Page 169 of 430

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, the automatic system
turns on the headlamps at the normal brightness along
with other lamps such as the taillamps, sidemarker,
parking lamps, instrument panel lights, and interior
switch backlighting.
Do not cover the light sensor, located on top of the
instrument panel. If the sensor is covered the
headlamps may remain on when they are not needed.
If the vehicle is driven through a parking garage,
overcast weather or a tunnel, the automatic headlamp
system may turn on.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the automatic lamp control
system so that driving under bridges or bright overhead
street lights does not affect the system. The automatic
lamp control system will only be affected when the light
sensor sees a change in lighting lasting longer than this
delay.
If the vehicle is started in a dark garage, the automatic
lamp system turns on immediately. Once the vehicle
exits the garage, it will take about 20 seconds for the
automatic lamp system to change to DRL if it is light
outside. During that delay, the instrument panel cluster
may not be as bright as usual. Make sure theinstrument panel brightness control is in the full bright
position. See
Instrument Panel Brightnesson
page 4‑14.
To idle the vehicle with the system off, turn the ignition
on and turn the exterior light switch to the off/on
position. For vehicles first sold in Canada, the
transmission must stay in P (Park) for this function or
the parking brake must be set for vehicles with manual
transmissions.
Turn on the regular headlamps when they are needed.
Fog Lamps
For vehicles with fog lamps, the button is located on the
instrument panel, to the right of the steering wheel.
The ignition must be on to use the fog lamps.
#: Press to turn the fog lamps on and off. An indicator
light on the button comes on when the fog lamps
are on.
The parking lamps automatically turn on and off when
the fog lamps are turned on and off.
The fog lamps will turn off while the high-beam
headlamps are turned on.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps to
be on along with the fog lamps.
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Page 170 of 430

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Instrument Panel Brightness
The control for this feature
is located to the right of
the steering wheel and
above the radio.
Move the thumbwheel to the left to dim the lights or to
the right to brighten the lights.
The dome lamps will turn on when the thumbwheel is
moved completely to the right.
Dome Lamp
The dome lamps turn on when any door is opened. To
turn on all dome lamps with the doors closed, turn the
instrument panel brightness thumbwheel completely to
the right. See Instrument Panel Brightness
on
page 4‑14.
Entry/Exit Lighting
The lamps inside the vehicle turn on when any door is
opened. These lamps will fade out after about
20 seconds after all of the doors have been closed or
when the ignition is turned to ON/RUN. These lamps
will also turn on when pressing
Kor theLon the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter.
The lamps inside the vehicle will stay on for about
20 seconds after the key is removed from the ignition to
provide an illuminated exit.
Reading Lamps
There are reading lamps located on the front and rear
dome lamps.
To turn the front reading lamps on or off, press the lamp
lens. To turn the rear reading lamps on or off, press the
button next to the lamp.
4-14
Page 171 of 430

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Electric Power Management
This vehicle has Electric Power Management (EPM), an
advanced control system. It estimates the battery's
temperature and state of charge and then adjusts the
voltage for best performance and extended life of the
battery.
When the battery's state of charge is low, the voltage is
raised slightly to quickly put the charge back in. When
the state of charge is high, the voltage is lowered
slightly to prevent overcharging. If the vehicle has a
voltmeter gauge or voltage display on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), you may see the voltage
move up or down. This is normal. If there is a problem,
an alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at idle if the electrical
loads are very high. This is true for all vehicles. This is
because the generator (alternator) may not be spinning
fast enough at idle to produce all the power that is
needed for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following loads are on: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger, climate control fan at high
speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans, trailer loads,
and loads plugged into accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs. It can increaseengine idle speed to generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce the power demands
of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels, without
being noticeable. In rare cases at the highest levels of
corrective action, this action may be noticeable to the
driver.
Battery Run-Down Protection
The vehicle has a battery saver feature designed to
protect the vehicle's battery.
When any interior lamp is left on and the ignition is
turned off, the battery rundown protection system
automatically turns the lamp off after 20 minutes. This
prevents draining of the battery.
Accessory Power Outlet(s)
Accessory power outlets can be used to connect
electrical equipment, such as a cell phone or
MP3 player.
The accessory power outlets are located on the
instrument panel below the climate controls and at the
rear of the center console. There may be an outlet in
the rear cargo area on the passenger side.
Remove the cover to access and replace when not
in use.
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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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Page 173 of 430

