Good find. I think all of us should at least inspect ur wires since this could become an issue at any time if the wires get worn.

 

Problem is, Like most people I'd bet, I could inspect my wiring all day long and not know if there was a problem somewhere, unless it was a broken wire just staring me in the face!

 

Mine is at the dealer as we speak for this same message. Reduced engine pwr message came on about two weeks ago along with check engine light. I was on the freeway doing about 70 when the message came on and the car slowed to about 40mph almost as if I had started breaking while holding the gas pedal. I stopped and turned off the ign then started back up to receive the message again. Finally after about four restarts I only had the check engine light on and the engine ran fine (no reduced pwr). I went straight to have the oil changed because I was way way over due and thought this might have something to do with it even though it shouldn't. After having it off and getting the oil changed I didn't receive the message again until yesterday. I took it straight to the dealer and dropped it off in the night slot. The dealer called today and said they were too backed up to get to it but that they would take a look first thing in the morning. I know the message will probably have gone away now and they may give me the run around. If so I am going to go trade the sucker in on something else and cut my loss. I bought it in December and the dealer has gotten to enjoy it more than I have; seems I got the bad one!!

06HHR

 

hmmm....

-JJ

 

You not the only one getting bad HHRs, it happens. We lost confidence in our HHR as well, and once that happens, it's time to move on. We enjoyed our HHR when it ran well, but when that 'service engine' light keeps coming on, it stops being enjoyable.
It's ironic that the title of this thread is "service issues", yet when someone does post an issue here, the kiddies wanna jump in and flame the poster for some stoopid reason. I found this thread very informative and can't understand the need for angry replies. Kinda like in junior high.

 

I did throw the way in there too much on the oil change but 6000 miles is over due to me as I normally only run 3000 to 4000 miles on the oil. I seriously doubted the oil change was the problem but that's all I had to go on at the time.

Update: I received a call from the dealer today saying; when we pulled your HHR around into the bay the reduced pwr message and check engine light was on. The service writer at the dealer then said, I turned it off and handed the key over to the mechanic who could not get the message to come back up again. Your car checked out fine. I said what!! You just told me you saw the engine error but your saying its ok? He said well we checked it for any codes and it gave us one; we called GM and they said it was a ghost code that didn't mean anything. He then said; we researched it online and think it's electrical but we cannot due anything without a code. I told him I thought the engine wiring harness could be the cause (may have read that here) and he said, yeah we believe so too and we mentioned it to GM but they will not allow us to install a new one under warranty without a code. I thought to myself, what the heck do we need warranties for? We are at the mercy of the dealer and manufacture. I went and picked it up tonight after hours and I was so mad that I spun the tires a little underneath there service lane. I am thinking about trading it in on something else this weekend or selling it outright and let someone else fight the dealer.

 

My error. I interpreted that you had gone past what the DIC had determined that you should have changed your oil. My apologies.

Something that might help the dealer trace the wiring problem is a device called a Time-domain reflectometer (TDR). Basically, it can point out in a wire where an open or short is located. A large cabling company should have one. Someone that does sound cabling or network cabling should have one or know where to get one. They are kinda pricey, a thousand or more.

You might see if the dealer can get a hold of one. Maybe GMC has a wiring harness tester?

-JJ

 

No problem

I don't really think I should be responsible for finding the tools that the dealership should use to fix my vehicle. I think you are right about the tool helping indicate the issue though. I am not sure where I'll go from here. I will keep researching I guess.

 

I agree that the dealer should have the tools... but sometimes they need to be made aware of the tools.

-JJ

 

Have the dealer check behind the kick plate drivers side. I had the same problem with mine, in dealership 4 times in less than 3 months since purchase, all the same "reduced engine power". Finally, the 4th time, everything checked out with the sensors and all, but there is a wiring harness behind the kick-plate, and my wires were all corroded, that's what was causing the problem.

Now I wonder how those wires got corroded? Dealer said was snow and water from my shoes, lame reason, but they had to say something. I think water is making it's way in from underneath, think when go thru car wash and have underbody sprayed, that is how water is getting in? Will keep an eye on it.