So the aqua colored display on factory radio is extremely dim, so much so I thought it was out completely. Radio plays fine and the illumination behind the big central volume knob and air temp control knobs is bright. I've rolled the illumination intensity adjustment wheel back and forth with no change. I've checked the different fuses in both locations and all fuses dealing with lighting, and radio that I could locate were fine. The were even fuses plugged in and labeled for features that my model doesn't have i.e. sunroof, fog lights and xm radio OnStar. I haven't tried removing said m radio to check connections in back but is my next step. Vehicle info is
2009 Chevy HHR 2LT 2.4L

 

Try a battery lobotomy, simply disconnect the battery negative terminal for 30 minutes to reset the computers and reconnect. That usually works.

 

Is this a new thing? Did it once work correctly? The buttons on the AC controls are LED that don't dim. Do the dash lights brighten and dim when you move in and out of shadows or turn the headlights on/off? Anything blocking the ambient light sensor?

If the car has no XM or OnStar modules installed or sunroof it must have been a rental/fleet order car with them deleted. All HHRs have the same fuses installed, make sure there is no fuse in spot #11 under hood box, a fuse in that position would inhibit the liftgate from locking.

 

I’m sitting in my 2011, and when I move the dash light potentiometer the radio display remains the same the dash lights dim and brighten.

 

When I first purchased the car it worked .I can remember at some point they had flickered few times but always kept working. Right before me and the ex split she she kept it, I remember the display intensity dropped, little bits where and there until it wasn't viisible. I didn't inquiry about causes and fixes until last couple months after I confiscated it back from her. Someone mentioned a bad potentiometer.... No idea what that is or where to find it so .. Maybe

 

That is on the waterfall , just below the round vent on the left


See the white dot just above the radio

 

Ohh, that's what that's called. I always called it illumination dimming adjuster lol yeah I've rolled that sucker back and forth oh so many times. Not really sure it was doing anything. I was honestly only seeing if it adjusted the display brightness. Another thing.. Is the climate control cluster and volume knob called the waterfall? All new terminology to me.

 

It is sounding like the radio front plate is either loose or defective. Try pushing on it, I think it is replaceable withouit replacing the entire radio.