F#$%&ing Cruze [UPDATE 2: HEATER BOOGALOO]

"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
12/20/2019 at 09:51 • Filed to: None

It’s too damn efficient!

Some highlights from Service Bulletin PI1166:

Subject: Vehicle Slow to Heat Up in Cold Ambient Temperatures

...

Some customers may comment in cold ambient temperatures on the following:

– The engine is slow to reach normal coolant operating temperatures as indicated by the engine coolant temperature gauge.

– The air coming out of the heater outlet ducts is not warm enough for their personal preferences.

...

The high energy efficient engines that this vehicle is equipped with may not generate the same amount of heat at idle that the customer may be accustomed to when compared with older less efficient engines. Additionally depending on extreme cold ambient temperatures, a short drive cycle under light engine load may also not generate enough heat to reach normal engine coolant operating temperatures as indicated by the engine coolant temperature gauge and therefore insufficient heat from the heater outlet ducts.

...

Please communicate to the customer that this condition as described is a normal operating characteristic of their vehicle. It will not impact the designed performance or reliability of the vehicle. Please share this information with the customer, including a copy of this information.

I spent an hour in my car this morning in stop and go traffic with no heat. It was about 18*F here, so not record cold by any means, but still, it was a chilly drive. I love how GM spins it, though - “air is not warm enough for their preference”. That assumes the air is warm in the first place, mine was not. And I’ve checked my coolant level and have no DTCs. I wonder if something is wrong with my heater core or if 18*F is just too cold for the Cruze.

UPDATE: I drove it home from work in 31*F and it was FINE! PERFECTLY, 100%, FINE. F#$%&ing CRUZE!!!

UPDATE 2: THE HEATER BOOGALOO

This morning was another cold one, 19*F, and it was a chilly drive in to work, though not as bad as yesterday, and I think I know why. I don’t think anything is wrong with the car, it’s not a thermostat, or a blocked heater, or anything else. It’s my dog.

Before I explain why, understand that my commute is about 15 miles and goes something like this:

1/2 mile in neighborhood at 25

2 miles on parkway at 50

1 mile on major road at 0 to 50

9 miles on hilly 2 lane road at 0 to 45

2.5 miles on highway at 0 to 65

When I say “ 0 to XX” I mean it’s dependent on traffic conditions. See, before we got Ozzy I’d leave around 0630 and encountered very little traffic, so on those roads I was pushing the higher end of the speed limit and keeping the car under load and warming it up. Now that I have to walk and feed him in the mornings, I end up leaving closer to 0715 and encounter significantly more traffic, which leads to much more stop and go, so the car just doesn’t warm up because it’s rarely under sustained load.

I also remembered that the Cruze has a feature called Deceleration Fuel Cut-Off (DFCO). When the car is coasting in gear, it turns off fuel flow to save gas. As soon as either the clutch or throttle is depressed, fuel starts to flow again. It’s a fuel saving, economy boosting feature, but there’s a problem in the winter time. With no fuel flow, and no combustion occurring , the engine is just pumping air. Lots of cold, cold air, that’s sucking all the heat out of the cylinders.

Like a good engineer, I did an experiment this morning on the hilly sections of my drive. I watched the coolant temperature while coasting down hill, sometimes in gear (in DFCO condition) and sometimes with the clutch in or car in neutral (engine idling). I could watch the temperature drop rapidly in DFCO condition, but when I idled it the temperature would maintain.

DISCUSSION (94)

AkursedX > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 09:50

Check your cabin air filter? Dirty ones can really start to hurt flow through the heater core.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 09:51

sounds like somethings wrong with the heater core, maybe its clogged?

jimz > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 09:54

diesel owners know your pain.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 09:55

Is it possible the thermostat is stuck open? You should be seeing heat in about 10-15 minutes especially in stop and go traffic.

E90M3 > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 09:58

On the other side, BMW has something to help warm up the heater so you get hot air in less than 5 mins in the car.

Long_Voyager94 > jimz
12/19/2019 at 10:02

We do?

Our F250 never had issues heating?

