Hello - I bought a 'new-to-me' 2009 HHR LS last week with the stock AM/FM/CD radio. The radio works and the sound is good, but it only plays 'very' local stations (less than 10 miles to the tower) and no others, even though I deliberately tune to the frequency of other known stations further away which play clearly on my other vehicle. I suspect an antenna problem, so I unscrewed the mast from the base and then the local station went away. Reinstalling the mast brought the local station back. (I guess that proves the antenna coax connection from the mast base to the radio is good - Yes?) Question: Is the mast supposed to be flexible in the thicker part near the bottom! Mine is flexible, but it doesn't seem to be abnormal or broken. I guess I could go buy a new mast and try it, but I might be able to not waste money if someone else has "been there; done that" and has a better suggestion. Thanks.

 

Sounds like maybe a bad mast.

You could try this. Go to a local used car lot that has a HHR for sale.
Nicely ask if you could "borrow the antenna for a minute" off the used car to try on yours.
You should be able compare and tell if your's is bad.

 

There are reports of the amplifier not working right. I believe there is a TSB about it. Or give the SEARCH box a try, there have been a few with the same problem. "radio reception" got 111 hits.