I did the budget lower grill mod as well after SoCal's unfortunate incident. It's only a couple of bucks, and the protection is great. Not to mention it also keeps bugs from embedding themselves into your condenser, clogging it up.

 

i have been on the phone with GM all day now, i have told them what crappy service i recieved, and how i have never been treated that way. they are going to handle the problem it seems. i wont know till about 3 pm today. i will do that lower grill mod it will help with protection and it looks sweet. can i buy one anywhere? i had heavy mods done on my 03 extreme s10, i had to sell it cause my wife and i have a little one on the way and needed a little more room. the grille in the pic reminds me of the grille on my beloved truck!

 

Sqeaky wheel gets the grease. Tell GM it is design flaw being there is no lower grill might help get a remedy better.

The grill is available at your local Home Depot or Lowe's, it is a gutter guard cut down to fit in the spot It is an easy 5-10 min mod. Should be a couple give away at the Cedar Point Meet

 

well my hhr is fixed it cost me 200 bucks, and i went to lowes and got some gutter guard for about 6 bucks and took less then a half hour to fab on. it looks great and i feel like this will never happen again, i feel like im driving a armour plated tank now. i feel bad for anyone that this happens to, but i suppose im lucky that it didnt hit my ac condensor cause from the look of things online that is the real problem, and costly one too.

 

just a fyi, the 08's have a protective metal around the bottom of the radiator and the ac condensor. looks like gm knew about the problem but wont help out when something happens! if anyone has a 07 or older, i would go to lowes and get some gutter guard asap.

 

Maybe you should call your dealer and if that doesn't work call Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 and see about getting a refund, since their is a TSB on this exact problem.

I have to admit the protector doesn't look that good but it is hidden since it attaches to the condenser area.

But since the TSB addresses the fact that GM is seeing a lot of road debris damage on condensers and radiators. I have fixed, under warranty, 3 HHR's, 2with condenser and 1 with radiator damage, before this TSB came out, because in my mind it is a design problem. It's always up to your local dealers management as to whether they will fix something like this.

Here is the TSB:


Service Information 2007 Chevrolet HHR | HHR (VIN A) Service Manual | Document ID: 2064770
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#08-06-02-001: No A/C, Engine Coolant Leak, Engine Overheating (Install Plastic Shield to Stop Stone/Debris Impingement) - (Feb 13, 2008)


Subject: No A/C, Engine Coolant Leak, Engine Overheating (Install Plastic Shield to Stop Stone/Debris Impingement)


Models: 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR, LS, LT and Panel Van

Built Prior to August 27, 2007




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Condition
Some customers may comment on the engine overheating, a coolant leak, or that the A/C is inoperative.

Cause
This may be due to the very large opening in the front fascia. Stones/debris can impact the A/C condenser and/or the radiator and pierce the horizontal cooling tubes. This in turn causes loss of A/C refrigerant, loss of engine coolant and/or engine overheating.

Correction




Important:: Verify that the customer concern was caused by condenser/radiator impingement.

Important:: Prior to installing the shield, inspect the condenser and the radiator for stone impingement.

Dealer technicians are to install a plastic shield that snaps onto the condenser vertical tubes that protects the horizontal radiator and condenser cooling tubes.

Parts Information:
Part Number 25829960
Description Screen, Radiator Grille
Qty 1

 

A better fix than the plastic thing the techs can install is the metal gutter guard, Don't leave home without it!!!!

Save the lower intake area and running boards should be the first mods anyone does. Now to talk Chevy into making them a standard item on all the HHR's

 

why running boards? besides looks that is

 

I once used a radiator additive to seal up a small hole in the radiator of my Jeep, way back when.
It was real simple, just add it to the coolant in the radiator and in a few seconds, it was sealed up. It lasted for years, then I sold it (man I miss it)
I'm not sure if this is something you can do on a newer vehicle or not. It was alot cheaper than replacing the whole radiator

 

Chipping of the paint on the rear fenders, there is a very lengthy thread on this and a TSB to help Chevy Mgr out. Chevy will repaint one time the damage. There is lots of discussion on mud flaps, runningboards, both needed, one or the other needed. You will find it if you search paint chips or running boards.