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > E90M3
12/19/2019 at 10:08

I did not know that, but no joke seeing how fast the windshield defrosted was part of the reason I bought my car.

When I went to test drive the car, it was covered in snow. By the time we were done clearing it off the it was also defrosted. That was a 10-20 degree day.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 10:14

1st or second gen? Mine takes forever to warm up.

Mercedes Streeter > Long_Voyager94
12/19/2019 at 10:15

Think he means diesel car owners. On a day like yesterday (9F in the morning) my Passat will start cooling down at idle. And forget the idea of letting the car idle in the cold to warm up...it won't. lol

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Long_Voyager94
12/19/2019 at 10:18

Yeah mines heats up plenty quick. Even after disabling the stupid “ha ha you get no boost until warm” mechanism. Yeah that scared me the first day I took it out in 20° weather.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Mercedes Streeter
12/19/2019 at 10:20

You need a block heater!

My teammate fit one on his ‘16 tdi golf and he says its the greatest thing ever.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > E90M3
12/19/2019 at 10:25

I don't know what I got, but it puts out massive amounts of heat by the time I reach the stop sign a block from my driveway. Such a welcome change.

Michael > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 10:27

Block half the radiator with a pizza box top

OPPOsaurus WRX > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 10:28

Before you leave, just sit there at full throttle for a few minutes, that should get it warmed up.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > OPPOsaurus WRX
12/19/2019 at 10:33

It’s okay as long as the needle doesn’t stay in the red zone.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 10:40

Thermostat, most likely. Many are designed to stick open when they fail, which causes the engine to take forever to heat up.

I had an issue last year where I only had heat while driving and it would fade away within 30 seconds of idling. Turns out my car switches to an auxilliary electric water pump while idling to reduce engine load. That had failed, so I only got heat when the mechanical pump kicked on.

HammerheadFistpunch > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 10:49

i remember suffering through this for years in the tdi before i realized it has an auxillary heater coil in the hvac. does the Cruze not?

Under_Score > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 10:55

Yeah, but can we have this for AC instead? I had the defrost on one bar at 72 degrees and I was warm after ten minutes, yet the heat can get up to 86 degrees! No one needs a car that warm. AC only goes down to 64... one of the worst things about my car.

Mercedes Streeter > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
12/19/2019 at 11:12

Don’t have a place to plug one in. I live car and motorcycle enthusiasm on hard mode. lol ¯\_()_/¯

I usually just cycle the glow plugs a few times, crank the car, then go on my way. :)

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Mercedes Streeter
12/19/2019 at 11:18

wait, you used to have a garage right? my Oppo history is a bit rusty...

Snuze: Needs another Swede > E90M3
12/19/2019 at 11:24

I’ve always wondered why more companies don’t do this. It can’t be that hard/expensive to stick a couple hundred watt heater in the duct so that you get some heat pretty fast, especially for defrosting.

Mercedes Streeter > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
12/19/2019 at 11:26

I have a garage, but it’s about ten miles away. I only use it to store vehicles I’m not currently driving. :)

Edit: I used to live in a house with an attached garage, but that dream didn’t live for too long.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > AkursedX
12/19/2019 at 11:27

I replaced it this spring, so I doubt it’s the problem, but I will check it.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Mercedes Streeter
12/19/2019 at 11:29

Oooo

10 mile long power cable it is then :p

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Michael
12/19/2019 at 11:29

Good call! I don’t know if I have one but I do have packing tape and may tape up part of the grill.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
12/19/2019 at 11:31

First gen. It did something like this to me last winter, but it turns out my coolant was low and I had a slow leak. I got that fixed last year and it was fine , and so far haven’t had any issues, but this has been by far the coldest morning this season.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/19/2019 at 11:31

It’s possibly, but supposedly the Cruze has an electronically controlled/monitored thermostat so it should throw a CEL if it goes bad.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
12/19/2019 at 11:33

Supposedly the thermostat is electronically controlled/monitored so it should throw a CEL if it goes bad. The water pump switch thing is interesting, though. I wonder if the Cruze has something similar?

