Trust me I could have made it fit in the Terrain better so GM could have if they really wanted too. I suspect there may another reason to protect the computer from heat or something like that.

 

Yep its easy. I drove to the battery supplier, and had the old one out and the new one in, inside of 10 minutes, probably less. He connected his battery powered tester to the computer connection under the dash, so all settings in the radio etc were not disturbed. I actually like where the battery is placed in the HHR, just question why there is not a manual key lock on the outside of the hatch, just in case.

 

All I lost in the swap was the time on my radio, my speed volume. The EQ settings and my TPM on the wheels. I had all set in just a few min's. I did not even lose the presets on the radio stations.

No outside lock on the hatch as it cost money and for styling. GM and most other MFG's are eliminating the outside trunk locks and passenger door locks. Since so few people don't ever use them they can save money and cleaner styling and very few people complain or even notice.

The 04 GTP did not have a passenger door lock and my new Terrain has no passenger lock or hatch lock or inside lock. It dose have power open and remote open. That freaks the dog out.

 

Yes the key lock costs $$'s, which I'm sure is why they do not exist, though I sure wish there was one on the hatch. Key lock on the passenger door I can live without.

Dogs are funny about what they react to. Ours dislikes cars in general, she gets car sick, unless we give her a little dramamine which helps. Since she is a rescue, we are not sure what unpleasant thing may have occured in her prior life related to cars. At least she has a good life now.

 

I am a Delco battery fan too. They always get my vote when people ask what battery they should get. Interstate and Die Hards are good too but I still prefer Delco.

We have 2 GM's with what look to be origional batteries but we are not the first owners of either car so it is a pure guess bassed on what is in each car...and that is a factory Delco battery in the trunk. The Ion has almost 140k and mine has 66k.

 

I was nothing but Delco but of late they have not been as good. I suspect that when GM shed some of the divisions the one who bought the battery division is not doing the same quality they once did.

 

That sucks but is very good info to know! Mine if origionals are pre Gov't.

 

My understanding is the lower end Delco's are now made in China, the high end long warrantee Delco's are made by Johnson Controls, who also makes Interstate batteries now. The Johnson Control batteries should be high quality batteries. I buy Interstate batteries for my cars, as well as for my motor home, which is hard on batteries. The Interstates IMO do well.

 

I am not sure when they sold out. GM was selling off most of the Delco divisions before the bail out. I know I have not had as good of service out of them starting 2004. Now I am still getting 5 years accept for the HHR but I am just not getting the mega years out of them.

 

I just watched the History Channel on-line a video about lead http://www.history.com/shows/modern-...n-marvels-lead (don't know how long it will be available). Any way the first part talks about batteries and how today most are recycled and the lead in the new battery contains a lot of contaminates. They said the lead in the old CRT computer you recycled, might now be in the battery of the new car you buy. That certainly would indicate why they don't last as long as years ago. They also mentioned a company that uses new lead to make batteries which last a lot longer but are expensive. It is a battery call Odyssey and I did a search and found there is one for the HHR, Odyssey pc1200 mjt and it seems to go for around $250 give or take at the sites I found. http://www.odysseybattery.com/auto.html Just thought I'd toss this info out to the HHR site.