Hi All! I just acquired a 2008 Chevy HHR 5-speed and am hoping to make some performance enhancements as well as some routine repairs to make sure it's roadworthy for the insane amount of driving I do :)

My car: 08 HHR LS with the 2.4L (which is weird, because that didn't show up as an option, but the VIN # confirms), grey heated leather seats, premium stereo with disc changer and subwoofer, sunroof, tinted windows and XM radio rolling on 17" chrome wheels. It's everything could want in a daily driver.

I've only had the car since last Thursday but have run across a problem. It's intermittent, but I can feel a loss of power sometimes when accelerating. Ran the codes and it shows P0353, ignition coil issue with cylinder #3. Found a replacement on Rockauto for around $25, even though all local parts stores are charging $75-80. Even the part number is right, so if I'm missing something let me know! That's a great price!

Anyways, I will see if the code happens again tomorrow. If yes, I will replace that coil. Has any one here had this same issue? I searched that trouble code, but didn't get any results on this forum.

Thanks and look forward to chatting with you!

Christine
My fleet:
08 Chevy HHR LS 5sp Black on Grey
06 BMW Z4 coupe - Blacked out exterior, red interior, 6 speed
1966 Dodge Monaco 500 Big Block
1970 Plymouth Sport Fury

 

Welcome. That is weird. Never heard of an LS with the 2.4. Are the chrome rims factory?

Yes I'm thinking lt , since it has leather and premium sound.

 

welcome to the site! :)

an LS with the upgraded engine and sound system?? wow weird, sure its not an LT?

 

Well, at first I thought that it had just had the tailgate replaced at some point. Carfax showed a rear end collision, but the work was done pretty well. I figured that a less-than-alert employee slapped an LS on the car instead of an LT.

BUT...

I checked the VIN and here's what I found

3GND - General info...
A3 - LS with manual trans
3 - Four Door All Purpose Vehicle
P - Engine Type: LE5 2.4L
3 - check digit
8 - Model year
S - Either Mexico or Springhill..I'm assuming Mexico
XXXXXX - My HHR's number :)

Has anyone ever seen this?

Tomorrow when it's light, I will see what the tag in the glove box says. As far as I know, everything on the car is factory. The previous owner's dad bought it for him when he got out of school. He said something about it being used for XM or OnStar demonstrations, so most likely a special order car?

I'll investigate more tomorrow...if my curiosity doesn't force me to put on a coat and peek in my glovebox!

Christine

 

Try here. Just type in your vin. It will tell you everything the car came with and what sub model it is.
http://www.compnine.com/vid.php

And welcome to the site.

 

Welcome to the site and that is weird. Because the 2.4L, sunroof, leather seats, and heated seats weren't available options on an LS. So I'm thinking it's an LT too.

 

Well, apparently this is a weird car...check out the build tag from the glove box! Ran it through compnine and came back as the only one like it. Can that be?

Christine

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...HRBuildTag.jpg

 

Yes, I have two of them. They say that about lots of cars, for weird reasons, like they were made on different days ? Enjoy you HHR !!!

They actually made 147 of one and 266 of the other, love them both.

 

Well. I deceiphered a bunch of those RPO codes. Everything points to this car being a 2LT Calif. model. 2.4, FE3 suspension, 17in.alum.wheels, etc.
I will assume this car has a salvage title and whoever put it back on the road just used "whatever parts they could".