Also, this morning when I was driving the car would get up to temp if I turned the heater off, and then as soon as I turned it on the temp would start dropping.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > HammerheadFistpunch
12/19/2019 at 11:37

Do you have to manually turn on the heater coil?

Hudson Hawkish > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 11:42

Worth trying

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 11:43

My car threw a CEL when the thermostat was stuck open, it took a while but it did eventually. I think it was “engine not at operating temp” or something similar.

Pickup_man > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/19/2019 at 11:44

But the red zone is where the heat is made.

HammerheadFistpunch > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
12/19/2019 at 11:50

in a sense. it only works if the heat is set to full and fan speed not more than 2nd setting

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > HammerheadFistpunch
12/19/2019 at 11:53

But o f course, I mean how didn’t you know that?

HammerheadFistpunch > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
12/19/2019 at 11:55

exactly, which is why I froze my butt off for years. Its also why a video I did showing how to put down a stuck armrest in that car is my number 1 most viewed video on youtube.

HammerheadFistpunch > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
12/19/2019 at 11:56

You have a Toyota I6 is what you’ve got. They heat right up.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 12:10

Definitely soun ds like a thermostat stuck open. When mine went I got a code but it didn't trigger an actual light.

hedbutter > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 12:16

I had this happen when i added a heater to my side by side. had to add a little piece of cardboard to make it less efficient

AkursedX > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 12:51

Yeah, probably not but always good to check. I get some people who complain about no heat and find their filter looks like this:

Kinja'd!!!

jimz > E90M3
12/19/2019 at 13:17

IIRC diesel versions of pickups have an available electric auxiliary heater. At least Ford does.

jimz > Pickup_man
12/19/2019 at 13:18

no, the red zone is for immediate loading and unloading of passengers.

jimz > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 13:22

it doesn’t have to be electronically controlled, the PCM just has to monitor engine temperature. And yes, I can confirm if engine temp is too low for too long it’ll throw a CEL ‘cos that happened in my Ranger last winter. it’s a standard (legislated) OBD II code- P0128 Coolant Thermostat (Coolant Temp Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature)

jimz > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/19/2019 at 13:23

P0128 Coolant Thermostat (Coolant Temp Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature)

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 15:07

My Golf is similar when it’s cold (10°F) out. Get some cardboard and cover up half of your radiator. With airflow around the radiator restricted, it won’t shed heat fast enough and coolant will reach operating temperature quicker, so you’ll have heat.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 15:09

Put the cardboard between the radiator and the AC condenser. Hold it in place with zip ties, not tape. When I’ve used tape in the past, it’s fallen off.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
12/19/2019 at 15:13

I’ll throw my OBD Bluet ooth on it tonight and see if it’s showing anything. It will also be warmer on the way home from work (36!), and another cold morning tomorrow, so I get some more opportunity to see how it performs in various conditions.

I guess I’m a dummy and don’t understand how a thermostat works, but I always thought that eventually the engine would still come up to operating temperature. M y commute is about an hour long, and towards the latter half I had the temp up in the 215*F range , which is normally where it likes to be. As soon as I turned the heater on it started dropping. When I turned the heater off, it started coming back up. I always thought with a stuck thermostat, the engine would take forever to heat up, but eventually it would reach the same equilibrium point it normally would.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > AkursedX
12/19/2019 at 15:14

Gross.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > HammerheadFistpunch
12/19/2019 at 15:15

I’ll double check the manual, but I don’t think it has anything like that.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
12/19/2019 at 15:22

I may give that a try but I am starting to think it’s a stuck open thermostat.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 15:34

What year/motor do you have?

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 15:50

You r heater is actually a tiny radiator and does provide some cooling to the engine. It may have been enough to push it over the edge into being unable to retain block heat.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
12/19/2019 at 15:57

Yeah, I knew about the heater, and it makes sense that turning the heat on sucks extra coolant out of the block. What I didn’t realize is how a thermostat actually works - I always thought it was like an on/off switch, but apparently it’s more like a flow regulator that responds to temperature, and now the whole system makes a lot more sense to me.

