My friend's 2009 shifter just locked up watching your video made it so much easier I just went in and just cleaned it up a little bit from the side blowing it all out with air and then hit the actuator to move the shifter wove it back a couple times and that works fine
So thankful for your video!!! Just purchased a 2011 HHR, not even a month ago, private sale and have been on edge about potential hidden issues, due to previous experience with as is sales, so when I came out of the store started my vehicle and couldnt shift out of park, I was pretty emotional. and assumed the worst. Called a friend for a ride home to get groceries to freezer/fridge and started googling my issue. as I try to figure out what's going on first, before I resort to repair shops. also had bad experiences there in the past. with manipulation and deceit. Luckily came across your video, grabbed a couple tools from home and tore everything apart right in the parking lot and discovered a sticking safety pin. cleaned it up, pushed it back and I am able to drive again. SO relieved it was something relatively simple, and again, THANKFUL you made and put this video out! probably saved me $100's of dollars and mountains of stress! You are straightforward and to the point, and very simple and easy to understand. other video creators are concerned with seemingly never ending dialog and/or "entertaining" edits and whatnot. I also really appreciated that about your video. being simple and to the point! Thanks again!
That is probably the most kindest reply that I have ever gotten about that video😅. Thank you for the kind words Sarah and kudos to you for taking charge by fixing your own car to get you back on the road. High five! I made that video 5 years ago now and I do get a lot of thankful comments from viewers. But yours was the nicest. I am on my third HHR. The black one in the video is now gone, I have the red 2009 HHR SS that I drive during the summer and I now have a cherry Silver 2006 that I found in North Carolina I drive as my winter vehicle. It has heated seats which I love. Anyway you made my night by your reply. I am so happy that I helped you. Always remember to take your time and never be intimidated when it comes to working on your car. And never let your car bring you to tears. You are better than that! Please like and subscribe if you wouldn't mind😊. Any more help you need be sure to stay in touch. Be safe Sarah. Happy Motoring! Cheers!
Thank you very very much! My mom's car did this today and within an hour I was able to get her back on the road. I used lithium grease spray and moves like it should. She recently spilled tea.
Your welcome:) just remember your mom's car is not as safe as before. You can pull that car out of park even with the car off. Go out there and see for yourself. Just be aware in case you have children. I kept my car locked.
I never comment on videos, but felt the need to thank you for posting. My daughter's 2007 HHR was stuck in park, found your video and all is back to normal. Thank you sir!
Chuck Reimel I'm so happy to hear you got your HHR fixed:) Remember you can now pull your daughters car out of park with the ignition off. So the car is not as safe now. Just FYI. Enjoy your summer
This was wonderful, I just purchased an 06 HHR it seems to run and drive great. The very next day , while out on errands my key got stuck. I took it back to the dealer where I purchased the car , and I was upset to say the least. After giving me the runaround they finally got a locksmith on site to take a look at the issue . I went out to look at his attempt to correct the problem and I saw him installing a wire tie , this is when I found out that this was a known issue. Thanks for posting this video, it helps me a lot.
Thanks for your Video a friend of mine called telling me her problems with her HHR she has the same problem and you gave the right video for the job thumbs up buddy save her some money and made some aggravation know when exactly where to go
As Alyse Campbell posted correctly: "GM will fix this shifter issue at no cost. Regardless of ownership and mileage, up to 15 years from manufactured date. GM service bulletin / Special service # 14632 covers parts and labor. And reimbursement for past repairs" Thank you Alyse Campbell! I contacted a service advisor (Randy) at Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, TX and he confirmed the service bulletin you provided and he said they would pick up the cost of repairs if in fact is the shifter assembly problem. He did point out that the brake switch or the switch under steering wheel are not covered by them. It would be a good Idea for people to first troubleshoot the brake switch since it's the cheapest part and super easy to replace. If shifter still getting stuck then have GM / Chevrolet fix the issue.
