I have had my 2007 HHR for one month today was the first day any a little sign of a problem. I went to drive it and the transmission seem to be shifting roughly. Of course I tried to find the darn transmission fluid dipstick and found out it is impossible to check without taking it to a mechanic. After a short drive down the road the transmission seemed fine just scares me a little because it is my only vehicle any suggestions question marks?

 

This is not front page news, so I moved it from that forum to here.

Take it to the nearest auto parts store, where they can check for codes, for free. Post any codes here, but not descriptions, because they can be misleading.

 

Welcome to the site, many auto transmissions are now designed without a dipstick.

 

What would a dipstick tell you? Where would you suspect the fluid to disappear to?

 

I am also saddened by the lack of a dipstick.
I don’t understand why GM shouldn’t equip cars with familiar and important details.
At one time, when I needed to check the level of transmission fluid, I had to do strange manipulations.
I lifted the car on a lift with my comrad mechanic. Then a some kind bolt was unscrewed and a new transmission fluid was injected into the transmission using a huge syringe.
The idea was this: if the liquid flows back through the hole, the level is normal. But such a method has a large error. And besides, extra expenses.
I spent money and several hours of time, although in a normal situation I would have had enough 1 minute to look at the dipstick.
Guys! I wonder how you check the level of transmission fluid on your cars?

 

With our HHR’s fluid on the driveway indicates possibility low transmission fluid.
the symptoms mentioned could be loose wires at the TCM connector or internal issues with shift solenoids.

 

Check Engine Light on ?
My guess is it is. Certain CEL codes will cause hard shifting even though nothing is wrong with the transmission. It's just the computers way of telling you something is wrong with your car.
Get the codes read.

 

Just to add the TCM (transmission control module) connector is at the module itself.
Or the harness plug that hooks to the transmission might be were a problem lies. These are possibilities, not written in stone.
A ground issue could be a problem also at the TCM. Some people on other forums have added an extra ground wire to the case of the TCM to cure a problem.
Yes there might be an issue with a shift solenoid also.
How many miles on the car and is the check engine light on ?
If no check engine light go to an auto parts store and see if they can bring up any codes anyway and post those codes here.

 

How Do I Check the Transmission Fluid on a Chevy HHR? https://itstillruns.com/do-transmiss...r-5988488.html

And one more thing.

One guy (like from Tyumen) writes.
Not comfortable driving forced him to turn to an automatic transmission repair specialist. Symptoms - the car jerks noticeably when shifting gears.
The specialist turned out to be an experienced, adult man of still Soviet hardening. After inspecting the automatic transmission, he concluded - overheating.
A radiator from the heater of the truck was found in a landfill and mounted on the front bumper amplifier. Transmission pipes were removed from the standard radiator and connected to the radiator from heater. Thus, the transmission received an individual cooling radiator and jerking during movement stopped.
What do you think about this? Is our drivetrain really not cooling properly?

 

P0128 does not always cause a CEL. It is, by far the most common cause of hard shifting. I doubt a transmission fluid cooler would help getting the engine temp up to 180F quickly.