I own a 2010 HHR. I have several questions:

1. There is a little indicator light on the dashboard which is a little car with the hood up. It is always lit when the engine is on. I can not find any explanation in the users manual about this indicator. What is it trying to tell me?

2. I can not also find in the users manual anything to expalin about the remaining oil like reading and exactly when I am to change the engine oil.
It is now at 60%.

3. The metal body of the car seems awfully thin and pliable. Someone evidently taped their door into the side of the car and made a large dent. I had an estimate made by one of the paintless dent repair companies for $250 t0 $300 with an estimated 95% repair. Any comments?

 

I meant percent oil life indication.

 

OK, lets go in order.

1. That has me a bit baffled, grab your owner's manual and compare the icon to the list on page "v". It could be the traction control indicator, or the Check Engine light. If it's the latter, your vehicle has detected a fault that requires servicing.

2. When to change the oil, what a loaded question. Some folks wait until they have 10% remaining on the indicator, some run it until they get a "Change Oil Soon" message. And then you have the old timers like me who change it every 3,000 miles regardless of what the indicator says. Depending on your driving style, the amount of time you spend idling in traffic, etc....you can go 10,000 miles between changes.

3. Yes, our beloved HHR's are a tad thin skinned and fragile. I park well away from everybody in what my wife refers to as "outer lower Siberia", since the majority of people these days open their doors without looking of caring about the car next to them. Google "magnetic door guards", they just pop on when you park, and in situations where close parking can't be avoided, they'll save you from door dings.

 

I have a 2010, and don't see that symbol on the dash readout.
Look on page 4-24 of your owners manual and let us know which symbol it is you see.

 

Mike(843de) gave you some good advise above.

Here is the oil change info straight from the owners manual.

Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has the Engine Oil Life System, a computer
system that indicates when to change the engine oil
and filter. This is based on engine revolutions and
engine temperature, and not on mileage. Based on
driving conditions, the mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For the oil life system
to work properly, the system must be reset every
time the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it indicates that an oil change is necessary.
A CHANGE OIL SOON message comes on. See DIC
Warnings and Messages on page 4-48. Change
the oil as soon as possible within the next 600 miles
(1 000 km). It is possible that, if driving under the best
conditions, the oil life system might not indicate that
an oil change is necessary for over a year. However, the
engine oil and filter must be changed at least once a
year and at this time the system must be reset.
Your dealer/retailer has trained service people who will
perform this work using genuine parts and reset the
system. It is also important to check the oil regularly and
keep it at the proper level.
6-

 

That little car with the hood open, is that on the center section below the radio that you are talking about? it means the outside air is being circulated. the symbol on the right which is a little car which means in inside air is being circulated.
Page 1-14 of the 2010 owners manual

 

I finally found it on page 4-18, it is to the left of the Fan Control. It says that it is E Outside Air. However, that does not explaint why the little yellow rectangle above it is illuminated. What does it mean? That the vents below the windshield are not clogged?

 

Duh! I think you got it.
Mike and myself weren't thinking "outside the box" so to speak.

 

It's illuminated to indicate that particular function has been selected, if you click the switch directly opposite, the LED above it will light indicating that you've selected the "Recirculate" setting.

It's perfectly normal, they use the indicator lights because there is no tactile or visual indication from the switch as to which function is selected.

Unlike any yellow lights that may illuminate on your instrument cluster, those on the center stack just indicate the engagement of a particular function. Nothing to worry about.

And we were thinking outside the box, sometimes you just have to.