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch
12/19/2019 at 15:57

Kinda like the “emergency heat” thing in my heat pump in my house.

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein
12/19/2019 at 15:59

yup. my EmHeat is my furnace but most people with a heatpump have electric coils. Does it work okay? I hear lots of people complain about this setup. I freaking love my furnace/heat pump combo.

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch
12/19/2019 at 16:14

It doesn’t often get cold enough here in DC to need properly strong heat like I was used to back in WI where I had a gas heat. My house here is all electric. Wish I had a gas stove but there’s no gas line that I’m aware of and we rent anyway.

What I’ve noticed is if the inside temp is within a couple degrees of the set temp on the thermostat, the heat pump just does its lazy, not-super-hot air routine, trying to save energy and hit the set temp. B ut if it runs for a while and that doesn’t raise the inside temp up to the set temp, it’ll kick on the emergency heat which also runs the fan at a faster speed.

The thermostat does let you force the emergency heat on if inclined but I guess it’s not supposed to be left on for extended periods of time. Generally I don’t feel the need to use this very often if at all.

My basement does get fairly chilly in the winter relative to the rest of the house, but that’s what basements do. I already have a solution for that.

My wife is in the process of starting up her own business out of our house, she’s a massage therapist and the room she’ll be doing that in is on the 1st (actually 2nd since our “basement” is actually ground level ) floor. She wants the space to be toasty for her clients but rather than just crank the whole house’s heat she’s been talking about one of those electric oil radiators I found when I was investigating the HeatDish. It’s all going on the same electric bill but I gotta believe that sort of radiator pulls less energy than bumping the whole-house thermostat up a couple degrees and running forced air that much more.

HammerheadFistpunch > Textured Soy Protein
12/19/2019 at 16:17

My Family in Owings MD is where I hear most of the heat pump complaints, but its probably just the size of their house compared to the size of their pump.

Textured Soy Protein > HammerheadFistpunch
12/19/2019 at 16:22

Could be. My setup is far from perfect but it’s not to the point of being something I actively dislike. We’re in a 3-story townhouse and in the summer the top floor’s never quite cool enough, and in the winter the basement’s never quite warm enough. No amount of messing with dampers and vent registers has solved this. It could definitely also use more sound deadening. If I owned the place I could see myself wanting to improve it but for a rental, it’s acceptable enough, and according to the electric company, our energy bills are right in line with similar sized homes.

William Harris24 > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 16:23

Chevy should do better! My car Stability Traction Control has been the root of my car trouble for two months now. I keep my car maintenance up to date; however, without a warning sign it quit running. My car heats up just fine.

Sammyno55 > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 17:10

When I was young, my father had a Mazda pickup with a diesel. It wouldn't warm up when it was below freezing. He had a few pieces of aluminum sheet to put in front of the radiator depending on the ambient temperature. I currently drive a Prius and on cold days (Atlanta cold anyway) it won't make enough heat to defrost properly.

Artayu > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 17:52

I have a 2017 and a 2011 and neither them have this issue. About 15 minutes to temp.

I Will Always Be The Honey Badger > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 18:49

An hour at 18 degrees in traffic and still a chilly drive? Thermostat. I’d bet my supper on it.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > HammerheadFistpunch
12/19/2019 at 21:36

I have family in Lusby. They’re great until 25F. That week of 0F, there were crazy number of flooded basements as peoples pumps couldn’t keep up.

Svend > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/19/2019 at 21:56

Do they do cold weather grille covers for your car.

Kinja'd!!!

gmctavish needs more space > E90M3
12/19/2019 at 22:22

I think my Volvo must do this too. The Subaru takes about 8 years to make heat and defrost, but the Volvo is 3 mins or so

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > HammerheadFistpunch
12/19/2019 at 22:30

I think that stuck armrest video is in my history a bunch too....

dieseldub > HammerheadFistpunch
12/19/2019 at 23:11

I had one of those in a 2006 Jetta... and it even still worked (many fail and set codes in various modules).

