Understood and no problem. I'm glad it wasn't an issue as far as the post. I will apologize for some things I left out or gotten wrong. In my anger and haste, I forgot to mention that if the key is in the ignition with your radio playing like you turn it to turn on the radio is the only instance where the rundown protection does not kick in. That is what I meant to say. Not to say that if the key is not in the ignition that they won't ever go off. The manual is correct if the key is not in the ignition. It's with the key in the ignition with the vehicle running or accessory that the dome lights never shut off.

As far as voiding the warranty, I was told by several people from GM including the product manager for the Cobalt and HHR. I'm only saying what they told me...not speaking for myself. The dealerships I talked to didn't have a problem with it and were willing to put in a toggle switch for me for about $100 which was cool with me and I was going to do it to solve the problem. We had a thread on here about that awhile back. They did say that if GM wanted to really push the issue on that that it would void the warranty. That's all that I meant on this as well. I could understand the toggle thing possibly voiding the warranty as that is one dynamic but voiding the warranty just because I pulled a fuse I didn't understand and thought that was it was stupid and I'm glad you mentioned that even though several GM people told me the same thing. To me that sounded off as well. The main thing is there is no manual override switch and this is my first encounter that I've come across with a vehicle that didn't have one in it.

As far as it being a safety issue (or an issue period), that's why I went to NHTSA. That's why I also said, "If you feel the need to do so." It was intended to say that if it's an issue for someone else besides me that here's a way to try to handle it. If it's not an issue for someone, cool. If I would've been told by my salesman at the time that my car didn't have a dome override swtich, I could've made my own decision whether or not to buy my HHR in the first place. I based my buying decision on the 2008 model by looking at some and reading the manual. I liked what I saw so when the Cash for Clunkers came around, I took advantage of it. Even he (and quite a few of other dealerships including some service managers) thought it came standard with the car (and pretty much every vehicle) and that it was on the dimmer switch as most vehicles either have a dome light with the switch or it's done through the dimmer switch. I found out a month later after getting my HHR and that's when all of this madness began. If the run down protection kicked on after 20 minutes with the doors open and key in the ignition, that would've been cool and I wouldn't have as much as an issue with it. If I would've have the option to put the 2008 dome light with the switch like I wanted to do, I would've been good with that as I was willing to pay for it at the time but was told that it is was not possible. If it hadn't been stated by GM that the toggle switch would void the warranty, I would've been good with that because...heck...it just a hundred bucks compared to $500. I can scrap that up with some time not a problem. For me it is a safety issue however, this part is just my opinion so no harm no foul if you agree or disagree. I will always respect and appreciate everything that you do here and you've given me plenty of advice along the way.

Thanks CM!

Blue

 

Well, I guess if you like to leave the door open and play the radio....

Haven't done that since they closed all the drive in theaters in my area.

 

Oh, and it's all good everyone. I don't take anyone's opinions or comments as bashing me personally. As I mentioned, I left out some information unintentionally. This has more to do with not having a manual way to shut off the dome lights with the doors open than the rundown protection although as I mentioned, it would've been cool if they put it in there for when the doors are open with the key in the ignition. I've had ten vehicles over the course of my life and they all came with a manual override switch whether it was on the dome light itself or on the dimmer swich on the dash. I've always been able to listen to my music with the doors open, go tailgating with the doors open, or do any cleaning on the inside with the doors open.

All I wanted to do was fix the problem in the first place. My resentment if you will is that I can't unless I put in a toggle switch (and it seems by warranty I can't even do that) or try to pull the fuse. I'm in favor of the toggle switch but I wouldn't want to keep messing with the fuse by pulling it each time.

Thanks

Blue

 

NHTSA???? I fail to see where this is a problem for them? They are more for if your brakes fail every time it rains or other safety related issues.

My lights go off like clockwork in 20 min. No issue and no problem. My only issue is I wish I had a later dome light as the 06-08 is pretty useless in a sunroof HHR.

If you wire a switch in it will only void the dome light warranty. It will not effect anything other than what you changes. I sure GM MGR can back this up.

Even the guys with big engine mods still can get other systems in the HHR warranties with no problem. I don't see where ther is much risk if you make the mod. Odds of a dome light failure is slim and it is cheap to replace on your own.