@@jamesdeal4894 Ask them or look up Chevrolet recall center telephone number and ask them. Look up Chevrolet recalls for your year/make/model on the internet and on Chevrolet web site.
Recently purchased a 2008 HHR. Thanks for the video. ..hope I don’t need to do this. Perhaps it’s already been done (I hope); and / or never becomes a problem!
ShoJay - THANK YOU! Have a 2000 Blazer...different-looking fixtures, but same procedure (BOTH steps). Since the brake sensor on the steering column is discontinued, followed your step-by-step from your clear instructions, got it fixed and now I won't get stuck without wheels. One year ago followed another TH-cam vid to bypass the Ignition Security Lock "Safety Feature", as well. You guys who put these videos are MUCH-APPRECIATED!
Thanks man, my 2007 Shitty Cobalt is working its magic the same damn way. Got in the dang thing this morning and all the locks are just going absolutely bonkers up and down, down down up and down up up and down. Then I went to start the car, just fine, but then I tried to shift and bam, it’s freaking locked. But I can however pull my key in and out of the ignition. Some one said to just pull that specific fuse out and manually use the keys to lock your doors, ect. I wonder if this fuse method will work with the safety pin feature in the gear shifter as well? Or do I have to do the ol’zip tie method such as your video. Thanks mate, appreciate ya labor
Thank you for this video. I have a 2009 HHR and it's been setting for over two weeks because my shifter won't shift. I've been told I needed a new shifter cable and I been told I needed a new shifter. I'm gonna try this and see if it works . I will get back with you and let you know what happens
Your welcome. That actually is your problem. You need a new shifter unfortunately:/ That will completely take care of your problem. I made that video 6 years ago and if I knew then what I know now, I would have gone that route. Local salvage yards will have shifters for you. If you copy what I did in my video, this will work but remember your car will become somewhat unsafe. Your car will be able to be taken out of gear even if it is off. So if you have children, they can put it in neutral and your car will roll. This video is just a quick fix to get you out of a situation.
@@paulalaguire9322 Glad to help. Tell your brother the shifter is easy to remove. Just 4 bolts. This is after you remove all of that plastic molding. Also there are wires. Make sure you do not rip them, if you do, your remote start will no longer work. Once those 4 bolts that hold the shifter in place are out, there is a clip that holds the cars shift linkage to the shifter. You will see what I mean once you get down in there. I had mine out. Very easy peasy:)
So the fix is to replace the shifter assembly, if anyone is still having this issue. If the brake lights are coming on when stepping on the brake pedal. Pull the trigger and replace the shifter assembly
Rhoenia Leavitt haha glad to help. I can guarantee you that is the problem with your hhr. it's real easy you'll see just watch my video and you will be fine. just remember you will be able to pull your car out of park even with the ignition off so it's kind of dangerous if you had kids
Rhoenia Leavitt oh ok I see. hey if you try to do this I need to tell you the hardest part is taking the shifter out. there's 4 bolts that are hard to get to. you need a socket wrench with an extension and when it's time to put the shifter back in it takes a great deal of patience to get the bolts to not fall into your console so be aware and be careful. I had to walk away a couple times because I was getting so frustrated. I dealt with that right after I shot this video lol. but good luck to you and I hope it works out ☺
Do you have a video where we can take out the gear shifts from the holding place? We have the plastic removed just getting it out of its home is our problem
Ok now I see what you mean. Ok look this is what you do.... shine a bright flashlight down in that center area where the shifter is. You will see 4 nuts. Two on each side. You have to use a socket with an extension to loosen those nuts. Once you do that, the shifter will pull right out. But remember the bolts that the nuts are holding will fall into the car so be careful.
So with this bypass (and thank you for this video), there's no need to mess with the black or purple wiring or that pesky gray connector that's hard to get to?
