cargo dome lights
 

My dome lights over the front seats come on when I open the front doors. But I can't figure out how to make the rear cargo lights come on when I open the back doors or the natch back.
They all work if I reach up and press the light itself;... but don't come on otherwise
I "assume" there should be a way so the system is set so the lights come on and go off automatically. What should I do to make that happen??

Since you didn't mention what year HHR you have, I'll quote from the owners manual of the 2006 model:
Dome Lamp
Your vehicle may have a dome lamp.
9(Off): Move the lever to this position to turn the
lamp off, even when a door is opened.
1(Door): Move the lever to this position to turn the
lamp on whenever a door is opened.
+(On): Move the lever to this position to turn the
dome lamp on.

Entry/Exit Lighting
The lamps inside your vehicle will go on when you open
any door. These lamps will fade out after about
20 seconds after all of the doors have been closed or
when the ignition is turned to ON. These lamps will also
go on when you press the unlock symbol button or
the horn symbol on the keyless entry system transmitter.
The lamps inside your vehicle will stay on for about
20 seconds after your key is removed from the ignition
to provide an illuminated exit.

If you don't have an owners manual, they can be downloaded here at - https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/gene...s-manual-3074/

Sorry I forgot the year = It is a 2007.
Where do I find this "9"; "1", "+" so I can change them
I assume mine must be in the "9" position
Thanks for the reply

OK I found it - Thanks.
Seems the back 1/2 of the light is the only part that goes on and off by itself. The front 1/2 you have to physically turn on and off.

Yours seems a little different from page 167 of the 2007 owners manual:

(Off): Move the lever to this position to turn
the lamp off, even when a door is opened.

(Door): Move the lever to this position to turn
the lamp on whenever a door is opened.

The dome lamp and mirror reading lamps will turn
on if the lever is in the door position and the
instrument panel brightness control is turned to
the brightest setting. See Instrument Panel
Brightness on page 166.

(On): Move the lever to this position to turn
on the dome lamp.

The forward ones that you have to push on are reading lights for the back seats.

The bulb is probably bad, easy fix.

The lights come on; you just have to push the light for it to come on.
To Whopper - yeah it is weird... only the rear part of the dome lights come on when I open the door... not the front part like you indicated it says in the book.
Puzzling

Just to be clear, you've removed the cover, verified that all bulbs are in place, and can illuminate each of them. But they will not come on by opening the rear doors or the hatch. Is this correct?

Well I didn't remove the bulbs... the lights "do" come on when I press the dome covers. so they have power and they do work.... just not when the door opens