Page 172 of 430

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
{WARNING:
Power is always supplied to the outlets. Do not
leave electrical equipment plugged in when the
vehicle is not in use because the vehicle could
catch fire and cause injury or death.
Notice: Leaving electrical equipment plugged in for
an extended period of time while the vehicle is off
will drain the battery. Always unplug electrical
equipment when not in use and do not plug in
equipment that exceeds the maximum 20 ampere
rating.
Certain electrical accessories may not be compatible
with the accessory power outlet and could overload
vehicle and adapter fuses. If a problem is experienced,
see your dealer.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow the
installation instructions included with the equipment.
See Add-On Electrical Equipment on page 6‑100.
Notice: Hanging heavy equipment from the power
outlet can cause damage not covered by the vehicle
warranty. The power outlets are designed for
accessory power plugs only, such as cell phone
charge cords.
Rear Power Plug for Converters
The vehicle may have a power plug connector located
in the rear cargo area on the passenger side behind the
service panel. The power connector wiring can be
accessed by removing the service panel to begin
installation.
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Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
This plug can be used to supply power to commercial
converters and contains four different circuits. The
functions of these circuits are as follows; a 40 Amp
battery service, a 10 Amp Accessory or Run service, a
15 Amp Delayed Accessory service and a Ground
circuit.
{WARNING:
Power is always supplied to the outlets. Do not
leave electrical equipment plugged in when the
vehicle is not in use because the vehicle could
catch fire and cause injury or death.
Notice: Leaving electrical equipment plugged in for
an extended period of time while the vehicle is off
will drain the battery. Power is always supplied to
the outlets. Always unplug electrical equipment
when not in use and do not plug in equipment that
exceeds the maximum 40 ampere rating.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow the
installation instructions included with the equipment.
See Add-On Electrical Equipment on page 6‑100. Notice:
Hanging heavy equipment from the power
outlet can cause damage not covered by the vehicle
warranty. The power outlets are designed for
accessory power plugs only, such as cell phone
charge cords.
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter
The vehicle may have an ashtray and cigarette lighter.
To use the lighter, located on the instrument panel
below the climate controls, push it in all the way and let
go. When it is ready, it will pop back out by itself.
Notice: Holding a cigarette lighter in while it is
heating will not allow the lighter to back away from
the heating element when it is hot. Damage from
overheating may occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be blown. Do not hold a
cigarette lighter in while it is heating. Do not use
equipment exceeding maximum amperage rating of
15 amperes.
To clean the center console ashtray, remove the entire
ashtray and empty it.
Notice: If papers, pins, or other flammable items are
put in the ashtray, hot cigarettes or other smoking
materials could ignite them and possibly damage
the vehicle. Never put flammable items in the
ashtray.
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Page 178 of 430

Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
4. Pull the filter out, keeping it upwards.
Install the new air filter with the AIR FLOW arrow
pointing downward. Reverse Steps 1 through 4 to
reassemble.
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning lights and gauges can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to the
warning lights and gauges could prevent injury.
Warning lights come on when there might be or there is
a problem with one of the vehicle's functions. Some
warning lights come on briefly when the engine is
started to indicate they are working.
Gauges can indicate when there might be or there is a
problem with one of the vehicle's functions. Often
gauges and warning lights work together to indicate a
problem with the vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
while driving, or when one of the gauges shows there
could be a problem, check the section that explains
what to do. Follow this manual's advice. Waiting to do
repairs can be costly and even dangerous.
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Page 180 of 430
Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Speedometer and Odometer
The speedometer shows the speed in both kilometers
per hour (km/h) and miles per hour (mph).
The vehicle's odometer works together with the Driver
Information Center (DIC). Trip A and Trip B can be set
on the odometer. See“Trip Information”underDIC
Operation and Displays on page 4‑38.
The vehicle does not have to be running to check the
odometer mileage. Simply open the driver's door and
the mileage briefly displays.
If the vehicle ever needs a new odometer installed, the
new one will be set to the correct total mileage of the
old odometer.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays
the engine speed in
revolutions per
minute (rpm).
