When you were taking off the bumper and such is it possible to take apart those reflectors??

LEDs
 

LEDs in the rear of an HHR are my friend. I have substituted four them in my 3rd brake light (but that changes it from a "wall" of light to discrete red dots) and my tail lights. I like the idea of LEDs' longevity, and that they are more visible. I don't like how the HHR's "heritage" lighting style appears so dated. I wish there were a factory HID option in front, too. I'm ambivalent about replacing a REFLECTOR, rather than an incandescent light, with LEDs. A reflector requires no maintenance (that is, no conventional bulbs that burn out a lot) and these reflectors are low where substituting lights doesn't add much to visibility. Not to mention that since I'm not "handy" I would have to pay for those "only 4-5 hours" labor that this modification would take. While it DOES look cool, I'm going to pay for 4-5 hours instead to repair my sunroof and add a 2009 front dome light while the headliner is out.

Actually, no. The reflector is a one piece sealed unit from GM - although it appears to be a clear reflex lens covered by a red lens heat sealed to a grey plastic housing with an arrow-type retainer on the back. The assembly isn't very deep - 3/8" not counting the retainer. I toyed with the idea of splitting them and inserting LED's, but it was more trouble than it was worth.

Having a black HHR in New Jersey I'm very comfortable having all the rear lights I can get.........:smile:

As far as "handy" goes if this mod took a genius you wouldn't have seen this thread to begin with........;)

The hardest part of this was finding similar sized lamps to fit the openings. Simple hand tools, some soldering skill, planning, and patience made it happen. As far as longevity goes, I whacked a few snowbanks backing into tight spaces and they still work, so they seem durable.....but I'm not willing to try a 5-lb. sledgehammer test........:roll:

Jake

awesome mod :thumb:

I'll be doing this soon, but with white led's, in place of the reverse lights that I will no longer have :)

Time to replace
 

Well.....

After 2 years and 7 months of enduring the elements, bumping into a few snowbanks, and being hit in parking lot nerfs (witnessed at least once), my left rear lamp no longer lights, and the right side was down to 7 LED's. Since today was Father's Day, I gave orders not to be disturbed, and installed a new pair of LED's (On my last two trips to Cabela's I found these exact lamps on the shelf in the boating department, so I stocked up on spares). Hizzin' has now been restored to her former brightness.

Considering the fact that these lamps, although listed as waterproof, have been installed in a very harsh environment including constant vibration, various degrees of impact, and pooled water in the recesses, I feel that they have given me my money's worth. The inconvenience of having to reinstall is outweighed by the additional illumination provided to the rear of the HHR. I'm sure if I take a bit more reasonable care during the winter months and park backed up against walls in shopping centers I'll get more service out of the new pair.

Jake