View Poll Results: What other option would you like on the HHR?
Navigation System
168
27.91%
Liftglass
130
21.59%
Dual Exhaust
213
35.38%
Other (please specify in post)
91
15.12%
Voters: 602. You may not vote on this poll
What other option would you like to see on the HHR?
Joined: 05-11-2007
Posts: 5
From: Cherry Hill NJ
Remote hatch release
Hi all
I am a new almost owner of a certified 2006 HHR Lt, it has 23,000 miles. It is 'almost' because they are still working on the back hatch release. My son uses a wheelchair and we needed a car that he could get in and out of without spending lots of $$ for mods we don't need. We thought he would have to go with a minivan type deal like a Mazda5 and it's sliding drivers side door. That wasn't a good option, it didn't slide far enough and the seat was on a riser that limited the space to put the wheelchair.
We tried to see if his chair could fit in the back of an HHR on a whim. When we saw how flat the seats folded, we realized he could get into the car from the back, pull his chair in behind him and then somehow attach a bungie cord or something to the hatch and he could pull it closed behind him, scootch up to the folded flat passengers seat and slide right into the drivers seat no problem.
Then we realized there was no hatch release to get back out the same way.
Our dealer just called to let us know they figured it out! I don't know what all they did and if it is a button on the dash or if it will be a remote on the key, but they figured it out!!! Can't wait to hear and I will let you know how and more importantly, how much. They also are attaching a long strap in the area of the bowtie on the inside of the hatch that will hang down so he can grab it and pull the hatch shut when he gets inside.
Genius! My son figured that one out himself, so kudos to him.
This dealership was great. The manager and salesmen were all around trying to work out how we could make the HHR work for my son, and they cheered him when he got in himself and got to the front seat! It was actually FUN buying this car!
More later on these mods when I have details if you are interested.
I am a new almost owner of a certified 2006 HHR Lt, it has 23,000 miles. It is 'almost' because they are still working on the back hatch release. My son uses a wheelchair and we needed a car that he could get in and out of without spending lots of $$ for mods we don't need. We thought he would have to go with a minivan type deal like a Mazda5 and it's sliding drivers side door. That wasn't a good option, it didn't slide far enough and the seat was on a riser that limited the space to put the wheelchair.
We tried to see if his chair could fit in the back of an HHR on a whim. When we saw how flat the seats folded, we realized he could get into the car from the back, pull his chair in behind him and then somehow attach a bungie cord or something to the hatch and he could pull it closed behind him, scootch up to the folded flat passengers seat and slide right into the drivers seat no problem.
Then we realized there was no hatch release to get back out the same way.
Our dealer just called to let us know they figured it out! I don't know what all they did and if it is a button on the dash or if it will be a remote on the key, but they figured it out!!! Can't wait to hear and I will let you know how and more importantly, how much. They also are attaching a long strap in the area of the bowtie on the inside of the hatch that will hang down so he can grab it and pull the hatch shut when he gets inside.
Genius! My son figured that one out himself, so kudos to him.
This dealership was great. The manager and salesmen were all around trying to work out how we could make the HHR work for my son, and they cheered him when he got in himself and got to the front seat! It was actually FUN buying this car!
More later on these mods when I have details if you are interested.
Senior Member
Joined: 10-19-2005
Posts: 20,687
From: Miami
Hi all
I am a new almost owner of a certified 2006 HHR
Our dealer just called to let us know they figured it out! I don't know what all they did and if it is a button on the dash or if it will be a remote on the key, but they figured it out!!! Can't wait to hear and I will let you know how and more importantly, how much.
I am a new almost owner of a certified 2006 HHR
Our dealer just called to let us know they figured it out! I don't know what all they did and if it is a button on the dash or if it will be a remote on the key, but they figured it out!!! Can't wait to hear and I will let you know how and more importantly, how much.
I think a lot of us would like to hear a little more about this! Hope it isn't the emergency release that is located in the panel of the rear hatch.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-20-2006
Posts: 21,640
From: Hillsdale, Michigan
to the site!!! That is awesome that the dealer is working on that for you. Many here have commented at the lack of a button/lever to be able to open the rear hatch from the inside so do keep us informed.
Senior Member
Joined: 03-05-2007
Posts: 629
From: Rochester NY/The Villages, Florida
Hi all
I am a new almost owner of a certified 2006 HHR Lt, it has 23,000 miles. It is 'almost' because they are still working on the back hatch release. My son uses a wheelchair and we needed a car that he could get in and out of without spending lots of $$ for mods we don't need. We thought he would have to go with a minivan type deal like a Mazda5 and it's sliding drivers side door. That wasn't a good option, it didn't slide far enough and the seat was on a riser that limited the space to put the wheelchair.
