I'm trying to get some help on my car. It's a chevy hhr 2011. I don't have a lot of money and I'm at risk of losing my job if I can't fix my car. Here are the codes I'm getting.

p0010
p0013
p0016
p0171
p0172
p2135

The symptoms, car gets terrible gas mileage, jerks a lot when idling, keeps dying when I come to a stop, is making a kind of flicking noise. Like when you would put a card in your spokes as a kid. It literally died while on the highway on Wednesday of last week and I've been trying to fix it since. I have no money for a mechanic so it needs to be done by me.

I got the codes from o'reilly's but they couldn't help me at all. Then I went to Autozone and they suggested that I change both of the camshaft position sensors as well as the crankshaft position sensor and to clean the mass air flow sensor. Then to see if I can get it working until I can afford a new throttle body.

Well, I bought those parts and went to go change them last night but all the videos I can find discussing what I'm dealing with are showing different parts than what I have. I have two camshaft position sensors but all the videos referring to my code and that come up when I search camshaft position sensor are using parts that look like the camshaft solenoid. I've attached pictures to show what I mean. My parts look like the black part and the videos I've found have parts like the silver ones.

I don't know what to do. I am so lost and confused. I tried to talk to a different autozone and he was kind of mean and said that the codes mean nothing. Any help or advice would be amazing.


Parts I have

The parts in the videos

 

Yes they sold you the incorrect parts for the P0010 and P0013 codes. Good on you for checking and spotting the Solenoids like what are in the second picture - those silver ones are what you need. Autozone has been just super in my dealings with them - sorry to see you were not received all that well.

anyways, return the two sensors - and get the Solenoids instead. Hopefully they won't give you problems returning them - as often electronic parts are not returnable. But since they recommended them incorrectly - they should.

The p0016 - ouch - that one can be an indicator that the timing chain has stretched - and can be fairly expensive to replace, especially if one has to hire a shop/mechanic. The process to replace the chain and the other components involves a fair number of tools, and a certain amount of experience doing mechanical repairs. QUESTION: as the chains typically can last ~100,00 miles or more (sometimes less/sometimes more) how many miles on your HHR?

The other codes sometimes are related to the MAF sensor or the bellows that connects from the air cleaner to the engine's throttle body - and are sometimes caused by someone not putting things back quite right after replacing the air filter or it's housing -check this - https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/mid-...k-po171-62036/

 

Thank you so much! I will make sure they exchange them considering they sold me the wrong parts That's super annoying.

I really hope it isn't the timing chain. They were saying to change the crankshaft sensor. Is that also not the right part? My car does have like 180,000 miles on it. We drive A LOT for work. To other states and things.

Thank you so much for all your help. Hopefully I can get at least a few things fixed tonight now.

 

180,000 miles!!!!! - this is important : I would immediately pull the valve cover etc. off, and check the slack in the timing chain.

You maybe looking at a very expensive repair regarding the timing chain with that p0016 error code. If it is in fact a worn chain yeah it will cause it to run rough and turn on the code - however if the chain has gotten worn enough and got so slack that one of the camshafts skipped a link on the chain (that too can generate a p0016 code) and that can be deadly to the engine. This is what is called an "interference engine" - meaning that under certain circumstances (like a worn timing chain skipping a tooth) the valves can hit the pistons causing MAJOR damage to the valves and often the pistons as well.

Most of the time we recommend NOT DRIVING the vehicle with a P0016 code until that chain can be verified that it has not skipped a tooth.

There is a video included in this thread showing the details of replacing the timing chain - it is not for the faint of heart- nor for those that cannot follow instructions EXACTLY, as one can cause a lot of expensive damage - https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...in-kits-60394/





Here is a good bit of information on what would be needed on a timing chain replacement - https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/prob...e-61470/page2/

PS: The parts are not that expensive for a timing chain replacement - IF you do the labour yourself, so you might want to hold off on exchanging those parts. If after inspecting the timing chain, you may not want to spend any more $'s on a repair - and might just want to return the parts for a refund.

 

Welcome to the site, x2 as Whopper has suggested, perhaps as you say you will be doing the labour yourself.
The camshaft position sensor is doing it’s job telling you the camshafts are not in the correct position, due to the timing chain stretched and skipped a tooth.
If we remember that a mechanic learned how to do this job , then you can learn how to do it also.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...13-14-a-28779/

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...in-kits-60394/

these links will give you an idea as to what needs to be done.
Don’t forget , most times one issue can set off other sensors
We do get a discount from RockAuto

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/supp...-2019-a-61707/

Cloyes timing chain kit 9-4201SA includes the crankshaft sprocket but not the cam sprockets, you will reuse the original ones.
their balance shaft chain kit 9-4202SX , is also recommended as it is in the same area of the engine, might as well replace it while you have your hands dirty.

 

Thank you guys!!! I haven't been driving the car. I've been getting a ride to work. I'm just supposed to have a car for this job so my fear is they will get grumpy and fire me even though they haven't needed me to go anywhere since I started. But that's the industry I work in.

So, if I'm understanding right you guys are suggesting we buy a timing chain kit and do that first and then see what codes pop up? I can follow instructions pretty well if they are good instructions so I'm hoping to be able to do this myself. Thank you very much for all the info and links. I'm going to research and read everything you told me. This is my only car that I can drive so I have to fix it. Thank you very much for the help and not judging me.

 

If we lived closer, I’d hand you the wrenches myself, so this inter web thing is the next best option.
I always hum, “there’s nothing you can do, that can’t be done, it’s easy!” when I tackle a job , on a vehicle, I’ve not worked on before.
and for an encore, I think of the labour money, I saved and think about a shop or mechanic and say to myself, “Anything you can do , I can do better!”

 

"So, if I'm understanding right you guys are suggesting we buy a timing chain kit and do that first and then see what codes pop up? " - No, no. You need to inspect the chain first to see if it is needing replacement, or if there is other damage such as bent valves if in fact it has skipped a tooth or two. The chain likely does need replacement, but you need to confirm that, before going out and spending the $'s on the parts. And at that age of a vehicle, there are other parts that should be replaced at the same time - water pump etc. etc..

Before you consider doing the job yourself, you will need to have a fair number of tools, including a torque wrench, quite an assortment of sockets and ratchets, and be familiar with their use.

Regarding following the instructions - there have been a few people here that have attempted the chain replacement following the instructions, and have run into problems. This kind of job if screwed up, can cause major issues with the engine costing many more $'s to repair. So you have to ask yourself what is your prior experience in working on a vehicle? Just be aware that this is definitely not a job for a beginner.

 

Copy that. I will try to see if I can get a diagnostic maybe before I try to fix it myself. Hopefully the timing chain is not the problem.

 

According to these causes, and my experience with Oldblue, P0016 is stretched timing chain.

https://www.obd-codes.com/p0016

pop the valve cover off and the front cover.