Hello Fellow HHR owners,

I am really new to this forum but I have gathered a truck load of knowledge from the community. I am having an issue that just recently made itself known. Hopefully I can give you enough information to reduce some redundancy. Car has 160k miles on it as well.

Problem: My car will rough idle between 500-900rpms but only when parked or at a stop. The car will sometimes stick just below 1k rpms and other times it will begin to bob between 500-900 but never die out. Normally the instance only happens when the car is at regular operating temperatures. Otherwise it drives fine. Also to my ear there is no odd sounds and no change in highway driving or in motion.

Solutions I have tried: Changed plugs, Changed air filter, Changed Both Cam Shaft position sensors, cleaned the throttle body and had an oil change.

Anybody have any ideas?

2009 Chevy hhr 2.2 LT

 

Off the top of my head, have you checked to make sure the MAF sensor is plugged in securly, and have you inspected it and cleaned it using a can of MAF Cleaner from your local auto parts store?

(WARNING!! Never, but never use anything except MAF Cleaner, anything else like Brake Kleen will kill the sensor deader than dead)

Also, did you have the OBD II trouble codes pulled, and what codes were present?

P.S. aboard!

 

Welcome to the site

X2 on the MAF sensor.

The odd noise you mentioned. Does it should like an exhaust leak? A leaking flex pipe can make some strange symptoms.

 

Thanks for the welcomes,

@ Lucky - I don't hear any Noises however flex pipe might be something to look into after cleaning the MAF.

@843de - I got a code pulled for P0010 which is why I replaced both SOLENOIDS. I thought about cleaning the MAF as a last resort just because of how sensitive they are. To my knowledge its seated properly but I have never removed it for the purpose of cleaning.

Any tips for cleaning the MAF without breaking or breaking my bank ?

 

Go to an auto parts store, buy a can of MAF {Mass Air Flo} sensor cleaner.

Take your intake apart to where you can see the little wire for the MAF.

Take the can of MAF cleaner and spray the crap out.

Allow a few minutes for the spray to dry. Use a clean paper towel in need be but DO NOT touch the little wires.

Put things back together. Make sure you put the MAF wires back on, take a test drive. You should know pretty much right away if you did it right. The next few days should really let you know. If all is well have a beer {or something} and celebrate.

If not you might end up having to buy a new MAF. I wish you the best of luck.

By the way I have successfully cleaned dozens of MAF's with the same can of cleaner I got at the local NAPA store right here in town. I bought the CRC brand for around 8 bucks. There were other brands available on the same shelf but I have used the CRC brand of products at work a lot and figure if its good enough for them its probably OK for me