We tried to see if his chair could fit in the back of an HHR on a whim. When we saw how flat the seats folded, we realized he could get into the car from the back, pull his chair in behind him and then somehow attach a bungie cord or something to the hatch and he could pull it closed behind him, scootch up to the folded flat passengers seat and slide right into the drivers seat no problem.
Then we realized there was no hatch release to get back out the same way.
Our dealer just called to let us know they figured it out! I don't know what all they did and if it is a button on the dash or if it will be a remote on the key, but they figured it out!!! Can't wait to hear and I will let you know how and more importantly, how much. They also are attaching a long strap in the area of the bowtie on the inside of the hatch that will hang down so he can grab it and pull the hatch shut when he gets inside.
Genius! My son figured that one out himself, so kudos to him.
This dealership was great. The manager and salesmen were all around trying to work out how we could make the HHR work for my son, and they cheered him when he got in himself and got to the front seat! It was actually FUN buying this car!
More later on these mods when I have details if you are interested.
I am a new almost owner of a certified 2006 HHR Lt, it has 23,000 miles. It is 'almost' because they are still working on the back hatch release. My son uses a wheelchair and we needed a car that he could get in and out of without spending lots of $$ for mods we don't need. We thought he would have to go with a minivan type deal like a Mazda5 and it's sliding drivers side door. That wasn't a good option, it didn't slide far enough and the seat was on a riser that limited the space to put the wheelchair.
We tried to see if his chair could fit in the back of an HHR on a whim. When we saw how flat the seats folded, we realized he could get into the car from the back, pull his chair in behind him and then somehow attach a bungie cord or something to the hatch and he could pull it closed behind him, scootch up to the folded flat passengers seat and slide right into the drivers seat no problem.
Then we realized there was no hatch release to get back out the same way.
Our dealer just called to let us know they figured it out! I don't know what all they did and if it is a button on the dash or if it will be a remote on the key, but they figured it out!!! Can't wait to hear and I will let you know how and more importantly, how much. They also are attaching a long strap in the area of the bowtie on the inside of the hatch that will hang down so he can grab it and pull the hatch shut when he gets inside.
Genius! My son figured that one out himself, so kudos to him.
This dealership was great. The manager and salesmen were all around trying to work out how we could make the HHR work for my son, and they cheered him when he got in himself and got to the front seat! It was actually FUN buying this car!
More later on these mods when I have details if you are interested.
Yes, we would like to know how the mods were done. Pictures would be great
also, when you get a chance.
It really makes me feel good when I hear how a dealership goes beyond to accomodate a customer.
Good luck with the HHR.
Joined: 05-11-2007
Posts: 5
From: Cherry Hill NJ
Back door hatch popper update:
(Non-technical version)
Well, I got a call last night that they did it!
They went through the back panel and wired into the existing touch pad. The button will be beside the bowtie inside the back panel. The sales manager told me that it cannot pop when the car is in drive, and that it can only pop when the car is in park. I asked about the problems people were having with the back hatch etc, he said they would show me how to use the screw drive to pop it if the battery died, etc. They also said that my build date on this car was outside of the time they seemed to be problematic, not sure if I believe that one, but...It's GM certified and I have a long time on the balance of the warranty since the first owner only had it 11 months before trading for a bigger SUV. Which brings me to the extended warranty question....yes or no? Still have the balance of the 5/100,000 until March 09 or 39,000. (16,000 mi. but it will be a commuter car for my son, so that will take him a while to add up those miles anyway) and the 100,000 extended powertrain deal is up March 2011. Don[t know if I should go for the extended.
Back to the hatch popper button:
One service guy drove it around for an hour with another service guy in the back pressing the button at all speeds/stops/ etc! No popping til the car was in drive. No mind, they haven't worked out a price.....he did mention 5 hours ....making me nervous! But they said they used parts they already had. On my receipt for the hold money I put down they stated that under $100 they would pay in full, over $100 we would split the cost. I feel they aren't going to rip me off at this point.
They are getting a strap made for the old trailblazer and installing that to a metal something or another inside the panel and it will come out through the bowtie area somewhere I think. That way it can hang down to pull the hatch closed from inside.
Want to hear the nicest part of all? They are paying for the hand controls to be transfered from our Suzuki to the HHR! That could be anywhere from $300-500, depending on the parts matching ok to the HHR.
Is it tacky to say what I paid? I think this is a good deal in suburban Philadelphia area-$14,600 before taxes etc. Add in the cost of the mods that they will pick up and I think I did pretty well, yes?
Big smile on my face and we pick it up Thursday.
(Non-technical version)
Well, I got a call last night that they did it!
