Just Love these cars and Was on this forum about 10 years ago.

Bought my 2nd HHR today (13 July 22) ... a 2011 LT (2.4L Auto) in what appears to be Charcoal or Smoke Gray color. It has been 6 years since I traded off my first HHR, a 2006 LT (Sunburst Orange, 5 speed, 2.2L) that I bought new in 2005. I have missed it ever since. Was driving by a local Chevy dealer and this one was sitting right out by the road with an actual price on the windshield. Haven't seen that much in recent years but, it caught my attention. Figured it was worth a look and checked it out. Bought it shortly afterward.
Very clean under the hood and also underneath, Good paint, Nice interior, New tires, No Dented/beat-up body panels and 134K miles on it. Appears to have been well taken care of. Donut Spare tire has never seen the ground. Vehicle history shows it was a rental for a year and then sold to one owner that kept it since 2012. Drives and handles nice.

Feel lucky to have found this one ... Most of them I have looked at in the past couple years have been badly beaten, over-priced and/or taken a lot of body damage that had been repaired or had damage that, conveniently didn't show-up in their ad pictures when I went to see them. Even ran into a couple that were advertised for sale but, owners didn't seem to really want to sell or even tell anything about the vehicle when asked. No need to waste time with people doing that.
Finally got another one I like and intend to enjoy it

One last note, this one is FlexFuel. I currently have a FlexFuel pickup (an '08 F-150 5.4L) and it runs great on Flex/E85 on some of my travels ... Anybody run the 2.4L on Flex/E85 and how well does it respond to it ? Also, I haven't checked the owner's manual in the glove box yet but, I remember a number of owners stating this engine likes fuel above 87 octane ... ?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Bill
2006 HHR LT 2.2L 5-speed
2011 HHR LT 2.4L Auto

 

animals, women and machines - the most fateful ones that came themselves.
Just your case, then either there will be love, or it will kill you. But don't stress, the probability of the first is approaching 100%.
I wish you happiness with your new car.

 

Welcome back!

Now I’m curious as to whether it’s a 1LT or a 2LT. Pretty sure 2.4 was optional on 1LT and standard on 2LT. But with a rental, there are fewer rules. Fleet buyers, especially large ones, can order “off menu.” Need some pics!

Is E85 easily available AND cheap in your area? (Apparently, if you use it in your truck.) I think the HHR wants all fuel and emission-related systems to be working well, and if they aren’t, you may be punished for using E85. For this and other reasons, I would scan for codes even if there is no CEL. (I always do that BEFORE I buy a car. First thing, before I even look at it closely, much less drive it.)

Yes, you’ll find the manual says 91 recommended, regular OK but expect diminished performance, and if you hear knocking, just stop it. This is a really good reason to use E85 is the price is right. Its octane is 100+.

BTW, Donbrew’s signature contains a handy link to online PDF’s of all the GM owners manuals, which are hyperlinked and searchable, so MUCH easier to find stuff, and downloadable, so you can put yours on your phone, preserve your manual indoors, and save space in your glove box.

While you’re in the glove box, you might want to take a pic of the RPO sticker in there. Handy to have on your phone.

 

2.4L prefers "high test" not required. The book says if it pings on 86 go up a grade until it stops.

 

OK, LOL, had to run for the manual, (facilitated by the link in your sig, as usual.)





I find it completely weird that 2009 says more or less the opposite, that 2.2 is 91 recommended and 2.4 is regular.

 

Typos. My 2009 online manual has it worded correctly.

 

If you’re saying the 2009 manual had it sdrawkcab because of typos, then yeah, that was my guess, too.

 

Yesterday afternoon, put a can of Berryman B12 in it and filled the tank with Premium fuel at $5.10/gallon ... $65 worth. Ran it a bit on the interstate afterward to see what kind of power it had. A bit subjective but, kind of felt like my '06 with 2.2L & 5-speed might have been a tad quicker. But, it ran seemed to run pretty good. No complaints
After reading another member's post last night, I stopped by O'Reilly's today and picked-up a Spectre 3" hose kit ... Replaced the totally unraveled "wooley worm". It went together nicely. Gave it a good look over this evening and oiled all the hinges, and latches. Found some water in the spare tire well when I looked at it on the dealer lot. Looked underneath for any damage to that area and all sheet metal looked clean/un-damaged.
The carpets appear to have been cleaned and the best job not done on them. I got the feeling somebody left the rear hatch open and it got rained in while they were cleaning it. Been very rainy here the past week. Sponged the water out and have a fan in there drying the insulation/padding out. No rust or any sign or corrosion so, I'll re-install everything once it is dried out and go on about my business.

I did read through the owner's manual tonight and saw the same statement posted about running 91octane (or better) fuel in it. Cost wise, it really won't make that much difference as I don't let my fuel get too low in recent months with cost increase and hurricane season having started. Like to keep the vehicles ready to go if I have to.

Concerning the E85 that, I have run in my pickup ... I usually get it, on my travels up into Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Truck runs great on it and the loss of mileage is usually offset by the price and the increase in power. I have in the past 2 years, found E15 (sold as Unleaded 88 at RaceTrac) in South Florida and it seems to be just the right blend for fuel economy on that truck ('08 F-150 with 5.4L). 3 times I have used it and hit the high 19mpg mark with AirConditioning running and running it hard on 1-75/I-10. Most times on regular fuel those conditions result in 15mpg or less. Power is as good as regular fuel but, not as good as E85. Where I live in NW Florida though ... nobody carries any of the "E" fuels. I have been able to find E85 about 90 miles North of here in Alabama and use it when I can. Might take the car to South FL next time and see how it does on the same E15 fuel. True E85 down there, is as much or more than premium. E15 is about 20-30 cents per gallon cheaper than regular fuel.

Meanwhile, I'll just stick with premium and call it good.

I did get a picture of my code sheet from the glove box while I was at it.
Thanks for all the tips, replies and advice.

 

The 1LT or 2LT thing has my curiosity now also ...

My '06 was a 1 LT (if memory serves me correctly) with 2.2L/5-speed. Sunburst Orange and had machine finished alloys and running boards. No roof rack or other goodies. Basic Radio with single CD player. Had a power driver's seat manual passenger seat. Cloth interior. Didn't have anti-lock brakes.

This '11 model has chrome plated wheels (actually, chrome on plastic over steel spoke wheels). Running boards and roof rack. A little better Radio with CD player (Pioneer subwoofer in the back) and Bluetooth/Phone capability (haven't tried those functions yet). No sunroof, spoiler, etc., Cloth interior. Has an actual cigarette lighter and an ashtray. Power seat only on Driver's side, passenger side is manual. Compass and OnStar in what is supposed to be an auto dimming mirror. Has Anti-Lock, Traction Control, and possibly Stability Control.

 

2LT plastic fantastic wheels.
These are plastic caps bonded to aluminium rims.
your description of plastic over steel rims indicates 1LT
That and the 2.2 ,
Look in the glove box , there should be the RPO code sticker, take a photo and post it, we’ll decipher it