Update; we drove the '08 for over 1000 miles round trip visiting family and didn't have any issues , but it was mainly interstate driving with round town when we got there. I asked my wife to get her gas from a different station to see if maybe she was getting some bad stuff since I don't have the problems with my '07 buying it from a different station. I'll post again next weekend if anything comes up. Thanks for the replies folks.

 

No stalls this past week but then I don't think she bought any gas since we returned from our trip.

 

Auto trans? Could be the torque converter sticking and dragging the engine down.

 

Check idle speed when in gear. If it is too low this could cause a stalling issue.

 

Ive noticed that my 08-5 speed does something like this with the air on. Sometimes when i am idling at a stop light with the air on my tach will dip below 500 rpm and come back up like 5 times and then stop doing it. It has never died on me but this is really irritating and makes the car shudder.

 

Not sure how it's controled on the HHR, but there should by an idle up mechanisum that increases idle when the a/c is on. Not sure if it's computer controled or not or if it is an adjustable solinoid.

 

I know this is an old thread, but it's a problem with my HHR as well. Past car, pontiac vibe, had for 8 years and never had this problem. HHR, within less than a year, stalled three times. Three times this summer too. Dealer said it wasn't a regular problem...I thought it might have something to do with starting it up on some of the hottest days of summer, since that's when it seems most prevalent. Always happens within three minutes of starting up and driving, so luckily I'm still in a parking lot or at a stop light.

also, checking fuses? I am not 'under-the-hood' savvy...is this something I can immediately see when I pop the hood?

 

The under hood fuse box is on the driver side at the firewall (closest to windshield)
Black plastic lid.. 2 clips, 1 towards front & 1 in rear. Push in both & gently lift off lid.

Under side of lid has a schematic for what fuse is for what & relays etc,..Plus some spare fuses..