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CEL Flashing, Traction Control Illuminated, Rough Idle and Hard Clunking


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Hi Riverspark,

We're sorry to hear that your vehicle concern has returned. Please feel free to reach out to GM of Canada if you need any extra assistance. Their number is 800-263-3777 and can be reached Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM until 11:30 PM and Saturday from 7:30 AM until 6:00 PM EST.

Kristen A.

Chevrolet Customer Care

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  • 1 month later...
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So if it has happened to more people than just me on a car that is less than 2 years old, then I'm starting to think it deserves attention from GM or at least a bulletin for the service techs so that

This was conversation I had directly with the GM complaint line 866-790-5700 when you call there, they assign you a case number and worker, and their job is to get the problems solved. She said that a

Metal shavings in the engine? No advanced symptoms, or strange noises? A trip from hell, and it is a major inconvenience, but fortunately, it sounds like you are dealing with a decent dealership, and

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just a quick update, my spark had 2 valves replaced the first time around (took over a month) got it back from GM drove it for 4 days and found it was now using oil at about a quart every 200 miles. sent it back to the dealer waited ANOTHER MONTH, got it back. while the car was at the dealer my back bumper was damaged and the paint does not match. Now my motor has a unusual rattle. Car started having problems at 38000 miles 2 and 1/2 months to fix It now my back bumpers paint does not match and there seems to be my a rattle in my "new motor" thanks GM!!! at least it is not using oil yet looks like the motor has a warranty for this until 100,000 miles.

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Hi all,

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have experienced the same issue on my 2013 Spark with less than 7000 miles on the odometer.

Issue occurred twice so far and seems to have fixed itself after restarting the engine a few times.

I plan taking the car to the dealer to get it looked and and will report back.

I am not happy that my vehicle is experiencing these issues with so few miles on the ODO!

Edited by Adam Mardula
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Hi baby tires,

We're sorry to hear of your dissatisfaction. I understand that you have gone to your dealership and there are still some concerns with your Spark. Please feel free to send us a private message with your full contact information, VIN, current mileage, and involved dealership if we can be of any assistance. We will be glad to look further into your concerns!

Kristen A.

Chevrolet Customer Care

Edited by Chevrolet Customer Care
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My spark has done this twice now in a week. My dealer refuses to do anything plus every time it goes in it comes back with more body damage that they deny. I should have never bought a spark. It's nothing but TROUBLE!!! I'm at 32,000 miles and drive 80+ miles a day with two young children. This is bogus. I bought a brand new car to avoid these issues. I should have kept my trusty 97 escort with 200,000 miles!

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Lynnette, this may go nowhere, but try sending a private message to the Chevy Support people and see if they can do anything.

That said I feel your pain and have mentioned it many times to several different support people, many dealers treat us Spark owners like we have the plague or are of the poorest cast.

If you decide to ditch it, the Ford Fiesta ECOboost looks pretty interesting, but it is only available on the SE or above model, only manual shift, and they get around another $1300 for that option. Total is around $18500 or a little more depending on options, I wish they offered that engine in the S base model!

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Well guys, I'm sitting here waiting for a tow truck. I used to love my Spark but now the reality has set in. It's just not a reliable car. On top of that, Moran Chevrolet in Clinton Twp, MI is THE WORSE dealer I could have ever purchased a car from.

After months of pointless back and forth repairs and several rental cars they finally replaced the engine in my Spark. It was at 31,000 miles.

I get my car back and at the end of the day it is overheating. The derelicts didn't connect a hose properly and it disconnected leaking coolant while I was driving. The next day I pick it up and drove maybe 30 miles on it. Next I go to grab third gear and my shift knob has free roam of the gearbox. My shift cable broke. That's right guys, I've had my new engine for 2 days and have had 2 separate repairs because of the idiots that are employed there. I WILL be compensated and I WILL raise hell. I'm a full time student with a full time job and I have no room in my schedule for inconveniences like these everyday.

And lately that Ford Fiesta had been looking sharp. I want to say I'm done with my Spark and I am certainly done with Chevrolet.

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The 2014 Fiesta looks kind of like a manta ray, I really like the front grill area. I need to call the Sales manager at the dealer I've been working with, they finally looked at the list of issues and offered to trade it, Chevy said they would help make that trade better. If it isn't enough, I'll have them fix it and get a Fiesta. Any way you look at it the Fiesta is going to be a lot more money unless you find a 13 still sitting around. Most dealers are getting the SE model and that starts around 17,000, there is a $1000 ecoboost challenge cash back and $500 Ford financing cash back happening right now, and one more trick that my Ford dealer told me for a possible $750 coupon, PM for details.

And remember, the Fiesta hatch is another $900.

Edited by Greg_E
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I had my Spark in for horn not working, volume controls on the steering wheel not working and windshield washer not working (all fixed under warranty) there was also a recall on the harness around the air condiitioner (ac has been worked on a total of 4 time in 18 months, they brought the car around to me, I get in and at 20 miles an hour the RPM go up over 4000, I brought the car right back so they could see. They drove the car and stated that it felt like it was stuck in a higher gear. This was yesterday. I called them today and they told me that when there is a "misfire 2" that the car defaults the transmission into 2nd gear. The service associate states that he thinks this is an electrical problem. This to me is a major issue, wouldn't an electrical issue in the egine area cause a fire? What do you all think?

