I bought a used 2007 HHR a few years ago with about 149,000 miles on it. I had the car checked out at the time and was told that it was in pretty good condition for its age. I've put new tires on it, replaced the catalytic convertor, done some brake work, and keep up with regular oil changes, but I haven't had to do much else to it.

Three months ago, while moving to a new home, I had a slight collision to the rear, driver's side bumper area of my car. The car was fixed by CarStars in East Hartford. It looked very good and ran just fine when I picked it up and I haven't noticed any issues resulting from the accident.

A few weeks ago, I noticed that the rear marker light on the driver's side was not on, after I had started the car one morning. I thought "great", considering that I had replaced both side marker lights with new LED bulbs just before the accident. I assumed that maybe the light was out due to the accident and had been overlooked in the repairs.

A few days later, as I as walking around the car, I discovered that the light was on again. Not sure what to think about that. I thought that maybe a wire was loose, and I'd take a look at it when I got a chance. I've had so many other things going on since moving to the new house, that I haven't had a chance to look at it.

Then a week ago, someone told me that my driver's side headlight was out. Again, I thought "great", since as you all must know, it's not all that simple to replace a headlight in an HHR. After I received this "good news", I came out to my car a day later, and used the chirper to disarm the car alarm and to unlock the doors, which always lights up all of the lights, and noticed that ALL of the lights were on, included the two I'm writing about here.

The odd thing is that as soon as I got into the car and started the ignition, those two lights once again went off. It's the driver's side headlight and the driver's side rear marker light. I'm not a mechanic, but the first thing that came to mind is that there's some sort of electrical issue here. Apparently, the bulbs are just fine. They simple go off when I start the car. I think this might fall into the category of <strong>electrical gremlins</strong>!

However, what I'm wondering is whether anyone else has ever had this problem and could offer some advice besides going to a Chevy dealer? I'm pretty sure that a Chevy dealer would love to re-wire the whole car and charge me a lot of money to do so.

If I have to do that, then I suppose I will, but I'd like to avoid the pain of that it it's at all possible. If this is a simple fix, then I could handle that myself, as long as I new where to start. If I do have to find a dealer, I'd prefer to go in knowing a bit more about the problem and whether or not others have experienced the same thing. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

Hi Casper, to the forums!!

You either have bad bulbs, or a bad multi-function switch. If you find it's the switch, this how-to thread should give you the info you need to replace it.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...ts-pics-37992/

 

Did you check hi beams and low beams?

 

Thanks for reading my posting. The problem with the lights is strange. Each time I go to the car and turn off the alarm, all of the lights come on. Then, when I get in the car and turn the ignition, the driver's side headlight and read marker light go off. I actually did try the high beams yesterday, and both headlights came on. Return to the low beams, and the driver's side light goes out. At first, I thought the bulb was blown out, and I checked out some YouTube videos to figure out how to replace the bulb. Before I actually bought new bulbs, I discovered that the light still comes on, and then goes out when I start the car. If there is a fix that I could do myself, I'd rather fix it then go to a dealer. Until I find a solution, I suppose I could drive at night with the high beams on. Nowadays, it seems like everyone is using high beams. I doubt that anyone would notice. Still, I'd like to get the problem fixed.

 

Thanks for the link. I will take a look at it. The HHR has a considerable amount of electronic gadgetry in it so it's understandable that something would give out eventually. The light that keeps going out will come on when I use high beams. It only goes off when I start up the car using low beams. When I approach the car and use the chirper to turn off the alarm and unlock the doors, both lights come on. I start the car and the driver's side light goes off. I think the driver's side rear marker light is doing the same thing.

 

Before you go replacing the switch, have a read here https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/prob...problem-52351/
You may just have bad bulbs.

 

There is a curious bit of wiring in the headlight circuitry. Note the way the DRL is wired into the left lo beam then through the right lo beam fuse to the right side.

 

Welcome to the site, if be checking ground wires also

 

That is interesting, so it looks like DRLs will light the left headlight, but needs both low beam fuses to light the right side.

OP's problem is the left though. It may be that unlocking the car turns on the high beams, which both bulbs are good. Then starting the car turns to low beams, and one bulb is bad, or the left low beam fuse is bad.

And the rear marker is on when the headlights are on, but off when the DRLs are on, which is correct operation.

 

Might I suggest the services of a Roman Catholic priest?
<just kidding>