I bought the 2004 Chevrolet SSR Truck in Feb. 2010. I took it to get oil change at Valvoline. Reset the oil use %.. Started over heating, Speedometer not accurate, poor performance. But the independent dealer would not fix bought as is. Called Chevrolet & they said no recalls or complaints about SSR. Explained my problems & they said I had to take to dealer for diagnosis. $92 to $150 a hour. would take from 1 to 3 days to diagnosis. I said I would talk to my Mechanic & check for any obvious problems. Thermostat was broken in to 5 pieces. Changed Thermostat, Water Pump & Flushed the system. Still over heating. Replaced all relays & reset OBD 2. Still over heating. Battery went dead because alternator was Shorted out. New Battery & Alternator & Temperature sender. Speedometer still not accurate. I think that this is one problem with the SSR & not several different problems because when one happens like resenting the oil life after a oil change they all start. Electrical or Computer problem. This has been going on for last year & a half. It really is a problem on Hot & Humid Days in Traffic any time. I have check all resources I could. GM Truck speedometers are defective had a recall but not SSR. Overheating is a common problem. Electrical shorts & burned up relays are another. But I have torn into this problem & have not found what is the Exact cause. OBD II Code check shows no trouble codes.
Update from Dec 4, 2012: Well to start MY 2004 SSR is now running & electrical problems seem to be resolved. In June I got pulled over by Police twice for speed. I told them that Speedometer has not worked right since I bought the Truck. Took to a Couple Dealers in Toledo area. No problem found? Went to US Speedo in Flint Michigan & had Stepper Motors rebuilt. Speedometer worked fine for 1 week. I was at Downriver Cruise waiting at Traffic Light. ALL Gauges Pegged & Engine started running weird. Shut off Motor several times till It was running good enough to get Home. Back to US Speedo. The took out Speedometer cluster, Placed a New one in place. In July ABS trouble light came on. Starting the process of elimination. New Front Brakes & Hubs. Right side Hub had a Burned smell & discoloration. Still had ABS light on. Went to several Help Sites. Bleed Brakes of Green Brake Fluid. Reset ABS, New Power Brake Booster. The Trouble Code is for the ABS Unit under Truck. After a Nation wide Search. Found & Installed the ABS Unit. Bleed Brakes & changed Rear Brake Pads.ABS Trouble light is out. I then Bought a Predator Performance Tuner. Installed it & have had NO Over Heating or other Electrical Issues.I placed Factory tune back in when I changed the Gas Filter. It was a Nice 70 degree day. It immediately started getting Hot. 260 degrees. After my Ride. I re installed the Predator Performance tune. Problem Resolved. GM does not have a Correct Tune in the SSR. The Aftermarket has the Problem resolved. So $2500 & reading the Repair Manual Front to Back. My 2004 Chevrolet SSR is running great. No thanks to Chevrolet Repair.
Update from May 30, 2015: The Chevrolet obd II is at fault. Dealer will not change program. I bought a Diablo Predator tuner to change the Radiator fan on & off limits. No over heating.
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I bought the 2004 Chevrolet SSR Truck in Feb. 2010. I took it to get oil change at Valvoline. Reset the oil use %.. Started over heating, Speedometer not accurate, poor performance. But the independent dealer would not fix bought as is. Called Chevrolet & they said no recalls or complaints about SSR. Explained my problems & they said I had to take to dealer for diagnosis. $92 to $150 a hour. would take from 1 to 3 days to diagnosis. I said I would talk to my Mechanic & check for any obvious problems. Thermostat was broken in to 5 pieces. Changed Thermostat, Water Pump & Flushed the system. Still over heating. Replaced all relays & reset OBD 2. Still over heating. Battery went dead because alternator was Shorted out. New Battery & Alternator & Temperature sender. Speedometer still not accurate. I think that this is one problem with the SSR & not several different problems because when one happens like resenting the oil life after a oil change they all start. Electrical or Computer problem. This has been going on for last year & a half. It really is a problem on Hot & Humid Days in Traffic any time. I have check all resources I could. GM Truck speedometers are defective had a recall but not SSR. Overheating is a common problem. Electrical shorts & burned up relays are another. But I have torn into this problem & have not found what is the Exact cause. OBD II Code check shows no trouble codes.
Update from Dec 4, 2012: Well to start MY 2004 SSR is now running & electrical problems seem to be resolved. In June I got pulled over by Police twice for speed. I told them that Speedometer has not worked right since I bought the Truck. Took to a Couple Dealers in Toledo area. No problem found? Went to US Speedo in Flint Michigan & had Stepper Motors rebuilt. Speedometer worked fine for 1 week. I was at Downriver Cruise waiting at Traffic Light. ALL Gauges Pegged & Engine started running weird. Shut off Motor several times till It was running good enough to get Home. Back to US Speedo. The took out Speedometer cluster, Placed a New one in place. In July ABS trouble light came on. Starting the process of elimination. New Front Brakes & Hubs. Right side Hub had a Burned smell & discoloration. Still had ABS light on. Went to several Help Sites. Bleed Brakes of Green Brake Fluid. Reset ABS, New Power Brake Booster. The Trouble Code is for the ABS Unit under Truck. After a Nation wide Search. Found & Installed the ABS Unit. Bleed Brakes & changed Rear Brake Pads.ABS Trouble light is out. I then Bought a Predator Performance Tuner. Installed it & have had NO Over Heating or other Electrical Issues.I placed Factory tune back in when I changed the Gas Filter. It was a Nice 70 degree day. It immediately started getting Hot. 260 degrees. After my Ride. I re installed the Predator Performance tune. Problem Resolved. GM does not have a Correct Tune in the SSR. The Aftermarket has the Problem resolved. So $2500 & reading the Repair Manual Front to Back. My 2004 Chevrolet SSR is running great. No thanks to Chevrolet Repair.
Update from May 30, 2015: The Chevrolet obd II is at fault. Dealer will not change program. I bought a Diablo Predator tuner to change the Radiator fan on & off limits. No over heating.
- Todd Y., Toledo, OH, US