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 174 of 430

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Climate Controls
Climate Control System
The heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle can
be controlled with this system.
For vehicles with remote start, the climate control
system comes on and uses the prior temperature
settings selected before exiting the vehicle.
A. TemperatureControl
B. Fan Control
C. Air Delivery Mode Control D. Air Conditioning
E. Outside Air F. Air Recirculation
G. Rear Window Defogger
9(Off): Turn the fan control to this position to turn the
fan off.
Temperature Control: Turn clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature.
9(Fan): Turn clockwise or counterclockwise to
increase or decrease the fan speed. In any setting other
than off, the fan runs continuously while the ignition is in
ON/RUN. The fan must be turned on to run the air
conditioning (AC) compressor.
Air Delivery Mode Control: Turn clockwise or
counterclockwise to change the direction of the airflow
inside the vehicle.
To change the current mode, select:
H(Vent): Air is directed to the instrument panel
outlets.
)(Bi-Level): Air is divided between the instrument
panel outlets and the floor outlets.
6(Floor): Air is directed to the floor outlets, with some
air directed to the windshield and side windows.
-(Defog): This mode clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Air is directed to the windshield, side window,
and floor outlets. In this mode, the system runs the air
conditioning compressor. To defog the windows faster,
turn the temperature control knob clockwise to the
warmest setting.
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Page 175 of 430

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
0(Defrost):This mode removes fog or frost from the
windshield more quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield, with some air directed to the side window
and floor outlets. In this mode, the system runs the air
conditioning compressor. To defrost the windows faster,
turn the temperature control knob clockwise to the
warmest setting.
#(Air Conditioning): Press to turn the air
conditioning system on or off. An indicator light comes
on to show that the air conditioning is on.
On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air
escape; then close them. This helps to reduce the time
it takes for your vehicle to cool down. It also helps the
system to operate more efficiently.
For quick cool down on hot days:
1. Select
H.
2. Select
@.
3. Select
#.
4. Select the coolest temperature.
5. Select the highest fan speed.
Using these settings together for long periods of time
can cause the air inside of the vehicle to become too
dry. To prevent this from happening, after the air in the
vehicle has cooled, turn off the recirculation by pressing
the outside air button. The air conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so a small amount of water might drip under the
vehicle while idling or after turning off the engine. This
is normal.
The air conditioning compressor cannot be turned on
when the fan is off.
@(Recirculation):
Press to turn the recirculation
mode on. An indicator light comes on to show that
recirculation is on.
This mode recirculates and helps to quickly cool the air
inside the vehicle. It can be used to help prevent
outside air and odors from entering the vehicle.
The air conditioning compressor also comes on.
Recirculation is not available in floor, defog and defrost
modes. If the recirculation button is pressed, the
indicator light flashes five times and outside air is
delivered. Operation in this mode during periods of high
humidity and cool outside temperatures can result in
increased window fogging. If window fogging is
experienced, select the defrost mode.
;(Outside Air): Press to allow outside air to circulate
through the vehicle. An indicator light comes on to show
that outside air is on.
4-19
Page 176 of 430

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
The rear window defogger only works when the ignition
is in ON/RUN.
<(Rear):Press to turn the rear window defogger on
or off. Be sure to clear as much snow from the rear
window as possible. An indicator light comes on to
show that the rear window defogger is on.
The rear window defogger turns off approximately
15 minutes after the button is pressed. If turned on
again, the defogger only runs for approximately
seven minutes before turning off.
If the vehicle speed is greater than 80 km/h (50 mph)
and the rear defogger is on, it remains on as long as the
speed is greater than 80 km/h (50 mph). The defogger
can also be turned off by turning off the engine.
For vehicles with the remote start feature, the rear
defogger automatically turns on if it is cold outside.
When the vehicle transitions out of the remote start
mode, the rear defogger turns off. See Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 3‑4 Notice:
Do not use anything sharp on the inside of
the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage
the warming grid, and the repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Do not attach a
temporary vehicle license, tape, a decal or anything
similar to the defogger grid.Outlet Adjustment
Turn the outlets and move the outlet vanes to change
the direction of the airflow and to open and close the
outlets.
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow or leaves from the air
inlets at the base of the windshield that may block
the flow of air into the vehicle.
.Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors may
adversely affect the performance of the system.
.Keep the path under the front seats clear of
objects to help circulate the air inside of the vehicle
more effectively.
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