I have an issue with the standard stock radio on my '08 SS. The car only has about 80,000 Km (50,000 miles) on it so it hasn't seen a lot of use/hours on it over the years it's been around.

Every now and then, the display on the radio starts flickering or disappears partlially or completely even though the radio keeps working. Whenever I start the car after sitting for awhile, the display is usually working properly and not flickering but sometimes it starts to flicker and do odd things after I've been driving a bit. When it does this, I can sometimes get the display to come back by lightly rapping the display with my knuckle. Other times, turning the radio off and back on will bring it back although it may continue to flicker off and on for the rest of the trip.

Anyone else had this problem before? Is this common on these cars? What is or could be the cause? Is the display on the way out or can it be fixed? Should I be looking for a new radio unit or one from a wrecker to replace it?

 

Loose ground or a short somewhere?

 

The radio's display is bad. Had the same issue with mine years ago. Got the radio replaced under GM warranty.
There have been several members here over the years with the same type problem. I think most of them wound up replacing the radio also.

 

Hello! I just joined because I just bought my 09 SS. I love the little thing...fast and fun to drive. Now here's the story...it has 65k miles, and I have only owned it for a week as of today. I was really disappointed when the radio started flickering after I subscribed to Sirius, then on the way home from work...the engine light came on. I stopped at a store and shut the car off, started it up and no engine light. The radio screen doesn't flicker all of the time...I am thinking ground issue. After reading tons of stuff about issues people have with the HHR,,,I am still thinking that alot of them have electrical issues...more than likely caused by ground...or the lack of it. Now my car had two previous owners...the second had a new clutch put in it, I have the receipt so I know it was done at Chevy dealer. He blamed it on the first owner...but when he was showing me the car...he was intent that I understood about the launch control....uh huh...we know who did the clutch in....;}. Anyway... I love the car...so I'm in it for the long run. When I ran the carfax on the car I never saw any recall services, So Lonng story short...any advice would be appreciated. I'm thinking maybe during the clutch swap the tech may not have secured all the grounding points, or maybe I should add more...so let's hear it ! Thanks and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

 

Welcome to the site, you can double check the ground wires, and then check the recall status in this

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/gm-r...-status-50716/

 

You should get the codes read; There may be a pending or history code waiting in the wings.

 

X2 on this.
Radio flickering could be what Fireman George said.
But no code was mentioned when this problem happened.

 

Actually there was mention of a CEL in #4 when the thread was resurrected by 09 Lil Red SS.