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It sounds like all the problems that were repaired, were due to electrical problems, and someone crossed a wire somewhere. With all the fuses, and links, the probability of a fire is small, but you can never rule anything out.

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I had my Spark in for some warranty work, the horn, windshield washer & radio volume controls were not working. They said there was circuit problems and the fuses were blown (had car for 18 months) while there they were also doing recall work on the ac harness (the ac has been worked on 3 times before this). They called and said the car was ready. When I got there the car was brought around to me, nothing was said to me but when I got in the car and was leaving, the RPM's went up to 4K and I was only going 20 mph. I turned around (about 3 blocks total) and had them drive it. I did not shut the car off, when the Service Associate got back, he said he could see that there was a problem, he was glad I hadn't shut the car off and they would get it on the computer. They gave me back the loaner & off I went (another Spark loaner). I got a call that said the computer shows the misfire and that when that happens the transmission defaults to 2nd gear (automatic transmission). The next call I get wants to know what I do to make this happen, I told them that their employee had started the car, and that all previous times had been the same, at the start up. Now I am being told that even though the computer shows 100's of misfires, since they cannot duplicate it, it is fine. I do not see how you can time me it is fine, when your service people have driven it when it was happening. Has anyone found a solution. I am looking to make GM buy this car back. It has been in there service centers 6 times as of now, and a total of 8+ weeks. Any other suggestions?

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I appreciate that. If they were trying to fix the "misfire" I wouldn't have such a bad opinion, but when you tell me that you can see all the misfires but yet you cannot do anything to fix just because you can not duplicate it, doesn't make any sense. I feel I am getting the run around because I am female.

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I appreciate that. If they were trying to fix the "misfire" I wouldn't have such a bad opinion, but when you tell me that you can see all the misfires but yet you cannot do anything to fix just because you can not duplicate it, doesn't make any sense. I feel I am getting the run around because I am female.

No, this is not a sexist thing, most GM dealers share their stupidity, equally. Try messaging one of the girls here, a few messages up from the Chevrolet Customer Care group, they are always eager to help.

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Update on my Sparks issue:

The dealership had my vehicle for two weeks while they waited for parts on it. This is the notes from the Service Invoice:

"Found small misfires on all cylinders. Called TAC. TAC instructed to remove the fuel rail to check for debris and test the fuel. Found the fuel to be on, however found some debris in the fuel rail. Replaced the fuel rail assembly and flushed fuel line with alcohol as per TAC"

So my car at this point from past services has all new spark plugs, cylinder one and two ignition coils and a new fuel rail.

Since getting it back April 15th, 2014 it seems to be running well (touch wood it stays that way).

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Where did the dirt come from? I'm sure we have filters on the input to the pump and the output from the pump, typically the finer filter will be on the output.

And if you were having misfires, did the CEL come on and did it store the error code?

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Where did the dirt come from? I'm sure we have filters on the input to the pump and the output from the pump, typically the finer filter will be on the output.

And if you were having misfires, did the CEL come on and did it store the error code?

Oh yeah the same symptoms I have been having for over half a year, previous to the last time it was in, they had it for a week and it misfired on cylinder one over 400 times I was told and they found carbon tracking on #2 plug. Apparently all the gaps on the spark plugs were off and had to be replaced. Last time it coded the same code, but all were misfiring, they found carbon deposits (black specs all over the place) on the fuel rail and from what I was told it was blocking holes along the way. They aren't sure why it's doing this and aren't 100% sure if it's completely fixed yet, got it back and was told "we are hoping the problem is fixed".

Edited by Riverspark
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Ask them if they will ditch the crap AC Delco plugs and put in NGK? Even if you need to buy them out of pocket it would be worth the cost. I swore off of AC plugs a long time ago when I first noticed exhaust gasses getting out between the metal and ceramic which lets carbon form between the electrical attachment and ground and prevents the plug from sparking the way it should. I assume they fixed this since it was more than 20 years ago, but maybe they are still making crap plugs. NGK makes some nice stuff and not too expensive unless you get the iridium (spelling?) plugs, I run the iridium in my motorcycle and was going to switch the Spark over to them if I wasn't having all these problems.

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Hey BOSSBL,

I am sorry to hear you are having these concerns. Please private message me your name, VIN, phone number, and dealreship name so we can look into this for you. I hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for the referal Walt.

Erica Tiffany

Chevrolet Customer Care

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Edited by BOSSBL
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  • 3 weeks later...

Well, GM had me take my 2013 Spark to a different Chevy dealer to see what they could do. The got the car at 8am 5/27/14 and by 330pm 5/27/14 they were calling to tell me that the compression in cylinder 2 was only 80 psi and should be around 150 psi and that GM told them to replace the engine. GM is going to go after the 1st dealer for breech of warranty by stating that the car was not fixable. We'll see what happens, the engine had to be ordered. I was given a 2014 Chevy Cruze LTZ to drive while it is in the shop. I hope this works and I will keep you all posted.

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