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Problems/Service/RepairsIf you have a problem with your HHR, want a tip on repairing or performing a particular service to you HHR here is the place to post!
Where is the yaw sensor located?
Was your problem ever fixed?
I have the same out of warranty problem and interested what the fix was. Sometimes the ABS seems to activate and grab on the right side.
I just stumbled across a TSB about this. If you have had an alignment done you may need to have the Steering Angle Sensor re calibrated. TSB# 11-05-25-001
Put that number into GoOgle and info pops up.
Basically it says to get the EBCM firmware updated. And DO NOT Throw parts at it.
Although this is an old thread, folks are still hitting this issue. Not able to find an actual copy of the TSB online TSB# 11-05-25-001. Our 2009 Chevy HHR LT (2LT) is indicating "SERVICE ESC" and the Fix Finder at AutoZone is indicating a Code C0292-1A. Glad to read the discussion about alignment and steering wheel. The steering wheel is slightly off center to the right. Hopefully, we can have this resolved by a front end (including steering wheel) alignment and recalibration.
By the way . . . our HHR has 139,280 miles (just acquired it.)
Last edited by stlouis_mo; Mar 10, 2023 at 07:28 PM.
It’s a 2LT , just saying! Now you mention you just acquired your HHR, any idea of work done to it? Why is the steering wheel off centre? Someone replace tie rods? Are the LCA’s rear bushings shot? Pothole damage, bent an inner tie rod? I suggest looking for the root cause before alignment, as the toe is the only adjustment.
Could be a wire or connection. The yaw sensor connects to the EBCM. The connector on the EBCM is a suspect. You might check the connector to the SCM, it is under the console behind the shift lever.
The yaw and lateral acceleration sensor is under the passenger seat behind the mounting hump
Did you get any repair history from the previous owner, Or accident history from CarFax?
My experience was that the ESC would activate on mildly swerving roads, throwing the car all over the place.
So, thank you for the replies and advice friends. Okay, 2LT (corrected that in my original post now.) So, this 2009 Chevy HHR with 139,200 miles was totaled in June of 2022. However, the damage was limited to the right front of the vehicle. We bought the salvage and pulled a hood, bumper cover, right front fender, and headlight assembly from a couple of other Chevy HHRs of the same color at the local junkyard. We removed the damaged parts from ours and then took it to a small auto body shop and paid them to install the parts for us. So, before installing the replacement parts, the body shop insisted on sending it over to the frame shop and have it placed on the frame rack. Did not believe it was necessary but he insisted. Well, when it came back from the frame shop the steering wheel was slightly off center to the right and it was not like this before. Did not notice this until we had finished our deal with him and drove away. Further, our deal with him apparently did not include a re-alignment after coming back from the frame shop. This shop does not likely do this kind of work anyway. Not really a big deal driving it this way (just barely off center), but after about ten miles of driving it like this is when the Service ESC message came on along with the amber triangle with the picture of the car and the squiggly lines. Thankfully, have this code thrown with this message and this amber light did not impact the require safety and emissions inspection. Hoping that a front end alignment followed by a reset / re-calibration of the Steering Angle Sensor will resolve this. Further thoughts? Also, the brakes are working fine (and there are no ABS warnings.)
Is this something an independent shop can perform or will this need to be handled by the dealer? The reset / re-calibration along with the firmware upgrade as described in the TSB sounds good.
Maybe
. The impact and yaw/lateral acceleration sensors are "one and done" items. If the airbags deployed the SDM needs to be replaced and programmed or sent off for reprogramming. The frame pull would do weird things without an alignment; make sure whoever does it A. makes sure the steering wheel is mounted centered (there is a key) and B. they straighten by adjusting the tie rods.
Many are lazy and take the steering wheel off and replace it centered, which throws the position sensor a curve ball. That may have been done previously then aligned.
The ONLY alignment parameter that can be adjusted on a standard HHR is the TOE. The body pull should have taken care of camber and caster. If the camber is too far out there are kits to install that can adjust about 1 degree. It is possible to adjust the rear wheels with shims, not normally needed.
Yes, as you indicated the mechanic (not the body shop but the regular mechanic) indicated that both Lower Control Arms would need to be replaced soon. Asked for an indication of how soon and he indicated maybe 3 months. Is this something you just replace at failure? What is the indication of failure? What is the risk (of holding off on replacement until failure)?
The labor and materials total cost indication is $300 each (then add to that the cost of front end alignment . . . about another $100 for a total of $700.)