Notice: If the engine is operated with the
tachometer in the red warning area, the vehicle
could be damaged and the damages would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not operate the
engine with the tachometer in the red warning area.
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Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Safety Belt Reminders
Driver Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the engine is started, a chime sounds for several
seconds to remind a driver to fasten the safety belt,
unless the driver safety belt is already buckled.
The safety belt light
comes on and stays on
for several seconds, then
flashes for several more.
This chime and light are repeated if the driver remains
unbuckled and the vehicle is in motion. If the driver
safety belt is already buckled, neither the chime nor the
light comes on.
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light
For vehicles equipped with the passenger safety belt
reminder light, several seconds after the engine is
started, a chime sounds for several seconds to remind
the front passenger to buckle their safety belt. The
passenger safety belt light, located on the instrument
panel, comes on and stays on for several seconds and
then flashes for several more.
This chime and light are
repeated if the passenger
remains unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger safety belt is buckled, neither the
chime nor the light comes on.
The front passenger safety belt warning light and chime
may turn on if an object is put on the seat such as a
briefcase, handbag, grocery bag, laptop or other
electronic device. To turn off the warning light and or
chime, remove the object from the seat or buckle the
safety belt.
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Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Airbag Readiness Light
The system checks the airbag's electrical system for
possible malfunctions. If the light stays on it indicates
there is an electrical problem. The system check
includes the airbag sensor, the pretensioners, the
airbag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System on page 2‑58.
The airbag readiness light
flashes for a few seconds
when the engine is
started. If the light does
not come on then, have it
fixed immediately.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after the
vehicle is started or comes on while driving, it
means the airbag system might not be working
properly. The airbags in the vehicle might not
inflate in a crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid injury, have the
vehicle serviced right away.
If there is a problem with the airbag system, an airbag
Driver Information Center (DIC) message can also
come on. See DIC Warnings and Messages
on
page 4‑40for more information.
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Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
If the vehicle has one of the passenger airbag status
indicators pictured in the following illustrations, then the
vehicle has a passenger sensing system for the right
front passenger position. The passenger airbag status
indicator, if equipped, is on the instrument panel. See
Passenger Sensing System
on page 2‑66for important
safety information.
In addition, if the vehicle has a passenger sensing
system for the right front passenger position, the label
on the vehicle's sun visors refer to “ADVANCED
AIRBAGS”.
United StatesCanada
When the vehicle is started, the passenger airbag
status indicator will light ON and OFF, or the symbol for
on and off, for several seconds as a system check.
If using remote start, if equipped, to start the vehicle
from a distance, you may not see the system check. Then, after several more seconds, the status indicator
will light either ON or OFF, or either the on or off symbol
to let you know the status of the right front passenger
frontal airbag.
If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the passenger
airbag status indicator, it means that the right front
passenger frontal airbag is enabled (may inflate).
If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the airbag
status indicator, it means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front passenger frontal
airbag.
If, after several seconds, both status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the passenger sensing
system. See your dealer for service.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on and
stays on, it means that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help avoid injury to
yourself or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. See
Airbag Readiness Light
on page 4‑26
for more information, including important safety
information.
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Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Brake System Warning Light
The vehicle brake system consists of two hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit is not working, the remaining
circuit can still work to stop the vehicle. For normal
braking performance, both circuits need to be working.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have the brake system inspected right away.
EnglishMetric
This light should come on briefly when the engine is
started. If it does not come on then, have it fixed so it
will be ready to warn if there is a problem.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
also comes on when the parking brake is set. The light
stays on if the parking brake does not fully release. If it
stays on after the parking brake is fully released, it
means the vehicle has a brake problem. If the light comes on while driving, pull off the road and
stop carefully. Make sure the parking brake is fully
released. The pedal might be harder to push or, the
pedal could go closer to the floor. It can take longer to
stop. Try turning off and restarting the vehicle one or
two times, if the light is still on, have the vehicle towed
for service. See
Towing Your Vehicle on page 5‑28.
{WARNING:
The brake system might not be working properly if
the brake system warning light is on. Driving with
the brake system warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for service.
4-29