I don’t remember having to turn the heat up all the way. What was neat about that setup is even with the old 3 dial controls, it still automatically changed the heater core flap and turned on the auxiliary heater as needed when temperatures were cold enough, even if I left the dial set somewhere in the middle.

I generally left fan on 2, didn’t even know that was a prerequisite for the heater, so I guess I got lucky there. But I do recall a number of fairly cool mornings where there was perceptible heat after only being about a half mile down the road. None of the more ancient TDIs I’ve owned ever did that. Combine that with heated seats and man, just living the dream.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/20/2019 at 01:18

Does your car have the automatic baffle thing? If it isn’t working (stuck open), it’ll take forever to heat up. If it’s stuck closed, it will cause overheating.

My car is newer, efficient, and blows heat out of the vents super fast, but even with it closed (it’s automatic), it seems to take a while to get up to temp on gentle driving. My car never made it to temp on drives to/from work when I lived only a little over 3 miles away.

SmugAardvark > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/20/2019 at 02:25

Don’t worry, my Nissan is having a similar CEL code.

And it’s been in the 50's here.

Jessica McAndrew > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
12/20/2019 at 05:37

When was the last time you changed your thermostat? You probably need a new one.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
12/20/2019 at 06:16

My car is a 2012 with the 1.4L turbo.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
12/20/2019 at 06:22

I think only the Ecos got the baffle, I have the LT - I sacrificed 2 MPG to get the sportier suspension and closer ratio gearbox.

My commute is about 14 miles but its kind of weird, its basically go out of my neighborhood at 25, then do 55 for a few miles, then stop & go for the middle half of the trip on a 2 lane rd, then back on the highway for a couple miles. I usually get heat by the middle of the trip.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Svend
12/20/2019 at 06:23

Im sure that exists for my car, or as several people have suggested I could make something equivalent, but Ive never needed it before.

Svend > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/20/2019 at 06:28

Ye’, in this day and age, engines are more efficient so they take ages to get hot.

The grille cover would help on mine a little (should I ever need to get one), but there’s that many air vents and air ducts from the front of the car I guess it’d still take a while.

Michael > jimz
12/20/2019 at 08:53

No, the white zone is for loading. Now, there is no stopping in the RED zone.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/20/2019 at 10:11

Your dog reminds me of my mom’s dog.

Kinja'd!!!

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Jessica McAndrew
12/20/2019 at 10:17

This summer. It's a 96 with the 2.slow. They're just like this.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/20/2019 at 10:36

My LS trim Cruze (sadly, no) warms up fast enough since I’ve got some hard acceleration zines until the highway. Still double that of a same year Ford my brother has.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/20/2019 at 10:37

When I’m driving down from the ski resort my Mazda 3 behaves much the same. When I start it will be 1/2 warm from idling and by the time I’m at the bottom of the hill it will be almost all cold again. So I have started just coasting down the hill in neutral. Brakes aren’t that expensive and I also get heat!

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Svend
12/20/2019 at 10:38

I’m pretty sure they have cardboard where they live......no need for those fancy Dan polymer covers.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/20/2019 at 10:39

I’m working on an oppo review of my 1.8 LS with the auto. Could you say a few words about your 1.4 and manual since that’s the combo most oppos would want? I’ll quote you.

We both have 2012s and I've already included a link to this post over the heater issue.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/20/2019 at 10:42

Well, the dog can’t go so I guess you gotta get a new car.

66P1800inpieces > Svend
12/20/2019 at 11:03

I had a stuck open thermostat one winter, quick fix was to cover 25% or so of the radiator with cardboard until I had a chance to fix it.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
12/20/2019 at 11:10

After 8 years of ownership my thoughts and feelings on the car are much different than when I first bought it.

I bought mine brand new at the end of 2011 and I thought it was the best small car GM has ever made, and that’s probably still a true statement. I had a Cobalt before it, and the fit, finish, design, and quality of the Cruze was light years ahead of the Cobalt. I believe that, in terms of initial quality, the Cruze was just as good as the Civic, Corolla, etc. GM was also on the leading edge, making the jump to the small displacement + turbo formula - at the time the Cruze debuted most manufacturers were still running 1.8-2.2L non-turbo engines (at least in US models) .

