Was doing some basic research on this and nothing apparent.

The HHR is a 2007 Automatic 2.2L with just about 32k miles. The temp guage (which I assume is the atypical GM dummy guage) stays at the same mark since day one and indash display was run between 195-205 +/- 2 deg.

But recently I have noticed a coolant oder and with most car I should never smell this.

I gotta borrow a coolant pressure tester but wondering before hand, anyone else have a similar issue or situation. Just wondering if it is some sort of vent but since the temp was not running hot it just makes it curious.

 

Do you notice any leaking underneath the vehicle when its parked?

 

Do you smell it inside the vehicle or outside? Sometimes heater cores can get a leak inside and sometimes if it is a very slow leak in the engine compartment you may never see any dripping. Look around all the fittings and you might see someplace where coolant is leaking but evaporating before dripping (crusty deposits).

 

What they said + Check the Dexcool level in the reservior tank.

Don't want that running empty..

PS: If you smell it Inside, feel the carpet on the pass side below the heater box..Make sure it is Dry..

 

Yea, nothing inside, nothing wet and no apparent drips.

But at driving speed any drips typically get sprayed around so I gotta get it on a lift and do an inspection, check hoses, and all the other atypical stuff.

I have had leaks in other GM's in the past so I am used to it and the scent was faint but noticable once the hood came up.

When I get home today I will have time to mess with it.

 

Smell has not come back, will keep you updated.

 

I am getting similar problems with my 07 that I bought used in June. It seems to be coming from around the reservoir for the coolant. I took it to the dealer I got it from in July complaining about the odour and the kink in the overflow hose (top). Was told that the coolant was changed before I got it and most likely some old coolant spilled out on the chassis, was a no fault found. The smell comes and goes. I was checking it out some more this week, added a bit of coolant to the reservoir. Did not notice any wet areas but I did swap out the rad cap with another HHR that I have access to and noticed that I did not have the cap as tight as it would go. Usisng the dot on the cap, I was able to go another 1/2 turn so am hoping that thats all it is. Did that on Tuesday and odour is less. Will try for a few more days and see how it goes.

 

"and the kink in the overflow hose (top)".

I fixed my kink (same location), by vertically slicing open a short length of larger heater hose & put it over the overflow hose, which gave it strength to stay un-kinked..

That was over 2 yrs ago & still fine.

 

Has someone other than you added any to it? A little spillage will take time to burn off and smell for a while.

 

I had exactly the same symptoms. Remove your spark plugs and inspect them for an odd orange (if DexCool) discoloration on the ceramic part that extends out of the engine, that means HeadGasket leak. But, wait, the fix in my case only took 1 1/2 days and $30 to fix. Go to the local Advance/Pep/Zone store and look for "head Gasket repair" chemicals, the one I used worked very gooood. and was on sale for $15. Get a new t-stat, because you have to remove the old one for the fix anyway!

And new plugs, and new DexCool, total cost for me was less than $70, but a day and a half of my time.