up after I went out of pocket for an indy shop to do the work. I just didnt have the patience anymore, and the bill from the indy shop was low enough to make me happy that it was finally over with.

The shop thats finishing up the motor swap on my Magnum is the same shop that did the valve cover gaskets on my SL, and they do anything from SCCA tech inspections to monster motor swaps.

I would see what they say about it. Might even be able to mount your new tires too.

Sn210 > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 01/12/2015 at 13:59

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First and foremost, I'm sorry the Sonic is giving you troubles! Secondly, did you happen to receive the Secret Senna gift I sent you? According to usps, it was delivered to a front desk on Thursday. I know you've been busy with car problems, so you probably haven't had a chance to post, but I just wanted to make sure you actually got it and not somebody else who's out enjoying your stuff!

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Sn210 01/12/2015 at 14:15

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I just picked it up today! I'm bad about checking my mailbox, and got the notice I had a package on Saturday. I got this notification when I was coming to Oppo to post about it. And now I know who it's from, so even better!

Sn210 > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 01/12/2015 at 14:17

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AHH! Ok awesome! Like I said, I was paranoid somebody took it. I hope you like it!

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Sn210 01/12/2015 at 14:20

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It was nice and cozy in the office, no worries. And it's awesome, thanks so much!

Sn210 > Little Black Coupe Turned Silver 01/12/2015 at 14:22

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you're welcome! Have fun!