Pissed!!! HHR Key Stuck - Shifter Micro Switch / GM denying responsibility
Senior Member
Joined: 12-24-2008
Posts: 717
From: N/A
What will happen if he is able to permanently depress that button or better yet find the leads to the solenoid and activate it electronically is to enable the key to be withdrawn while the vehicle is in motion, locking the steering wheel. This safety feature was put into all our vehicles when an irate passenger reached over and took the keys out of the ignition causing the driver to loose control of the vehicle.
Senior Member
Joined: 04-07-2008
Posts: 1,051
From: Wisconsin
I just replace mine. For a time, I popped the cover off the steering column to allow the manual release until I had time to fix the problem. The next day, the shifter button collapsed. I toyed with taking it to the dealer and fighting to get it covered under warranty, but I weighed out the time and aggravation involved vs. cost of the part and time to install (a little over an hour). I opted to do it myself. I have ordered many parts from http://www.gmotors.com/ for my Cadillac in the past and have been very pleased. The shifter was $116 including shipping. They shipped the same day as I ordered. I had it in less than a week. This is the genuine GM part (gmotors is Palm Chevrolet in Gainsville, FL). I will post the part # later.
I wanted to take pictures of the procedure but time has been a premium of late, I was also in the middle of installing a floor in our living room. wrusprod has enough photos to get someone started, see this thread: https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/problems-service-repairs-42/ignition-jamming-3947/. A couple of things to note if you choose to do this on your own: You must take off the plastic "skirt" that wraps around the base of the shifter. This is to get at the bolts and plug on the left rear of the shifter. I have a dash kit, so my shift plate has a cover on it. Removing the shift lever is a bit of a pain, but doable. As some have said in other threads, you turn the chrome cover and move it down to expose the set screw. But I had to use a screw driver to pry down the cover on both the old and new shifters. The set screw on the old shifter was "american", the new one was metric. Go figure.
For those who are concerned about getting the same part, the new one has a different setup. The old one had only plastic rods holding the pin. Over time the plastic wears from the pressure and the rod falls out. Yes, you can push it back in and probably glue it. But it will come out again. Mine was so worn that it wouldn't stay in place at all. The new shifter (different part #) has metal rods holding the pin.
I wanted to take pictures of the procedure but time has been a premium of late, I was also in the middle of installing a floor in our living room. wrusprod has enough photos to get someone started, see this thread: https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/problems-service-repairs-42/ignition-jamming-3947/. A couple of things to note if you choose to do this on your own: You must take off the plastic "skirt" that wraps around the base of the shifter. This is to get at the bolts and plug on the left rear of the shifter. I have a dash kit, so my shift plate has a cover on it. Removing the shift lever is a bit of a pain, but doable. As some have said in other threads, you turn the chrome cover and move it down to expose the set screw. But I had to use a screw driver to pry down the cover on both the old and new shifters. The set screw on the old shifter was "american", the new one was metric. Go figure.
For those who are concerned about getting the same part, the new one has a different setup. The old one had only plastic rods holding the pin. Over time the plastic wears from the pressure and the rod falls out. Yes, you can push it back in and probably glue it. But it will come out again. Mine was so worn that it wouldn't stay in place at all. The new shifter (different part #) has metal rods holding the pin.
Last edited by Doc brown; Apr 26, 2010 at 08:23 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: 04-19-2006
Posts: 166
From: MI
I just replace mine. For a time, I popped the cover off the steering column to allow the manual release until I had time to fix the problem. The next day, the shifter button collapsed. I toyed with taking it to the dealer and fighting to get it covered under warranty, but I weighed out the time and aggravation involved vs. cost of the part and time to install (a little over an hour). I opted to do it myself. I have ordered many parts from http://www.gmotors.com/ for my Cadillac in the past and have been very pleased. The shifter was $116 including shipping. They shipped the same day as I ordered. I had it in less than a week. This is the genuine GM part (gmotors is Palm Chevrolet in Gainsville, FL). I will post the part # later.
I wanted to take pictures of the procedure but time has been a premium of late, I was also in the middle of installing a floor in our living room. wrusprod has enough photos to get someone started, see this thread: https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3947. A couple of things to note if you choose to do this on your own: You must take off the plastic "skirt" that wraps around the base of the shifter. This is to get at the bolts and plug on the left rear of the shifter. I have a dash kit, so my shift plate has a cover on it. Removing the shift lever is a bit of a pain, but doable. As some have said in other threads, you turn the chrome cover and move it down to expose the set screw. But I had to use a screw driver to pry down the cover on both the old and new shifters. The set screw on the old shifter was "american", the new one was metric. Go figure.
For those who are concerned about getting the same part, the new one has a different setup. The old one had only plastic rods holding the pin. Over time the plastic wears from the pressure and the rod falls out. Yes, you can push it back in and probably glue it. But it will come out again. Mine was so worn that it wouldn't stay in play at all. The new shifter (different part #) has metal rods holding the pin.
I wanted to take pictures of the procedure but time has been a premium of late, I was also in the middle of installing a floor in our living room. wrusprod has enough photos to get someone started, see this thread: https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3947. A couple of things to note if you choose to do this on your own: You must take off the plastic "skirt" that wraps around the base of the shifter. This is to get at the bolts and plug on the left rear of the shifter. I have a dash kit, so my shift plate has a cover on it. Removing the shift lever is a bit of a pain, but doable. As some have said in other threads, you turn the chrome cover and move it down to expose the set screw. But I had to use a screw driver to pry down the cover on both the old and new shifters. The set screw on the old shifter was "american", the new one was metric. Go figure.
For those who are concerned about getting the same part, the new one has a different setup. The old one had only plastic rods holding the pin. Over time the plastic wears from the pressure and the rod falls out. Yes, you can push it back in and probably glue it. But it will come out again. Mine was so worn that it wouldn't stay in play at all. The new shifter (different part #) has metal rods holding the pin.
