
Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in the vehicle for 5 years or 240 000 km
(150,000 mi), whichever occurs first.
The following explains the cooling system and how to
check and add coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating, see Engine
Overheating on page 6‑28
What to Use
{WARNING:
Adding only plain water or some other liquid to the
cooling system can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. The vehicle's coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, the engine could
get too hot but you would not get the overheat
warning. The engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL coolant. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL coolant. If using this mixture, nothing else
needs to be added. This mixture:
.Gives freezing protection down to
−34°F (−37°C),
outside temperature.
.Gives boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C),
engine temperature.
.Protects against rust and corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine temperature.
Notice: If an improper coolant mixture is used, the
engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core, and
other parts.
Notice: If extra inhibitors and/or additives are used
in the vehicle's cooling system, the vehicle could be
damaged. Use only the proper mixture of the engine
coolant listed in this manual for the cooling system.
See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
on
page 7‑8for more information.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level surface when checking
the coolant level.
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Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
8. By this time, the coolant level inside the radiatorfiller port may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper DEX-COOL coolant mixture
through the fill port until the level reaches the base
of the fill port.
9. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during this procedure, if coolant begins to flow out of the
fill port, reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure the
pressure cap is hand-tight and fully seated.
10. When the engine has cooled, check the coolant in the coolant recovery tank. The level in the coolant
recovery tank should be at the COLD FILL line
when the engine is cold.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators to warn of engine
overheating.
You will find a coolant temperature warning light and a
coolant temperature gauge on your vehicle's instrument
panel. See Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light
on page 4‑32andEngine Coolant Temperature Gaugeon page 4‑32for more information.
You may decide not to lift the hood when this warning
appears, but instead get service help right away. See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 8‑6. If you do decide to lift the hood, make sure the vehicle
is parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine cooling fans are
running. If the engine is overheating, both fans should
be running. If they are not, do not continue to run the
engine and have the vehicle serviced.
Notice:
Engine damage from running the engine
without coolant is not covered by the warranty.
Notice: If the engine catches fire because of being
driven with no coolant, your vehicle can be badly
damaged. The costly repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
If Steam Is Coming from the Engine
Compartment
{WARNING:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Just turn it off and get everyone away from
the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until there is
no sign of steam or coolant before you open
the hood.
(Continued)
6-28

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to
read the manufacturer's instructions before use. If you
will be operating your vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the
washer symbol on it. Add
washer fluid until the tank
is full. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 6‑14for
reservoir location.
Notice:
.When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer's instructions for
adding water.
.Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer
fluid. Water can cause the solution to freeze
and damage the washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system. Also, water does
not clean as well as washer fluid.
.Fill the washer fluid tank only three-quarters
full when it is very cold. This allows for fluid
expansion if freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is completely full.
.Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in the
windshield washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system and paint.
Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder and, on manual transmission
vehicles, the clutch hydraulic system use the same
reservoir. See Engine Compartment Overview
on
page 6‑14for the location of the reservoir. The
reservoir is filled with DOT 3 brake fluid.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in
the reservoir might go down:
.The brake fluid level goes down because of
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are
installed, the fluid level goes back up.
.A fluid leak in the brake and/or clutch hydraulic
system can also cause a low fluid level. Have the
brake and/or clutch hydraulic system fixed, since a
leak means that sooner or later the brakes and/or
clutch will not work well.
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Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-46
CoolantEngine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-24
Engine Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Engine Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-22
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-9
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-8
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-42
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-5 Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Customer Information Service Publications Ordering Information . . . . . . . . 8-14
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-2
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-16
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-2
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-9
Differential, Limited-Slip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Disc, MP3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-63
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-4
Dome Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14 Door
Automatic Door Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Rear Door Security Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Rear Side Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Driver Seat Height Adjuster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38
DIC Operation and Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38
DIC Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45
DIC Warnings and Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40
Driving At Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Before a Long Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
In Rain and on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
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Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
E
E85 Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-8
EDR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-15
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-100
Electrical SystemEngine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-104
Floor Console Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-101
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-101
Headlamp Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-100
Power Windows and Other Power Options . . . . . .6-100
Windshield Wiper Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-100
Electronic Immobilizer PASS-Key
®III+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Electronic Immobilizer Operation PASS-Key
®III+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-6
Electronic Stability Control Indicator Light . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-20
Check and Service Engine Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-14
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-24
Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-22
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11 Engine (cont.)
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-16
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-28
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-19
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Active Light . . . . . 5-10
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Indicator/ Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30
Entry/Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-16
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-33F
Filter Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-20
Finish Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-98
Fixed Mast Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-81
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-5
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-68
Flat Tire, Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-78
Flat Tire, Storing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-87
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-42
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Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
FluidAutomatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-21
Windshield Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-30
Fog Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13
Folding Rear Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Folding Seatback, Passenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Front Console Storage Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-42
Front Fog Lamps Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-5
Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
California Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-12
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Gasoline Octane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
Fuel Economy
Driving for Better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Fuses Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-104
Floor Console Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-101
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-101
Windshield Wiper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-100G
GasolineOctane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Gauges Engine Coolant Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-42
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-6
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-41
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-2
Headlamp Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-100
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11 Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-38
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-41
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and ParkingLamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-41
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Wiper Activated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
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Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
LightingEntry/Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11 Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-26
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Active . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Front Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Highbeam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-27
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-25
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
Up-Shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Loading Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Locks
Automatic Door Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11 Locks (cont.)
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Rear Door Security Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . 2-43
Lumbar Power Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
M
Maintenance ScheduleMaintenance Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
Maintenance Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10
Owner Checks and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
Manual Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-4
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-22
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
Message DIC Warnings and Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40
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