4-32 CHEVROLET HHR 2008 1.G Owners Manual

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
..............................................1-10
Safety Belts
.............................................1-12
Child Restraints
.......................................1-33
Airbag System
.........................................1-57
Restraint System Check
............................1-72
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-9
Windows
.................................................2-15
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-21
Mirrors
....................................................2-39
OnStar
®System
......................................2-44
Storage Areas
.........................................2-47
Sunroof
..................................................2-52
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-23
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-28
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-46
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-59Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-32
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-43
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-46
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-50
Tires
......................................................5-52
Appearance Care
...................................5-110
Vehicle Identication
...............................5-118
Electrical System
....................................5-118
Capacities and Specications
...................5-125
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
............................... 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-13
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy
...........7-16
Index................................................................ 1
2008 Chevrolet HHR Owner ManualM

If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. Make sure the parking brake is
fully released. You may notice that the pedal is harder
to push or, the pedal may go closer to the oor. It
may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 4-32.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning light
on can lead to an accident. If the light is still
on after you have pulled off the road and
stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed for
service.
Antilock Brake System Warning
Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light will come
on briey when you
start the engine.
That is normal. If the light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off, if the light
comes on when you are driving, stop as soon as it is
safely possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the
engine again to reset the system. If the ABS light still
stays on, or comes on again while you are driving, your
vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system
warning light is not on, you still have brakes, but you do
not have antilock brakes. If the regular brake system
warning light is also on, you do not have antilock brakes
and there is a problem with your regular brakes. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 3-35
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC), see
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-48for all
brake related DIC messages.
3-36

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunk Driving.................................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-3
Braking.........................................................4-3
Antilock Brake System (ABS)...........................4-5
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-6
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-6
Enhanced Traction System (ETS).....................4-9
Limited-Slip Differential..................................4-10
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)....................4-10
Steering......................................................4-13
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-15
Passing.......................................................4-16
Loss of Control.............................................4-16Driving at Night............................................4-18
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-18
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-20
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-20
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-20
Winter Driving..............................................4-22
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow...................................................4-26
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-26
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-27
Towing..........................................................4-32
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-32
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-32
Towing a Trailer (Manual Transaxle)................4-34
Towing a Trailer (Automatic Transaxle)............4-34
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to free your
vehicle when stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 4-26.
If your vehicle has a traction system, it can often
help to free a stuck vehicle. Refer to your vehicle’s
traction system in the Index. If the stuck condition is too
severe for the traction system to free the vehicle, turn
the traction system off and use the rocking method.
{CAUTION:
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or others
could be injured. The vehicle can overheat,
causing an engine compartment re or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above 35 mph (55 km/h) as
shown on the speedometer.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
seeTire Chains on page 5-74.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn the steering wheel left and right to clear the
area around the front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-6,
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4-9, and
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) on page 4-10. Then
shift back and forth between REVERSE (R) and a
forward gear, or with a manual transmission, between
FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R), spinning
the wheels as little as possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator pedal while you shift, and
press lightly on the accelerator pedal when the
transmission is in gear. By slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions, you will cause a
rocking motion that could free your vehicle. If that does
not get your vehicle out after a few tries, it might need to
be towed out. If your vehicle does need to be towed out,
seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-32.
4-26

If you put things inside your vehicle — like
suitcases, tools, packages, or anything else — they
will go as fast as the vehicle goes. If you have to
stop or turn quickly, or if there is a crash, they will
keep going.
{CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can
strike and injure people in a sudden stop
or turn, or in a crash.
Put things in the cargo area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight
evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so that
some of them are above the tops of
the seats.
Do not leave an unsecured child
restraint in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Do not leave a seat folded down
unless you need to.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer/retailer or a professional towing
service if you need to have your disabled vehicle towed.
SeeRoadside Assistance Program on page 7-6.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle
for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see “Recreational Vehicle Towing” following.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
behind another vehicle — such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground) and “dolly towing”
(towing your vehicle with two wheels on the ground and
two wheels up on a device known as a “dolly”).
4-32

Passenger Sensing System..............................1-65
Passing.........................................................4-16
PASS-Key
®III+..............................................2-19
PASS-Key®III+ Operation................................2-20
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California...... 5-4
Power
Door Locks.................................................. 2-9
Electrical System.......................................5-119
Lumbar Controls........................................... 1-4
Retained Accessory (RAP)............................2-25
Seat............................................................ 1-3
Windows....................................................2-16
Pressure Cap.................................................5-26
Privacy..........................................................7-16
Event Data Recorders..................................7-16
Navigation System.......................................7-17
OnStar.......................................................7-17
Radio Frequency Identication.......................7-17
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock...............2-10
R
Radio Frequency Identication (RFID), Privacy....7-17
Radios..........................................................3-59
Radio(s)........................................................3-62
Radios
Reception...................................................3-79
Setting the Clock.........................................3-60Radios (cont.)
Theft-Deterrent............................................3-78
Rear Compartment Storage Panel/Cover............2-48
Rear Door Security Locks................................2-11
Rear Reading Lamps......................................3-19
Rear Side Cargo Door.....................................2-12
Rear Storage Area..........................................2-48
Rear Windshield Washer/Wiper.........................3-11
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with
Compass....................................................2-41
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with
OnStar
®and Compass.................................2-39
Rearview Mirrors.............................................2-39
Reclining Seatbacks.......................................... 1-5
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.................6-12
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-32
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System.................. 2-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System, Operation . . . 2-5
Remote Vehicle Start........................................ 2-7
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire...................................5-90, 5-101
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................5-87
Replacement Bulbs.........................................5-50
Replacement Parts, Maintenance......................6-14
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government..................................7-14
General Motors...........................................7-14
United States Government............................7-13
10

Tires (cont.)
Pressure Monitor Operation...........................5-63
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-61
Removing the Flat Tire.......................5-90, 5-101
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...............5-87
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools..........5-106
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit...................5-76
Tire Sidewall Labeling..................................5-53
Tire Terminology and Denitions....................5-57
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-71
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-73
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-73
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-68
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-32
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-34
Your Vehicle...............................................4-32
Traction
Control System (TCS).................................... 4-6
Enhanced Traction System (ETS).................... 4-9
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Warning
Light......................................................3-37
Limited-Slip Differential.................................4-10
Traction Control System...................................3-37
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-23
Fluid, Manual..............................................5-23
Up-Shift Light..............................................3-35Transmission Operation, Automatic....................2-28
Transmission Operation, Manual........................2-31
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-8
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-7
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-71
Up-Shift Light.................................................3-35
Using this Manual............................................... iii
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-3
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-27
Parking Your...............................................2-36
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy..................7-16
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN)............................................5-118
Service Parts Identication Label..................5-118
Vehicle Personalization
DIC ...........................................................3-54
Vehicle, Remote Start....................................... 2-7
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-26
Visors...........................................................2-17
13