Problem with daughter's HHR
 

A few days ago my daughter, who lives almost 200 miles away, called and said she had a problem with her 2011 HHR 1LT (with 220K miles on it). She had just gone on a 2 1/2 hour drive. During the drive she said the car didn't seem to accelerate as well as it usually does. She has a steep hill near her house, and she said she almost didn't make it up the hill even with the pedal to the floor.

I asked if there was a check engine light but she said no. I gave her a code reader a few months ago just in case. I had her read the codes, but it said no codes or pending codes. She has AAA premium, so I had them tow the car to my house (195 miles!) for free.

I read the codes with my good code reader, but no codes of any kind. The tow guy said that reverse didn't work (she has the 4T45E auto trans). I tested the transmission in my yard and in both neutral and reverse the car goes forward.

I put it up on my lift and checked the trans fluid. It's full, but the fluid is dark and smells burnt. I suspect the trans is shot, so Monday morning I am going to check local scrapyards for a replacement 4T45E. I have already replaced an auto trans on another HHR so I know what is involved. I am thinking of replacing the solenoids on the used transmission just in case, especially since the used transmissions seem to have 120K+ miles.

Any other ideas to check that I am missing here?

Thanks
Steve

Shift cable? Possibly out of whack! A burnt shift solenoid should give a code . So possibly burnt clutches, drop the pan and filter have a look for debris.
The transmission you put in Oldblue still any good?

Oldblue's transmission is still good as far as I know. Would a 2007 trans work in the 2011? I know it's the same transmission, but did they change any electricals?

The shift cable seemed good, it goes into park properly.

Steve

Didn’t you just get a bunch of snow? Is it overheating by any chance? Inspect the exhaust system. I know someone who backed into a snowdrift and put a kink in the exhaust pipe.

Same transmission, so that’s going save you shopping around the wrecking yards.

Yes, it will save time and money. It looks like wrecking yard transmissions would be around $400 or so.

At least I know the transmission in Oldblue works, and I had already replaced the solenoids in it when I put it in. I also put in all new fluid when I installed it.

Steve

The final drive ratios might be slightly different, I doubt anyone would notice.
My money is on something involving the shifting linkage, since neutral and reverse thinks it is in gear.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...5f9be24496.png
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...c5a3af59a5.png

Some information

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...issions-58374/

I saw an automatic described as 2006-7 HHR offered just this morning in TN for… $200? FB marketplace probably. Not sure.

Pretty sure 2.4 had a different ratio than 2.2, fyi.

Be sure to eliminate all other causes before going to a new trans. It is rare to really need one. These are us on many GM 6-cylinder cars and are overkill for HHR LS/LT. (SS not so much.)

Interesting results from car-part.com, which I use to locate scrapyard parts.

When I enter 2007 HHR (which would have the donor transmission), it lists 2006 and 2007 HHRs as compatible.

When I enter 2011 HHR (which is the car that needs a trans), it lists 2009, 2010, 2011 as compatible.

Entering a 2008 HHR shows it as a unique year that only lists 2008 HHRs as compatible. Furthermore, it has two separate categories, pre-1/7/2008 and after 1/7/2008.

I assume car-part's compatibility is based on the Interchange books that scrapyards use. Or maybe not.

Steve