First problem was 5 days after driving it off the lot. The brakes gave out backing out of my drive way. Reprogram the brake control module. Now I go outside and it starts but will barely idle, chk engine light goes on and I get the msg on the display of "Eng Power Reduced". Pull out my code reader and it reads P0087. I am SOOOO PISSED OFF at this thing.

 

Boy I must have a good one. I've had no problems at all. One thing I learned with my Solstice GXP was to pull the fuse cover off and make sure all fuses and relays were seated all the way. That was the first thing I did on my SS and most of them were lose. Not saying this will fix everything but it sure wouldn't hurt for everyone to check there fuses.

 

Daaaaamn........ Really sorry to hear it.
I have had mine for 3 months an absolute joy !!

 

Take it to the dealer and demand a fix. Try the fuse trick. Some say it works, some say it's bogus. I personally did it and also found all the fuses loose. Worth a shot. Don't give up on the HHR though, major fun car to have

 

It's been about two and 1/2 hours since I ran it last. Apparently long enough to cool off, both me and the engine. I went out to check the fuses and they are all seated tightly. I tried starting it again and the first time is sounded like it wanted to run but still sputtered and gave me the reduced power message the stalled. Tried it again and the starter stuck; I released the key and the starter just kept spinning. Turned the key off and it quit. Tried a third time and it started and started to idle better and then yet better and then with no 'reduced power' message I was able to slowly rev it to 2k. It would have gone more but I didn't want to test my luck. Could it have been vapor lock or the like? I didn't think that high pressure systems suffered from vapor lock but it was apparently something heat related (fuel pump locked up?). I had driven it about an hour before all this happened with nothing out of the ordinary.

 

Fyi, this is 'normal' behavior for the ignition/starter... it spins after you've released the key.

 

Why would the starter continuing to spin be normal ? it has happen only once on my ss, after i stalled it i noticed it spun about 2 secs after releasing the key. thought there might be a problem.

 

I dont know for sure could you cut the power (disconnect the battery) for about 5 min. then hook it back up. I have done this on my dodge truck before other than that don't know

 

ooppps sorry that reset the computer on my dodge

 

The ignition switch isn't the same as in the old days (twist = crank, let go = stop cranking). Instead, when you twist, that latches the crank circuit until the engine starts (or the computer tells it to stop, or you turn the key to off) EVEN AFTER you let go of it.