If that is the only problem you have count yourself lucky.

 

Blue Lightning:You don't "jump start" the car from the battery.Under the hood there is a connection for this.READ the manual.Maybe the problem is you are not familiar with some of this cars operational guidelines.GM covers them pretty thoroughly in the owners manual.
Leaving the keys in the ignition while the car is not running or attended:not a good idea.Stolen vehicle,curious children etc= bad. Just my opinion.

 

Understood and since I typed that from work, I didn't get a chance to ediit that out. I just got home and saw what I typed an was getting ready to edit it out. For everyone else: firemangeorge is correct:
PG 5-40:
You will not see the battery of your vehicle under the hood. It is located in the rear cargo area.
You will not need to access your battery for jump starting.

I would never leave my HHR unattended in any shape, form, or fashion. However I like leaving the doors open to listen to music or plugging up a DVD Player (TV) to watch movies or play video games during a tailgate or even out in the park.

Thanks

Blue

 

Thanks Hyperv6. I do count myself lucky. As I mentioned I'm only stating what GM told me. As I said before, I'm fine with doing the toggle switch as a mod especially as a inexpensive option to achieve the desired result. I'm not stopping with NHTSA. If I have to, I'll go ahead and take my chances by doing the mod and hope that nothing goes wrong as a result of it. I know also that with any mod (even putting in another radio) something can happen.

Blue

 

Blue Lightning.....

JMO, but you WASTED an awful lot of time and energy, "to bark up the wrong tree". I seriously doubt NHTSA will do ANYTHING with your complaint. In fact, if they had 10,000 complaints regarding this issue, they would and cannot do anything. IT IS NOT A SAFETY ITEM. IT IS A DISCRETIONARY DESIGN CHANGE. Much like eliminating shinny or mat finish chrome mirrors and grill.

I believe that you are allowing your "temper" to make some judgments for you. Slow down and think about your issue. It's minute, compared to the vast number of REAL complaints that are provided.

But, it is your time and energy (that probably could be used it more constructive directions). I do wish you luck !!

"pulling a fuse, will violate my warranty"........NEVER going to happen UNLESS it changes emissions, or engine controls. You were grossly misinformed.

Side note....Some Corvettes are delivered with the optional NNP exhaust. This exhaust is controlled by a 10 amp fuse (for opening baffles and more sound). If a perspective owner takes museum delivery and comments on the extra sound is WANTED all the time, the delivery people tell the owner to pull the fuse or install a toggle switch...in some instances they pull the fuse for you. NOBODY has lost their warranty, or been refused a warranty repair because of this....and there are 1000's of these people (I'm one of them).

 

All good, Snoopy! Like I mentioned in my last post, I was only going by what GM told me. I'm fine with doing the toggle switch as a mod especially as a inexpensive option to achieve the desired result. I'm not stopping with NHTSA. If I have to, I'll go ahead and take my chances by doing the mod and hope that nothing goes wrong as a result of it. I know also that with any mod (even putting in another radio) something can happen.

I don't want everyone to get the wrong idea...I love my Blue Lightning! What all of this boils down to (or stems from) is just stuff coming from GM everytime I try to find a solution to the problem. Had they kept the manual override switch in the car there wouldn't be an issue. Had they not went back and forth and told me that at first I couldn't put the 2008 dome light in my 2009 and then told me that they could and keep ignoring me it would've been done. All I wanted to do was fix the issue the right way.

It's cool though because I'm done with it now regardless of what NHTSA does. My only problem with my HHR from just a regular consumer was the dome light and my radio not being able to control the door chimes like it says in the manual. Now, I'll move on and try to find someone with a radio that can control the door chimes! My radio doesn't have that feature. How hard would it be to switch them out? Hopefully this will be an easier issue to resolve!

Thanks

Blue

 

You shouldn't have to add a separate toggle switch to turn a light off. My dome light stays on when I'm driving. I think that might be a safety issue. It will shut off 20 minutes later after I park and lock the vehicle. But it was shutting off immediately after the door was closed. My rearview mirror lights shut off after the door is closed and engine started. How do you get the dome light to go out?