The car is a 2011 HHR 1lt. I just purchased this car second hand from a shady dealership and going through I’m finding minor things wrong with it.
Most concerning is the headlights only work in auto. Parking lights all work fine as they should and the low beams work on the auto setting but when I set the mode to headlights on they don’t work.
also the passenger side high beam doesn’t work in auto mode even when just flashing them by pulling back on the column lever.
when the headlights are off and I flash my high beams both of them work though. What would this issue be? All fuses in the entire fuse box were checked and relays were swapped around with no luck.

 

Change both bulbs

 

if the bulbs were bad wouldn’t that make them unable to work? Filaments are all fine I assume since lowbeams work on auto and both high beams work when you flash them. I just purchased the car so I know nothing about these hhr inner workings. I just don’t want to replace the bulbs if it’s not needed because from looking at the layout of the bumper, those bulbs are gunna suck to get to.

 

to the forums!

I would guess that the switch (stalk) is bad.

 

Ok. Let’s recount, you have checked and tested the fuses and relays for the headlights and low beams and high beams, the beams work, but not in Auto settings, that’s what I missed, the Auto settings only turns on the DRL lights during daylight then switches to full lights after dark. So RJ may have a point the multi switch is not working or your under hood fuse box may need to be tightened, use a 7 mm socket and tighten those four bolts past and clicking and you’ll feel the two parts tightening up.
Try that before you order any parts

 

Does the car have fog lights?
So, when you turn the switch on the stalk to ON there are no lights?
Do the DRLs work? They should turn on when in gear. They are the low beams.
Have you read the Owner Manual? Link in my sig.

 

I'd start by replacing the bulbs. Fastest likely fix.

 

That’s what I said. But what do I know?


Easy enough to change them.

 

Two things wrong, my guess.

Most likely cause of the absent high beam is the bulb, although the low beam usually fails first due to heavier use. Could be bad wire or or connector.

Best 1st move, like Oldblue said, is change both bulbs.

But that prolly won't fix the other problem, which could be a bad wire or connector somewhere but most likely is a bad contact in the switch. The stalk is cheap. Just replacing it is a low-cost high-odds bet.

 

Sorry I haven’t been active I was waiting on the stalk to come in. Replaced the bulbs and I’m still having the issue. Headlights come on for auto but not in regular on off mode. High beams only work when you pull the stall back to flash them but they won’t stay on. Gunna rip out and replace the stalk tomorrow