
Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Interior Lighting
Dome Lamps
The front and rear 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 located to the right of the steering wheel
and above the radio, completely to the right.
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.
For more information, see:
.Instrument Panel Brightness on page 4‑14.
.Entry/Exit Lighting on page 4‑14.
Exterior Lighting
The lever is on the left side of the steering column.
2:Turns on the headlamps, parking lamps, and
taillamps.
;: Turns on the parking lamps and taillamps only.
AUTO: Automatically turns on the Daytime Running
Lamps during daytime, and the headlamps, parking
lamps, and taillamps at night.
P: This position is the momentary Off/On switch for the
Automatic Headlamp System. In Canada, this only
works when the vehicles with an automatic transmission
are in P (Park) and vehicles with a manual transmission
have the parking brake set and the vehicle is not
moving.
1-12

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Section 3 Features and Controls
Keys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Doors and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Automatic Door Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock . . . . . . . . 3-10
Rear Door Security Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Rear Side Cargo Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17 Theft-Deterrent Systems
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-17
Content Theft-Deterrent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
PASS-Key
®III+ Electronic Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . 3-19
PASS-Key®III+ Electronic Immobilizer
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . .3-20
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25
Automatic Transmission Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26
Manual Transmission Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Shifting Into Park (Automatic Transmission) . . . 3-31
Shifting Out of Park (Automatic Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33
Parking the Vehicle (Manual Transmission) . . . . 3-33
Parking Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
3-1

Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), andturn the ignition to LOCK/OFF. On vehicles with an
automatic transmission, the shift lever must be in
P (Park) to turn the ignition switch to the LOCK/
OFF position.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake
on
page 3‑30.
The steering can bind with the wheel turned off center.
If this happens, move it from right to left while turning
the key to ACC/ACCESSORY. If this does not work,
then the vehicle needs service.
{WARNING:
If you have a manual transmission removing the
key from the ignition switch will lock the steering
column and result in a loss of ability to steer the
vehicle. This could cause a collision. If you need
to turn the engine off while the vehicle is moving,
turn the key to ACC/ACCESSORY. ACC (ACC/ACCESSORY):
This position operates
some of the electrical accessories. It unlocks the
steering wheel and ignition.
R (ON/RUN): This is the position in which you can
operate the electrical accessories and to display some
instrument panel cluster warning and indicator lights.
The switch stays in this position when the engine is
running.
If you leave the key in the ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/
RUN position with the engine off, the battery could be
drained. You may not be able to start the vehicle if the
battery is allowed to drain for an extended period
of time.
/ (START): This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to ON/RUN for driving.
A warning tone will sound when the driver door is
opened, the ignition is in LOCK/OFF or ACC/
ACCESSORY and the key is in the ignition.
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Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories may be used for up to
10 minutes after the engine is turned off.
.Audio System
.Power Windows, if equipped
.Sunroof, if equipped
The power windows and sunroof will continue to work
for up to 10 minutes or until any door is opened. The
radio will work when the key is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY. Once the key is turned from ON/RUN to
OFF/LOCK, the radio will continue to work for
10 minutes or until the driver's door is opened.
Starting the Engine
Place the transmission in the proper gear.
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). The
engine will not start in any other position. To restart the
vehicle when it is already moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Notice: Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the vehicle is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to P (Park) only when the vehicle
is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The shift lever should be in N (Neutral) and the parking
brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal down to the floor
and start the engine. The vehicle will not start if the
clutch pedal is not all the way down.
Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as the
engine warms. Do not race the engine immediately
after starting it. Operate the engine and
transmission gently to allow the oil to warm up and
lubricate all moving parts.
The vehicle has a Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in starting the engine
and protects components. If the ignition key is
turned to the START position, and then released
when the engine begins cranking, the engine will
continue cranking for a few seconds or until the
vehicle starts. If the engine does not start and the
key is held in START for many seconds, cranking
will be stopped after 15 seconds to prevent
cranking motor damage. To prevent gear damage,
this system also prevents cranking if the engine is
already running. Engine cranking can be stopped
by turning the ignition switch to ACC/ACCESSORY
or LOCK/OFF.
3-24