My car in particular is fun because it’s an LT manual, so I get the 1.4L + close ratio manual, and good suspension, vs. the Eco models which are the same 1.4L engine, but a wide ratio gearbox with triple overdrives, crappier ties, a beam axle out back to cut weight, less sound deadening, etc. The trade off is that the Eco picks up a few MPG. But I’ll take my LT which is more fun and still gets great mileage.

The problem is, that in the long term, the Cruze has been one of the least reliable cars I’ve owned. In 140k miles I have to repair/replace the turbo, camshaft VVT actuators, radiator & hoses, intake manifold, and 2 valve covers. The intake and valve cover thing in particular really chaffs me. It’s such a dumb design - the PCV system has valves built into the intake, valve cover, and a hose at the turbo inlet. GM says it’s a “lifetime” system, but they go bad, often in as little as 50k miles, and when one valve goes bad it usually takes the other 2 with it. Unlike other cars that use a $5 check valve you can get at the auto parts store, you’re stuck replacing the entire intake manifold ($155), and/or valve cover ($75), and/or intake hose ($55) .

I freely admit that I’m a GM fanboy, so the Cruze has been especially disappointing to me . My other GMs have all be super reliable, and my dad is a big GM guy and has had multiple vehicles go well over 200k miles with 0 issues. All that said, it doesn’t deter me from the GM brand as a whole, I just wouldn’t get anything with the older 1.4L turbo engine again.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > TheRealBicycleBuck
12/20/2019 at 11:14

I remember when I first got Ozzy and posted pictures of him on here you showed me that fella. Seeing him really convinced me that the rescue paperwork was right, that Ozzy is a Catahoula / Corgi cross .

Well, we did the DNA test, and even they we re stumped! They said he’s in the top 500 most genetically diverse dogs they’ve tested. When they can’t nail down specific breeds, they give you breed groups, and what we got was 1 2.5% Collie, 12.5% Cocker Spaniel, 25% “ Sporting Group”, 25% “Terrier Group”, and 25% “Asian Group.”

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/20/2019 at 11:20

Damn these modern cars and their thermal efficiency!

Snuze: Needs another Swede > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
12/20/2019 at 11:22

That’s how I’m gonna pitch it to my wife!

“Honey, my car doesn’t heat up and I’m cold on my way to work. I think I need a new car with a bigger engine so I can get some heat . That Camaro I’ve been wanting has a 6.2L, I’m sure that will keep me plenty warm!”

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/20/2019 at 11:23

If your car was an automatic this wouldn’t be a problem.

*I’ll see myself out

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
12/20/2019 at 11:35

So what you’re saying is I should drive the Volvo in the cold. Got it!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/20/2019 at 13:10

That’ s great. I'll block quote you for that or maybe split it up. The 1.8 doesn't get off the line as well with less torque but has been dead reliable so far. Thank you.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
12/20/2019 at 14:09

Feel free to chop it up as you needed, I probably got into to much detail there on certain aspects. But the summary is that the 1.4L turbo / 6 speed manual Cruze is great in LT trim, still gets great mileage and all that, it’s just the long term reliability that has left me wanting.

I’ve actually looked a bit into swapping in the engine out of a Gen II Cruze, it’s a completely different engine. T he problem is also that it’s a completely different engine, and it’s direct injection, and I’m not sure how common the wiring harness is or anything like that. And it’s my daily driver so, while I don’t consider it 100% reliable, I don’t think me screwing with it is going to make it any better, and likely worse.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/20/2019 at 17:02

Oh, GM. My FoST has a baffle in spite of being the sporty version.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/20/2019 at 18:22

Hah! Further proof that phenotype doesn’t always equal genotype.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > TheRealBicycleBuck
12/20/2019 at 18:30

Though I’ ve heard that Catahoulas are basically a “mutt breed”. I wonder if we stumbled on something really close to the original formula?

TheRealBicycleBuck > Snuze: Needs another Swede
12/20/2019 at 18:58

It could be! I’d bet someone has posted a genetic profile for a catahoula.