Hi everyone. So, I have a 2011 HHR and I have been having a strange problem the last few days. The lever that you push to move from Park sticks and I can't shift out of Park. Eventually it works, but I have to click it 200 (no exaggeration) times first. It does seem to be coinciding with extreme cold temperatures. Is this a coincidence or could it actually have something to do with it? And is this an indicator of a serious problem with my transmission? Any help would be awesome.

 

It maybe weather related. Here is a thread about the linkage that brakes. This is a shifter on a 06 so it won't be exactly the same but it will show you how to take it apart. https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/problems-service-repairs-42/shifter-broken-removed-disassembled-fixed-34214/

 

I agree with Lucky, it's more than likely temperature related, yesterday morning in the 5 degree cold, the shifter in my '06 daily driver said "nope, no way, nada" until it had warmed up for a bit.

If it continues to hang up on you, it would be time to pull the shifter and lightly lubricate the interlock mechanism.

 

Since it's a 2011, it may be something that can still be covered by the warranty.
You don't give the mileage or purchase date of your HHR, so the possibility of warranty coverage may or may not apply.

 

It may just need a little lube, but I would check with your GM dealership

 

That is exactly the problem I had with my 2011. Carmax had the car for a week trying to duplicate the symptom, never did.

I took the console apart and gave the solenoid plunger a spritz of WD40 and the problem went away.

 

Thank you everyone. I think I might put a call into my dealership and see if they can help me out. I have only had it for 2 months and it has less than 50,000 miles on it.

 

Donbrew,

I would advise you buy some Tri Flow Superior Lubricant with teflon and keep your WD-40 to clean the road tar off your paint.

Tri flow is a miracle product and it is used just like WD-40 only far superior.

Been using it for 20 years now.

It's time to Upgrade ......

SF

 

I will be getting some of that, old WD-40 only lasts a short while for most lube jobs, for me anyways.

 

Mostly cleaned the sticky old factory gunk off of the plunger, not really for lubing. It has lasted a year now.
The problem with WD-40 has always been that it is NOT a lubricant per se, like most people think. It does go away after a time, 3-In-1 for lubrication.