Welcome to the club...I'm not only the president, I'm also a member ...take it to the dealer so they can replace the shifter.

L8
Ng

 

Sounds like a common prob. with HHRs. Mine does that too. Traded it in for HHR ss. GM may have to start a recall wouldn't you say???
Seems like something is not correct here!!!

 

I have an additional problem. My car has the theft deterrent light come on, it has a lock over the engine. Tried key and it is now stuck. Car will not stop, shift will not work, radio and onstar off also. Since light came on at first, was not battery, but could be battery now. Happened at 5 oclock on a Friday.

 

Whoops I meant it will not start. It is a 06 with 28,000 miles.

 

Well I'll be darn......

I can now say I experienced a problem that some others have complained about .

Getting in the HHR today, I noticed the "lock out" button on the automatic gear shift didn't pop back out and that allowed me to shift into any gear without the detent .

Since I was close to my dealer, I stopped by and discussed it with the service writer....asking how long it would take. I was told 1 hour and requested to remove the key (he had a sly smile on his face). It couldn't be removed. Sure enough, the shifter cable was replaced (under warranty) in about 50 minutes.

 

I left the key on by mistake overnight and the next day it was dead and the key would not come out. I popped the steering column open hit the button then jumped it which was also a problem since no power ment that the back hatch would not open. Any way went in through the rear door jumped it and everything was fine.

 

Suppose to jump it from the hood, on the positive fusebox and ground on strut bolt

 

On mine, the key got stuck in the accessory position, which will quickly drain the battery, the dealer replaced the shifter assembly under warranty. no further problems since, this seems to be a commom problem. There is a TSB for this ....

 

I was putting everything back together this weekend from getting the car out of the paint shop, and my key wouldn't come out. I popped the "coin tray" around the window switches out, used a fiber optic scope to look into the shifter area, and found the little rod that moves up and down when you pull on the shifter button. It was stuck, and when I lifted it with my finger, it released and allowed it to hit the microswitch toward the front of the shifter on the passenger side of the stick. Works great now, I may have to see if it just needs to be lubed when I take the car apart for upholstery. Until then I know where that switch is that activates the solenoid in the ignition cylinder so it's easy to release from the shifter. I could release from under the column, but unsticking it in the shifter returns it to normal use.
I also finally found the little release lever for the back hatch. Found that while I was reinstalling the rear handle. Was a pain to find, but now I know where it is if I need it. They could have made it more visible!

 

Leon, I would talk to your dealer to see if GM would replace your shifter since your warranty only just expired. They just might do it for you.