I have a 2006 HHR LT with 82000 miles. The tempature gauge intermintly will not work when I start the engine. It will usually start to work after I drive about 4 or 5 miles. One time when it was cool in the morning I drove all the way to work about 20 miles it had still not started to work. Is this possibilty a senser problem? I talked to a local dealer & he said it would have to be not working when he tested it.

 

Engine temp or outside temp?

 

If you are talking about the engine temperature gauge it is most likely the thermostat has failed. The rubber gasket on the thermostat breaks down and jams the thermostat open. When this happens the engine is slow to warm up and the digital display will show "----", and the analog temp display will drop to the bottom. The Engine Check Light MAY come on as well. Also, the A/C may be disabled.

Do a search for thermostat and you will find further info on how to replace it - the thermostat is buried behind the engine down low on the drivers side.

 

Here is a link to the thread on replacing the thermostat
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-tutorial-library-21/how-save-%24350-00-thermostat-replacement-2-4l-p0128-24493/

Note: the problem will be intermittent at best - if the ECL is lit, see if you can get a code read - I think it's p0128 (it's listed in the above thread)

 

to the forum paparon!

We need a bit more info from you, but as whopper has suggested, if its the engine temperature gauge you're probably looking at a stuck or failing thermostat. You are at the right age and mileage for thermostat issues to crop up.

If its the outside temp function on your DIC, they can take up to twenty minutes to update the displayed temperature. The most common failure mode on the outside temp sensor is a short to ground causing the reading to get "stuck" at one temperature, or it'll just plain not display a reading at all.

 

Welcome to the site

 

I've had this problem and it is an easy fix. The Coolant Temp Sending Unit (at backside of Thermostat housing) is the culprit. The thermostat only controls the coolant flow, NOT the reading. When the sensor fails you lose not only the readout (---) but the A/C stops working. Chang the sensor and the problem goes away.

As for the Thermostat, Advance Auto has an OEM Lifetime Warranty unit for $22. I've tried a number of the 180 degree Stant units and each allowed the engine to run at 196-202 degrees consistently. I started testing them on the stove top with a Candy Thermometer, and guess what, they opened at 196-202 degrees!!!

Takes about 20-20 minutes to change out. You will lose about a quart 1/2 of coolant.