This honestly feels like such a silly question, but I haven't been able to find anything to help on other websites or on older threads here. But I've lurked this forum in the past with prior issues I've had with my HHR and you guys haven't let me down yet. Anyway, I have a 2006 HHR that I've had for about two years and I love it and want to make sure that it's taken care of well. The other day I was dropping a friend off and pulled out onto the street, eased in on the accelerator, and the engine suddenly started revving up louder than normal with the RPM dial shooting up to 3 and beyond rather than to 2 like normal on that street. Normally the RPM dial is on 1 when cruising without pressing the accelerator, now it's at 1.5 and normally goes up to 3 when I try to accelerate. Is this something to be alarmed over?

 

If it's an auto trans, sounds like the transmission may be slipping.
If it's a 5 speed, it may be the clutch is worn and slipping.

Either way, you need to have it looked at. Could be something serious.

(no offense, but based on your post wording I can see you're not the mechanical type. Best to let a pro look at it)

 

Any chance you are wearing new shoes?

 

Thank you for your suggestions, you are correct on that I'm not the mechanic type, haha. :P My father used to be a mechanic though, he didn't have any idea when I asked him about the initial concern, but I'll run those theories by him when I get the chance.

 

This wasn't accompanied by the sound of tires shrieking and the smell of burned rubber was it?

 

Thankfully no, I had an incident similar to that with a monte carlo a few years back, but not with this case.

 

Update, my car is an auto trans so we took an auto scanner to it. The scanner said there were no signals. We're going to try and get the transmission serviced and hopefully that will help it. If that doesn't do anything I'll take it to the mechanic.

Thank you guys so much for your patience with a newbie.

 

Wouldn't whoever "services" it be a mechanic? Normal OBDII scanners DO NOT read TCM codes, the A zone/vance/O' won't do it.

 

I must admit, when I had my HHR with a clutch about to go out, I noticed that my RPMs and Speed gauges would go crazy as I tried to accelerate.

 

Certainly something is slipping. If your transmission service does not solve the problem, (have some doubts that it will) you are probably looking at a transmission overhaul or replace.