Hello! My first time on here, I have a 2009 HHR, Only problem ever with the car is the door locks from time to time. The old FOB gave up the ghost(I had repaired the solder joints on the battery holder twice already). Got new FOB from dealer and they reprogrammed or whatever. Now I have to hold the "unlock" button longer than before and sometimes it works but sometimes all the doors don't unlock. Any ideas or experiences with this?
Thanks

 

Yup, there are a few instances of problems with the locks - use the SEARCH tool at the top of the page here, and look for [door locks]. They cover everything from weak solenoids, binding where the lock post comes out from the top of the door, problems with the FOBS, and a reflash of the BCM (body control module) etc. etc..

Have a read and see if they point you in the right direction.

 

And, sometimes the transmitter just does not work anymore.

 

Howdy, first time post here. 2008 HHR, I love this car but the driver's door lock had been my nightmare. I saw so many posted here about different issues with the door lock from FOB to actuator motor problems and everything in between. Mine began about six months ago with intermitent functioning of the FOB (lock and unlock) then about four months ago the FOB stopped working all together. I was locked out one day and even the key would not manually unlock the door. A call to Onstar opened the door but now I have to use the key manually to get in and when leaving the car, I use the button on the door to lock all the doors but have to manually pull the lock up and then push down to make sure it is not stuck. I've been dealing with this now for four months and had given up hope of it resloving. I found the HHR forum and thought I would see what I can find out. Any guidance would be most helpful. Thanks.

 

use the search window for door locks, like this one www.chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=45839 there are threads for this issue, sounds strait forward to replace parts, but it can be intimidating, and which part is causing the issue, search and read up on the site first, then tackle the repair, or have the info for a trip to your favorite garage or dealer, and welcome to the site

 

Welcome to the site SARDOCE7.

If Onstar could open your doors when you couldn't, then I would say it's pretty obvious that your remote is not working. Onstar's signal is sent to the same door locks that you couldn't get to work, so it sounds like the doors locking mechanism is working.
I would try a new remote before looking for other causes.

 

I got two sets of Keys and FOBS with my HHR. I thought this was standard, if you had an extra set it would be easy to check if one were bad.

 

Almost every auto parts store has a fob check station near the check out counter (with the fob batteries).

 

Mine has had slow solenoids since I got it. Usually I just hit the unlock button a few times to get them all open. It doesn't seem to do it when using the buttons inside on the door..maybe it keeps power going longer that way.

 

I had the same symptom.
In my case it was the fob dying a slow death, that's how I found that they sometimes just stop working.