Hi everyone, glad to be a new member of this forum and I hope you can help me out with a real problem with my 2008 HHR LT.

My 2008 Chevy HHR is acting up big time. I first noticed a problem when I was in cruise control down the highway when I started feeling "hesitations" - as though I were tapping the break pedal. As days and weeks progressed things started getting worse. I would start in the morning and after going about a 1/4 mile the car would lose power and I would have to stomp on the accelerator to get it to "kick" back in. It didn't stop there. A few days ago turning into my driveway (it's a long driveway) the speedometer needle started jerking up and down and then it went to dead zero and stayed there while I was still driving. Then on another day as I was on the highway the car started to really lose power, the speedometer needle was wildly gyrating and at one point the engine revved extremely high (briefly) even though I was not pressing hard on the pedal. The needle gyration went on for some 5 miles and I could never determine my road speed. Then after I completed my errand and got in the car to head home, I had no problems at all. I never know when these episodes might occur. My dealer had installed a new throttle body to see if that might help but it didn't. I have no dashboard warning lights come on during these episodes. Plus the computer is NOT showing any error flags. Any ideas of what might be going on??

Thanks!

Mike

 

Get the battery checked.

I learned the hard way that being a dealership doesn't stop a shop from missing something really simple.

You can get it checked for free at an auto parts store like Napa, O'Reilly's, Autozone, etc.

They also have code readers, so even though the dealership said there was nothing there, getting someone else to check it is not a bad idea.

Keep us posted.

Good luck!

 

Your car is possessed by demons, I suggest you nuke it from orbit,...


Or at least get the battery tested like has been suggested.

 

aboard Mike!

Well there are two main causes, OK three now that I think about it, which will cause an HHR to go nuts in a rather spectacular fashion.

As mentioned in the first two replies, a failing battery will produce some interesting symptoms.

Also a loose connection at the underhood fuse box, or the upper and lower halves of the fuse box itself have come adrift enough to cause momentary power loss in various circuts.

 

Welcome to the site ! Loose fuse panel and possible loose ground wires at the transmission and the rad cradle! And yes the trip going south for the battery!
Let us know how things work out!

 

Hi MikeR,

I’m sorry for the experiences you’ve had while driving your Chevy HHR. Have you discussed this with your dealership since they installed the new throttle body? They would be the best point of contact to move forward in resolving the concerns you have. Our team works closely with GM certified dealers and are more than happy to provide any additional support. If you’re interested I can reach out to your dealership on your behalf. Please PM me your VIN, contact information, and involved dealership if you would like for me to assist you further.

Have a good afternoon and welcome to the Chevy HHR community,

Kayla K.
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

And maybe they can refund you for the throttle body and labour that did not resolve your issue.

 

The last thing that went into my tiny brain was "Throttle Body".

Sounds electrical to me. Probably a loose connection or a frayed and shorting wire.

But then, have you ever bothered with checking the coolant level under the pressure cap? A remote possibility.

 

How would coolant level affect that condition?

 

Masked overheating.