They went through the back panel and wired into the existing touch pad. The button will be beside the bowtie inside the back panel. The sales manager told me that it cannot pop when the car is in drive, and that it can only pop when the car is in park. I asked about the problems people were having with the back hatch etc, he said they would show me how to use the screw drive to pop it if the battery died, etc. They also said that my build date on this car was outside of the time they seemed to be problematic, not sure if I believe that one, but...It's GM certified and I have a long time on the balance of the warranty since the first owner only had it 11 months before trading for a bigger SUV. Which brings me to the extended warranty question....yes or no? Still have the balance of the 5/100,000 until March 09 or 39,000. (16,000 mi. but it will be a commuter car for my son, so that will take him a while to add up those miles anyway) and the 100,000 extended powertrain deal is up March 2011. Don[t know if I should go for the extended.
Back to the hatch popper button:
One service guy drove it around for an hour with another service guy in the back pressing the button at all speeds/stops/ etc! No popping til the car was in drive. No mind, they haven't worked out a price.....he did mention 5 hours ....making me nervous! But they said they used parts they already had. On my receipt for the hold money I put down they stated that under $100 they would pay in full, over $100 we would split the cost. I feel they aren't going to rip me off at this point.
They are getting a strap made for the old trailblazer and installing that to a metal something or another inside the panel and it will come out through the bowtie area somewhere I think. That way it can hang down to pull the hatch closed from inside.
Want to hear the nicest part of all? They are paying for the hand controls to be transfered from our Suzuki to the HHR! That could be anywhere from $300-500, depending on the parts matching ok to the HHR.
Is it tacky to say what I paid? I think this is a good deal in suburban Philadelphia area-$14,600 before taxes etc. Add in the cost of the mods that they will pick up and I think I did pretty well, yes?
Big smile on my face and we pick it up Thursday.
Senior Member
Joined: 08-20-2006
Posts: 21,640
From: Hillsdale, Michigan
Senior Member
Joined: 10-19-2005
Posts: 20,687
From: Miami
Joined: 05-11-2007
Posts: 5
From: Cherry Hill NJ
Love our new Hatch Release actuator!
I got my mods done and the rear hatch release and strap work great!
https://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/sho...atid=newimages
This was done at the dealer. The HHR we call 'Blue' is for my 21 yr. old son with a disability. He uses a wheelchair full time. We didn't want to get a 'handicapped' car with mods he didn't really need (at a pirice we really cannot pay!
), so thought outside that box a bit. The HHR is perfect for him but didn't have a remote hatch release. The dealer put an actuator on the rear hatch that ties into the touch pad, essentially making button duplicate on the inside of the hatch. My son sits on the back of the HHR, pulls his chair in and forward (both back seats are flat as well as the front passenger seat). He rolls it forward to just behind the drivers seat, reaches out to grab the hand strap and pulls the hatch closed. He slides back towards the passenger's seat and bungie cords the chair in place on the metal U brackets meant to hold the rear seats in place. Then he can scoot himself into the driver's seat from the flat passenger seat!
He exits by pushing the new button and pushing open the rear hatch, lowers his chair to the ground and lifts himself down into it. It works like a charm. Now all we have to do is transfer the hand-controls from the other car. That will be in 2 weeks! Awesome job by the dealr, and THEY CHARGED US NOTHING to do it
! The strap was from the old Trailblazer and the button is your basic actuator thing. The emergency release area is still intact and it can still be popped with a screw driver.
The dealer is Nino Chevrolet in Burlington, NJ. They would be happy to talk to anyone who would like this done or needs more info. They are quite pleased with being able to help us and coming up with this easy, clean and functional design.
https://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/sho...atid=newimages
This was done at the dealer. The HHR we call 'Blue' is for my 21 yr. old son with a disability. He uses a wheelchair full time. We didn't want to get a 'handicapped' car with mods he didn't really need (at a pirice we really cannot pay!
), so thought outside that box a bit. The HHR is perfect for him but didn't have a remote hatch release. The dealer put an actuator on the rear hatch that ties into the touch pad, essentially making button duplicate on the inside of the hatch. My son sits on the back of the HHR, pulls his chair in and forward (both back seats are flat as well as the front passenger seat). He rolls it forward to just behind the drivers seat, reaches out to grab the hand strap and pulls the hatch closed. He slides back towards the passenger's seat and bungie cords the chair in place on the metal U brackets meant to hold the rear seats in place. Then he can scoot himself into the driver's seat from the flat passenger seat!He exits by pushing the new button and pushing open the rear hatch, lowers his chair to the ground and lifts himself down into it. It works like a charm. Now all we have to do is transfer the hand-controls from the other car. That will be in 2 weeks! Awesome job by the dealr, and THEY CHARGED US NOTHING to do it
! The strap was from the old Trailblazer and the button is your basic actuator thing. The emergency release area is still intact and it can still be popped with a screw driver.The dealer is Nino Chevrolet in Burlington, NJ. They would be happy to talk to anyone who would like this done or needs more info. They are quite pleased with being able to help us and coming up with this easy, clean and functional design.