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Bobby MSME

Spark Member
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Everything posted by Bobby MSME

  1. That is the reason I liked cars from the 1960's. No electronics to fail and mess up the car. My guess is removing the hub confused the computer and it probably needs a reset.
  2. Is the battery original? If so, I would take RD's suggestion above and get a new battery.
  3. My WAG is there was something defective from the beginning. The expense of repair at this point may not be worth it unless you need to drive frequently on icy roads. With a stick shift you have inherently better control over the car than a slush box anyways. My suggestion would be to spend the money on good winter tires instead during snow season.
  4. I love my 2017 Spark LS with CVT for trips less than 100 miles round trip. I agree with Stevil that seats are not comfortable for old geezers like me for longer trips. Our other car is a 2011 HHR (chevy) and last year we did a 7000 mile trip in it and my butt came out of it without any pain. No problems at all so far with both cars, except both front doors of my Spark squeak a little when opened. That rear vision camera on Spark is a neck saver and adds to safer driving.
  5. Do not believe any unbelievable stories! If it is too good to be true, it is most like not true!! Car manufacturers are under big pressure by law, to maintain average gas mileage below a certain number. Do you really think GM would not put a cover on the lower air intake if that makes 50% jump in gas mileage? The story teller was most likely seeking attention, which his wife does not give him.
  6. Above post is the best because it is reality based. Everyone has different driving habits, use different grade and brand of fuels, weather conditions are different, and traffic is different. After 54 years of driving new cars, what I know for sure is that my biggest car expense after purchase is not gas mileage, but it is how many repair bills are incurred.
  7. Dunno about these objects in your pic, they don't look like keys even though they are on a "key" ring. But I like the looks of your line of fortune on your palm. I predict you will be driving a Mercedes or a Cadillac in future.
  8. Usually the belt driving the alternator and A/C. If you are still chugging around with the original serpentine belt, then that is more likely as belts get noisy with age & use.
  9. My relatives in AZ tell me they replace batteries every 3 years.
  10. Bobby MSME

    New Owner

    Only one method possible to make any Spark instantly more zippy/responsive. But do NOT try it, it will destroy the engine in a short time. I will not reveal the method because a few of you might be tempted to try it
  11. Looks like you are going to need a new key made. If there is no spare key, your only option might be a visit to a gm dealer.
  12. Rudy....Awesome job in writing step by step procedure. If only manufacturer's car manuals were something close to your post, I would have attempted many DIY jobs
  13. Here is What I have used for oil changes since 1964 when I started buying only new cars. Never had engine issues in 54 years traced to oil change. The only time I had engine problem was when I had coolant changed by dealer and they left air pocket in the coolant system. non synthetic - 3000 miles or 12 months Synthetic blend - 6000 miles or 12 months Never used full synthetic!
  14. Why take a chance on a harsh solvent which could harm some sensors or seals somewhere in the engine bay? What I do not like about modern cars over those I owned in the 1960's is there are too many sensors to feed the computer. I would just use a pressurized air hose.
  15. Per owners manual, it all depends on severity of use..such as hilly roads or stop and go describes your 45,000 miles, then change the CVT fluid.
  16. My new car dealer gave me some coupons to buy GM accessories, and it saved me $100 with the coupon. Got 4 custom fitted rubber mats, very useful since I live close to the beach.
  17. Sure, if it is all slightly downhill with a little bit of tail wind
  18. I calculated MPG by keeping track of actual miles driven between fill-ups and exact amount of gas used. The number was slightly below 34. But the computer average shows slightly above 35. Which can only mean the computer numbers are slightly inflated, at least on my Spark 2017 with CVT. Note - my driving is similar to distant suburb model.
  19. Agree totally on how good 2017 spark is for the price. I am driving 2017 LS with CVT and like the tranny without having-to shift gears. our other car is a Chevy HHR and it rides much more stable at speeds over 60mph. but not as much fun to drive in urban areas.
  20. Ouch...mysterious shorts in the electrical harness are heavy on man-hours.
  21. There are a lot of steps for the technician to follow. These techs are known to make mistakes. If your Spark keeps giving you lower MPG (4-5 less is horribly bad) I would take it back to the dealer and complain vociferously.
  22. Service Procedure Note: Carefully read and follow the instructions below. Ensure the programming tool is equipped with the latest software and is securely connected to the data link connector. If there is an interruption during programming, programming failure or control module damage may occur. Stable battery voltage is critical during programming. Any fluctuation, spiking, over voltage or loss of voltage will interrupt programming. When required install the EL-49642 SPS Programming Support Tool to maintain system voltage. If not available, connect a fully c
  23. Read more about recall 18089 at this link: https://gm.oemdtc.com/8853/18089-service-update-tcm-obd-memory-diagnostic-2016-2018-chevrolet-spark
  24. LOL when we lived near Portland, Oregon, it was hilarious to see cars sliding and slipping with 3-4 inches of snowfall. With 6 inch snowfall, the city would shut down for several days! Because they fear salt is bad for environment, so they throw rock pebbles on streets. Guess what, windshield repair business is huge there. I spent 23 years working in city of Chicago driving from Downers Grove to SE corner of Chicago, a 70 miles round trip. I missed may be a total of 4 days of work in 23 years due to snow. 3 of those days were in mid 1960's when Chicago had a record snow fall. Beca
  25. No car is meant to work great for all various conditions. Spark is basically a commuter car for city/suburbia. If you want fast acceleration going from 60 to 100mph, there are plenty of models available. I would not put a corvette engine in a car whose suspension is not designed for it. The other car I drive is a Chevy HHR 2011 with 56k miles. It rides at 80 mph so much more stable than the Spark. Even at 60 mph there is a huge difference in stability and smoothness of ride. But I love driving the Spark in town, because it handles more nimble, and parks in places the HHR would
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