I just got this HHR used a week or two ago, and when I was on the used car lot I never noticed the Service Airbag warning, but now it always shows "Service Airbag" when starting, I did some Google / forum searching and found out this seems to be a common problem, I unplugged all the wires under both seats and put dielectric grease on the connectors before reconnecting them, I also checked the air bag fuse, and unhooked the battery to put dielectric grease on the under hood air bag sensor wire connector, and also put dielectric grease on the airbag connectors under the passenger side kick panel, but I am still getting the "Service Airbag" error, I ordered an Autel AL619 scantool in hopes that it will give me some info to narrow the problem down, however the Autel AL619 scantool does not have the 2011 HHR in its database, it will scan for a few extra codes using different Chevy vin numbers, I am getting the b1000-00 code using "C" as the forth vin letter.

I have no idea if this HHR is affected by any airbag recalls, but I am about to call a local Chevy place to find out.

If the local Chevy places tell me I am out of luck, is there any thing else I can try?

 

No airbag recalls on the HHR family, please be ultra super careful doing any work on the SRS System.

Quite literally, one wrong move, and you could end up maimed for life, or dead.

That's why we recommend taking HHR's with SRS warnings to either qualified technicians or GM dealerships to have the fault repaired.

Your life is worth much more than saving a few bucks, especially by trying to diagnose a problem without the proper tools.

P.S. aboard!

 

I do my own automotive work and a lot of other odd jobs, welding, CNC, 3D printing, construction and about the only tools I lack for automotive work are a lift and good scan tool, I have done a lot of shade tree mechanic jobs over the years, so I am kinda hoping to save some money and do the job my self.

I know the newer vehicles are a lot more complicated when it comes to the safety systems, but I am hoping the problem is something simple like a seat sensor or a seat belt problem.

If it turns out to be something that costs more than $300-$400, its likely never getting fixed.

What I am thinking right now is that its a seat or seat belt problem, I am going to remove the passenger side seat, seat belt, and shoulder strap and look for problems.

 

Give this thread a read, and also enter your VIN into the GM Recall Database in the last post, as I'd forgotten that a few HHR's did have a recall on a few SRS components.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/prob...9-b0020-54530/

Not to knock the Autel Scan Tool, it's good at what it does, but I'm not keen on using it for SRS(SIR) fault diagnostics.

And my caution wasn't meant as a knock against your skill set, it's meant as a general caution.

Especially trying to use the trouble code from a different GM vehicle line and applying it to your issue.

HHR's have their own peculiar Duplexed GM-LAN wiring and vehicle module integration system, which is shared with with Cobalts, G-5 Pontiacs, Saab 9-3's, etc.

 

There is a recall on certain HHRs re: a connector under the passenger step plate/kick panel.

You can check online at: https://my.chevrolet.com/na-chevrolet/recalls.

There is a chance that an airbag has been stolen.

Is the scantool capable of reading the SRS (SDM) computer and the BCM, not many "consumer" units can.

There is a TSB about the passenger seat belt.

If the car has ever been in an unreported accident there is a good chance that not all of the SRS required work was done.

This is what Mitchell says about B1000:

 

You may need a new SDM, you will need a expensive scantool (Tech2 or equivalent) to program and match the new SDM.

ANY time you touch anything related to the SRS you must disconnect the negative post of the battery for 30 minutes BEFORE to disable the system.

 

Isn't it illegal for a dealer/lot to sell a vehicle with airbag problems like this? Or is that just an area by area law.

 

Selling a vehicle with a faulty or disconnected SRS system is illegal in 27 states at the moment, NHTSA has pushed to make it a Federal Mandate, but no action from Washington has been taken as of yet.

Also, will1384, take Don's advice very seriously, I appointed him as our Technical Moderator because of his encyclopedic knowledge of HHR's and his superior skills as a diagnostician.

The man is the best there is when it comes to knowing every system on an HHR.

 

I do disconnect the battery and let it set for safety, but I have only been doing that for the under hood airbag sensor and the wire located in the passenger side kick panel, basically any connector that is yellow.

I checked over at https://my.gm.com/recalls

and put my VIN number in, it said no recalls for my HHR, but then it had this it's FAQ:

so now I wonder if it had been repaired and went bad again or was never on the recall list.

Here is the product page for the Autel AutoLink AL619 scan tool

Autel AutoLink AL619 With Low-Priced: $122.00

under "Autel AutoLink AL619 Feature and Function:" it says this:

But unfortunately the Autel AutoLink AL619 does not have the 2011 HHR in its database so I left trying different Chevy VINs in hopes of reading the ABS/ SRS codes, another thing I dislike is they require the Autel AutoLink AL619 to be registered online for updates, and that brings up questions about refunds after the Autel AutoLink AL619 has been registered online.

I am able to read the extra codes with the the Autel AutoLink AL619 using "C" as the forth VIN, but from what I can tell with some Google searching that is used for a Chevrolet Colorado.

Is there any scan tool that will read all the codes needed, hopefully something under a few hundred dollars.

 

See post #5, it explains. The codes should be the same for a 2010, but that does not really matter. The codes are "generic" the meaning applies to all cars built since 1996.

B1000-00 means you SDM needs to be replaced if the code is set in it, not just in the ECM. You have the code, no more agonizing needed, except for which type the code is; current, stored, historic.

The SRS system has a retained power system, a capacitor, that must be discharged in order to avoid explosions. That is the reason for disconnecting the battery for 30 minutes.

That disclaimer just means that if the recall has been done your VIN will not appear on the "needs to be done" list

The recall was for some 2009 models.