Hello Brain Trust.

I'm got the dreaded intermittent problem.

When the lights are on (not just the DRLs) the instrument panel dimmer doesn't work. The panel lights are on full brightness, like turning the thumb wheel all the way up. I have tried forcing the lights off, then on again but it makes no difference. The next off/ on cycle of the engine and everything works properly again.

This may be a red herring, but... sometimes the radio won't change stations. I touch the preset buttons, but they don't do anything. Turning the radio off then on again doesn't correct the problem. Again, it takes an engine off/ on cycle to correct this problem. Also, the radio volume will sometimes be about 1/2 of what it was the day before.

I thought I'd ask here before going to the dealer under my extended service contract. (They rebuilt my transmission once before, due to a PCM reflash issue.)

 

Don't anyone say Gremlins!

 

Mogwai.............

 

Just a thought, try giving it a "lobotomy" by disconnecting the negative battery cable for a few minutes. Then see how it behaves, also have your battery tested somewhere, HHR's will do very odd things when the battery starts to fail.

 

@JazzDad, did your schedule allow you to try the suggestion 843de recommended? I am curious if that idea worked for you.

Michelle, Chevrolet Customer Service

 

Holy smokes! Michelle is actually suggesting to try Mike's "lobotomy" idea. My how things have changed since that last Customer Service person. Changed for the better that is.

 

Nothing has really changed........no suggestion of how to solve the problem (which none of them can or will do).

 

Please, keep in mind I asked JazzDad if he has tried this. I didn't suggest that he DOES try it. I am not a technician to be able to suggest any kind of repair or diagnostic work on a vehicle and I apologize for this inconvenience since I know that many of you have experienced negative things at the dealership and would rather do the work yourself. I was wondering where he was standing with his situation.

Michelle, Chevrolet Customer Service

 

We understand Michelle, and we do appreciate your presence here along with Evan's. My idea for the "lobotomy" is just that, an idea based on experience, its pretty well established that a low system voltage can cause HHR's to get a bit "weird" for the lack of a better term.

But I'd also strongly suggest to JazzDad that he have the battery load tested to see if its on the verge of an age related failure. Being that he lives in a hot part of the country, with a battery approaching four years of age, my thoughts naturally go to a heat related failure. As a lifelong resident of the Southland, I can tell you that batteries seldom fail "gracefully" in these parts, they just up and quit with little warning other than some odd behavior.

Its great to have you back again after so long, even though I understand you're just filling in for Evan. Thanks for showing that Chevrolet cares enough to listen to owners of a vehicle that's probably been forgotten by so many at GM already.

 

I'll look into the battery. And you are correct; the batteries usually just die. You might park for a minute, come out and a cell is open.

I was also thinking a ground-related problem, but with so many points to check...

If I do disconnect the battery, I wonder if the car will have to re-learn the transmission parameters. https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show...t=call+surging I don't want to have to go through this again.