That's on the frame rail the insulation is heat protection from the muffler, the clip is a line anchor you should be able the pop it open and replace the damaged line.
You're not near the plastic fuel tank.

Welcome to the site!

 

The fuel line in question GM pn 15283296 (List Price $177.61), is no longer available from General Motors.

I'd suggest a Google search, or a look around on e-Bay.

Some online vendors still have that part kicking around for $110-$125 + shipping.

Another option is to have the line repaired by a technician who can section it and install a new length with flared compression fittings.

Unfortunately, this problem will only become more prevalent on "Rust Belt" HHR's because there is a natural mud/slush trap ahead of the left rear wheel.

Frequently washing the underbody during the winter will help forestall the issue.

 

I recently replaced the rusted section of fuel line with fuel injection rated rubber fuel line.

I can pretty well guarantee that more of the line than you think is rusted.

There is a fairly straight section of the line that runs parallel with the fuel tank. You can remove it from the fuel tank and cut it off. I used some Vaseline as lubricant to slide about 6" of hose over the steel then put two of the fuel injection rated hose clamps on to hold it from moving.

Once that was done I routed the hose about where the steel had been and used some nice wide {1/2" wide} zip ties to secure it, I use the widest zip ties I could find hoping that they would not cause wear spots in the hose.
Once past that plastic bracket in your picture I simply cut the steel fuel line and attached the hose. I put two more of the fuel line rated hose clamps on that.

That was a few months ago now and all is well with the repair.

here is a link to my saga:

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/main...if-need-54556/

Have fun,...

 

As I've said before, this will eventually be a GM recall after a few people die in fires in these cars. There was one in the area this spring that the driver just made it out of as the vehicle turned into a flamethrower while driving down the road.

I suggest that if you have a leak, contact your GM dealer and have them contact their GM rep.

If they won't do anything, call Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center at 1-800-222-1020

If they won't do anything, E-mail GM CEO Mary Barra mary.barra@gm.com

If they won't do anything, call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at 1-888-327-4236

Get names at each stage and, if possible, get it in writing.

I'm surprised that GM hasn't already taken some action on this. It is a well known problem and it's foolish to wait for the regulatory agencies to drop the hammer on them.

 

I see just the opposite. NHTSA is embarrassed that a college study found what they should have with the VW diesels and lawyers had to force them to look into Takata. Go back to the GM ignition switch and Jeep dragging their feet on the exploding gas tanks. They are under great scrutiny for failing to do the job that they are supposed to be doing and they are being very proactive now. They were caught with their pants down and it's not likely to happen again. Automakers are recalling cars without being forced to.

Older cars sucked fuel from the tank to the engine. When the line leaked, the engine didn't run. When high pressure fuel pumps were put in fuel tanks, the manufacturers are obligated to make certain no fuel is sprayed at high pressure under the vehicles. Companies who are headquartered in Detroit have to build vehicles capable of being operated safely in that location. Takata tried the Rust Belt excuse. It didn't work for them and it isn't likely to work for anyone else.

 

NHTSA's admittedly red faced embarrassment over engineering students finding VW's trick aside, and the Takata mess set aside, although that company's behavior is criminal at the very least. And I fully expect criminal prosecution of those responsible, just as I expect criminal prosecutions to arise out of "Dieselgate", the wheels of justice and the American/Canadian Governments turn slowly.

Let's not bring up the specter of people burning to death in their HHR's into this please Don, that kind of fear inducing statement made the "Ignition Debacle" so much worse than it needed to be. Folks are jumpy enough as it is.

From what I've been told by two GM Zone Reps on the East Coast, the fuel lines will eventually be restocked, but that the time frame is wholly dependant on orders from Dealership Service Departments.

The more "Expedited Order Requests" received by GM, the faster the parts will become available. Is it a design flaw, maybe, but countless other vehicles on the road have similar issues. Or even worse rust related failures, axles snapping on Ford Windstar vans due to rust, or the well known front subframe failures on the Saturn "S-Series" models which leave drivers with lower control arms attached to thin air.

And don't forget that you're talking about an understaffed Government Agency with an operating budget that is a laughably small line item on the GAO's annual report.

Even though this might be seen as "Biting the Hand That Feeds Us", here's a direct link that will allow anyone affected to file a complaint with NHTSA directly....

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

The important thing to remember if your HHR has a leaking fuel line, get it repaired now, even if it means buying one of the "Marked Up" OEM lines still available through online parts houses. And if you do have a "leaker" park it away from your dwelling, outside your garage, and away from other vehicles until it is fixed.

If NHTSA mandates a Recall, GM will be required to reimburse owners for repairs already made.

 

843de,

I seem to have successfully repaired my fuel line on my own. At least for myself personally if GM decides to offer an improved fuel delivery system be it a new steel fuel line or some hybrid rubber and steel {which is essentially what I have done} or whatever I would rather have it retrofitted to my buggy for free rather than have my investment in rubber hose paid to me.

The replacement fuel line on my HHR cost me around $30.00. Somehow I just don't see GM stepping up and just fixing this problem on their own but it will be dealt with eventually.

I have the idea that they were banking on the idea that most folks would have junked their HHR simply because it is old by now.

Granted I do know folks with very old vehicles that are in better shape than anything I own but, most of those folks can afford to keep their vintage tin in perfect shape.

The average owner of an HHR used to be at least middle class and the middle class folks I know just can't swing that kind of maintenance these days.

For most of them they can afford a new vehicle with the incentives for buying new over fixing what they have. Its all part of the planned obsolescence thing I think.

As can be seen by this site a there are a lot of DIYers here {and on some of the other sites I visit} who are capable of pulling their own wrenches and keeping their old cars going past the expiration date in the obsolescence plan. This is what is causing the problem with cars that stopped being made like 4 years ago.

I'm sure there is a demographic that told the big wigs at GM {and most likely all the other car companies} that people would just get rid of the old car and get a new one before to many folks turned to a crispy crackle due to fuel line failure.

They were wrong to an extent but in the last few years the junk yards around here have gained many HHR's to their inventory.

When I was having problems with my original engine there simply were no '06 2.2 Ecotec engines to be had locally, when I was still searching for one. I put my name on several junk yard sites to have them notify me if one came available.

Recently I have gotten e-mails from several of those sites even tho I have since replaced my engine. They are becoming more available all the time.

 

Yes my friend, attrition is beginning to nibble away at the 489,981 HHR's which burbled off the line over five model years.

Some wrecked, some worn out, some simply discarded when the repair bill exceeded their value either in dollars or perceived value.

That being said, I plan on being a gray haired old fart(OK my hair is already gray), explaining to the kids who just landed at the local car show in their Solar Powered Tesla Model Z "Hover Matic" flying car, just what an HHR is and why it doesn't fly.