You can get it to Autozone or Advance and they should have a scanner. Or any other service center that can read the code.

I did invest in a scanner for myself $150 and it reads engine, abs, and transmission codes.

It saved me $500 when my wifes Buick lost an ABS Pump.

 

Seems as though you are going to have to fix it or have it fixed.

 

Hey L-O-L,

Seems as though your HHR is past the waranty stage? It also seems as though you have exhausted your dealerships usefullness it may be time to move on to GM Customer Service! Call this number: 1-800-462-8782 and explain your issues and concerns! Also you should check the cars past history to see if it's issues existed with the previous owner! To bad you have had your HHR for so long as if it was still under waranty it would soon become a GM Re-Receritified Lemon for someone else to hassle with !

Best-O-Luck ,

 

Three words for you....Chevrolet Zone Manager....sometimes you have to get the factory involved. If nothing else they will shake up the dealer and maybe prompt them to be more attentive to the situation.

 

Thanks for the advice. I should be under warranty still. I bought it 2 years ago and it only has 30,000 miles on it. I used GMs website to send a complaint about the situtation last night. I hope I see some action from that. I really hate to throw the dealership under the bus, but I think I've tried to work with them and they don't seem to be giving me much choice.

 

I had to email GM as well when my turbo failed and it caused some other issues. As much as you hate throwing the dealership "under the bus" it has to be done or else things will not get done right. The dealership is full of it with the whole pulling the codes they have to be on. I hope you get it figured out.

 

This is absolutely not true. If the car is shutting down the turbo for 30 minutes, it is storing a code as to why it did and will keep it for a few key cycles. Here is what happened one time when I was having similar issues:

1) Take car to dealer
2) Dealer calls says they "fixed" the issue
3) I drive car around and know it's not fixed. I eventually get turbo to shut off (no CEL at this time)
4) I drove the car to the dealer immediately
5) Tech took the car for a drive with me while it was acting up (still no CEL)
6) Tech shut the car off and restarted. Turbo is now working, still no CEL.
7) Tech connected the code reader and read the same code he saw earlier in the day. The dealership then agreed to look at the car the next day.
8) The next day the dealership called GM tech line and diagnosed the problem based on the stored code and procedures from the tech line.

It certainly helped that I was able to take it in while it was acting up, but as you can see the code does survive a key cycle, and can be present w/o the CEL showing. Try another dealer that has a clue.

 

Codes are definately stored. I went thru the exact issue. Every time you pressed the gas you have a different engine. It's very unnerving.
Have them check the crimped on connectors for the stage kit. You can even try to diagnose yourself - when the car is acting up open the hood and move them a little see if the car clears up. There was a post which had clear pics of the location of the 3 wires, not sure which one. But they are in the front on top of the engine.

 

Just got off the phone with my GM service rep. They said they talked to the dealer and the dealer said they haven't be able to recreate the issue, but they would be happy to look at it again if I can drop everything next time it happens. At what point is it normal or acceptable for a 2 year old car to have the check engine light come on once a month. Even if they can't recreate the issue which is a load of BS the fact it's firing CELs should mean something is wrong. If something is wrong stand behind your product and fix it. Last GM product I will ever get.