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. Theelectrical cord is located on the passenger side of
the vehicle near the headlamp and the radiator.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{WARNING:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet could
cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong kind of
extension cord could overheat and cause a fire.
You could be seriously injured. Plug the cord into
a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt AC
outlet. If the cord will not reach, use a heavy-duty
three-prong extension cord rated for at least
15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the cord as it was before to keep it away from
moving engine parts, to prevent damage.
The length of time the heater should remain plugged in
depends on several factors. Ask a dealer in the area
where you will be parking the vehicle for the best advice
on this.
Automatic Transmission Operation
If the vehicle has an automatic transmission, the shift
lever is located on the console between the seats.
There are several
different positions for the
automatic transmission.
P (Park): This position locks the front wheels. It is the
best position to use when starting the engine because
the vehicle cannot move easily.
{WARNING:
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift
lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
(Continued)
3-26

Black plate (27,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
WARNING: (Continued)
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly
level ground, always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park (Automatic Transmission)
on page 3‑31.
If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer
(Automatic Transmission)
on page 5‑31or
Towing a Trailer (Manual Transmission)
on
page 5‑37
.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in P (Park) before
starting the engine. The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system. You have to fully
apply the regular brakes first and then press the shift
lever button before the vehicle can shift from P (Park)
when the ignition key is in ON/RUN. If the vehicle
cannot shift out of P (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever and push the shift lever all the way into P (Park)
as you maintain brake application. Then press the shift
lever button and then move the shift lever into another
gear. See Shifting Out of Park (Automatic Transmission)
on page 3‑33. R (Reverse):
Use this gear to back up.
Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice, or sand without damaging the transmission, see If
Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow
on
page 5‑21.
N (Neutral): In this position, the engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart the engine when the
vehicle is already moving, use N (Neutral) only. Also,
use N (Neutral) when the vehicle is being towed.
{WARNING:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your
foot is firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear
while the engine is running at high speed.
3-27

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Manual Transmission Operation
This is the shift pattern.
Here is how to operate the manual transmission:
Notice:Do not rest your hand on the shift lever
while driving. The pressure could cause premature
wear in the transmission. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
1 (First): Press the clutch pedal and shift into 1 (First).
Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
You can shift into 1 (First) when the vehicle is traveling
less than 32 km/h (20 mph). If you have come to a
complete stop and it is hard to shift into 1 (First), put the shift lever in N (Neutral) and let up on the clutch pedal.
Press the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into
1 (First).
2 (Second):
Press the clutch pedal as you let up on the
accelerator pedal and shift into 2 (Second). Then, slowly
let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator
pedal.
3 (Third), 4 (Fourth) and 5 (Fifth): Shift into 3 (Third),
4 (Fourth) and 5 (Fifth) the same way you do for
2 (Second). Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you
press the accelerator pedal down.
To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to
N (Neutral).
N (Neutral): Use this position when you start or idle the
engine.
R (Reverse): To back up, press down the clutch pedal
and shift into R (Reverse).
Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
Also, use R (Reverse), along with the parking brake, for
parking the vehicle.
3-29

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet HHR Owner Manual - 2011
Shift Speeds
{WARNING:
If you skip a gear when you downshift, you could
lose control of the vehicle. You could injure
yourself or others. Do not shift down more than
one gear at a time when you downshift.
Up-Shift Light
If the vehicle has a
manual transmission,
there may be an up-shift
light. This light will show
you when to shift to the
next higher gear for the
best fuel economy.
When this light comes on, you can shift to the next
higher gear if weather, road, and traffic conditions let
you. For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and
shift when the light comes on.
While accelerating, it is normal for the light to go on and
off if you quickly change the position of the accelerator.
Ignore the light when downshifting.
Parking Brake
The parking brake lever is located between the front
seats.
{WARNING:
If the front passenger seat back is folded down,
the armrest may make it awkward to grab and pull
up the parking brake lever. If the lever is not
pulled up far enough, the vehicle may roll and you (Continued)
3-30