Hello All,

I am new to the forum. Just flew from ATL to Ohio to purchse my HHR.

Got a 2008 2LT loaded with leather, sunroof, 16,300 miles and pretty much every factory option one could get on a stock HHR. The deal seemed like it was pretty good so I flew to the Cleveland area to get my new wheels.

On the way back I activated my Onstar and activated my XM Radio for trial subscriptions. I could not pull up my Radio ID on the radio but Onstar gave the ID to XM to activate my trial.

Ok here is where it gets a little weird. I cannot pull up XM on the head unit at all. The only thing that gives any indication is if I hit the CAT button it will say XM Feature but I cannot hit the band button and pull up the XM band or select XM stations. Pulled the service records from selling dealer through GM and it never had any radio service according to servicing dealer or GM warranty records. I did double check the ordering codes and XM was on the list as an installed factory option. And the previous owner had programmed in some XM channels so I can only assume that they had XM activated and used it at some point.

I took the HHR to the local dealer down here and they looked at it for about 2 hours and could not find out why the radio would not tune in XM. They did do a reprogam of the head unit and from what they told me is that the XM unit is not communicating with the radio head unit. The tech said that XM is on the network and the radio is on the network but they are not talking to each other.

They want me to bring it back in so they can tear it down and see if they can find the root of the problem. I am not sure if tearing it down to look for a problem is the best idea that is why I am posting here. Here is another kink.
When I was looking through the manuals and stuff I had in the glovebox there is a manual for PAL. I can only assume that the previous owner had a PAL unit in the HHR and from what I can tell and they removed it. I cannot seem to locate the PAL unit or any cabling in the HHR at all.

So in closing before I take it back to the dealer for them to tear down the Radio. Is there anyone out there that has experience with removing a PAL unit from a vechicle and if any problems arise from doing so. The dealer does not seem to understand much about the PAL units and I am worried they are just going to start tearing down the radio unit looking for the XM isuue but maybe creating other issues for me. Other than the XM feature the Radio including AM, FM and CD work perfect.

Sorry for the lengthy message but I wanted to get you all as much info as possible.

Thanks all in advance for any help you can give.

wcbellatl

 

I need the last 8 of your VIN to help you.

Also PAL plugs into the radio harness and the a harness is plugged into the radio from the PAL module. Most people put the PAL in the center dash box.

 

Thanks

XXXXXXXX

I figured you would respond pretty quickly.

 

I checked the center dash compartment and actually pulled it out as well to see if maybe the cable fell back through the hole in the compartment I did not see anything that looked out of place.

I am no tech so I might have missed it but I don't see anything out of place.

Should I be able to see it if I pull the center tray out if the PAL is even still in there?

My guess is the previous owner removed it prior to trade in? They just forgot to take there manual for the PAL out of the glovebox.

 

Ok, you are correct on having the XM. If it had a PAL they may have done a reprgram since their were some problems with XM and PAL compatability. Or when the prior owner removed the PAL and plugged the harness back into the radio he may have damaged a pin connector.

 

Thanks ChevyMgr.

Question - If a PAL is removed does the radio have to be reprogrammed again?

The dealer here did reprogram the radio last week but that changed nothing but I am sure they did not realize the car had a PAL in previously.

Can I get to the connection to the radio through the dash compartment?

 

No you don't have to reprogram after removal. You don't have to program when installing either. But they had certain problems that a program came out for. I am pretty sure when they pull the radio they will find the problem in the harness.

 

Thanks again ChevyMgr.