Hadn't driven the HHR for a couple days, got it out today. Immediately noticed a lack of zip. Like there was a 2000 lb trailer hitched up behind it. Errands took about 20 miles and it felt this way the entire time. Less pull, didn't rev as freely.

After getting home I popped the hood, sweated my ^ss off for about 10 minutes leaning over the hot engine checking for loose connections etc. Nothing loose or out of the ordinary found. I took it back out after that and it felt back to its normal zippy and eager self.

 

No warning indicator lights present?!?

 

I know this will sound terrible but sometimes even the simpelist things are over looked..... was the parking brake on?

 

No warning lights.

No parking brake. I think. No, I would have noticed. Nah, no parking brake.

 

Gas cap at odds with the car? All these newer cars do weird things when the tank pressure is not right.

 

But that usually brings on a warning light. Check engine I do believe.

 

Not many cars or trucks allow you to drive with the parking on but the HHR does. Most others have a buzzer that alerts you. I've found myself backing out the garage then trying to drive with it on. The lack of "get up and go" is always the first clue.

 

I've never had mine go limp so I wouldn't know.

 

And modest too I see.

 

Well, curiosity got me so I went out and investigated the parking brake scenario. As it turns out if you even slightly have the parking brake lever pulled up you get a red warning lamp on the speedometer display, an audible chime, and the DIC displays PARKING BRAKE in bright capital letters.

So I guess you could say that in the above brake check procedure the DIC points more towards it was a limp mode [glitch]. I can't believe I just typed that.