No need to. Just zip tie the part I am showing in the video and you will be able to pull your car out of park. Just remember and this very important... your car can be pulled out of gear even with it shut off. So it is kind of dangerous. This video is just a quick fix to get you out of a jam. The actual problem with your car, is your shifter. Either order a new one or go to your local salvage yard and get a different one. Once you do that your car will be good as new. I was I thought of this 6 years ago when I made this video.
GM will fix this at no cost. regardless of ownership and mileage. Up to 15 years form manufacture date. GM Service Bulletin / special service # 14632. labor and parts. and reimbursement past repairs
Thank you Alyse Campbell! You are 100% correct. I contacted a service advisor (Randy) at Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, TX and he confirmed the service bulletin you provided and they would pick up the whole cost of repairs if in fact is the shifter assembly problem. He did point out that the brake switch or the switch under steering wheel are not covered by them. It would be a good Idea for people to first troubleshoot the brake switch since it's the cheapest part and super easy to replace.
My car has been getting stuck in park for weeks and it’s so frustrating. I had a guy try to simply tell me I need to spray some WD-40 on it and clean it, did that and it kinda worked for about a day and went right back to to the same problems. So I’m pretty certain I’ll have to try this method and pray that it works. my only concern is being that you’re taking the locking mechanism away how safe is the vehicle when in park regarding the shifter and the ignition/key release?
ANJELICA COVINGTON Thank you for your reply, I'm assuming you have an HHR?? To answer your question if you copy what I did to your car, you will be able to pull it out of park even with the ignition off so if you have kids keep the doors locked.
Seems like you could cut the top half of the shifter lock off so it still engaged and disengaged and cut the tip off the key safety solenoid, so it could still engage, etc. That way everything g would think it's still working.
Can you just cut off the ear of lock of shifter to allow the shifter button to move? That way everything else should work by not push OJ ng in the silinoid.
I couldn't get one but didn't want to take the hole thing out so I pulled the bolt up and stuck the tip of a toothpick in and broke it off. That way I could get the nut on.
@@shojay9270 Which one? 😂 We got our 2011 new. Then my wife's parents liked her's and each got a used one. Now my mother-in-law has dementia and some kind of brain infection and my father-in-law died so we had 3. That one is a 2007.
@@kevinbrown3768 I am so sorry to hear all that about your family's health condition:/ I am on my third HHR. The black one you saw in the video I sold last fall. I currently own an 09 HHR SS. Love that car. Be sure to check out the videos I have of that car on my TH-cam channel. I recently bought another 2006 HHR 2LT from North Carolina this past January. That car is amazing! It is silver with a matching leather interior. Looks just like my black one I had only this one is in way better shape. No rust I had it shipped up here to New York. I will be making a video of my newly acquired 2006 this summer so keep an eye out for it:)
Hi there, just read your message. Still stuck in park? It has been 6 years since I did that video. You have options. Either follow each step in my video or replace the shifter. The shifter is what is bad. That too is easy to replace. Have you attempted to remove the shifter yet? Message me back and I will do my best to help you;)
Rhoenia Leavitt. ok like I was telling you yesterday there arw 4 bolts down below. take a flashlight and look down there you can't miss them. you need a socket wrench with an extension. loosen the 4 bolts and the shifter will come out
Thanks for this video. My key just recently got stuck in the ignition of my 2006 hhr and i did not want to stick my finger under the steering wheel everytime i want to get my key out. I guess i should just go ahead and tie the shifter lock mechanism down too while im at it, before that messes up on me as well.
Erik P Just remember when you do all of this to your car, you will be able to pull it out of park even with the ignition off. So if you have small children or tend to leave your car unlocked that could be dangerous. Just be safe and be aware:)
The shifter in that video is the original one that was in the car and my car was a 2006. I checked GM parts directs website, and it looks like the 2006 and 2007 shifters were the same. They may look a little different but will work fine. I would go to your local salvage yard and pull one yourself because a new shifter is $477.00 dollars. That is insane.
@@shojay9270 Thanks mine which is a 2007 was sticking for a bit but I used brake clean on where the plunger contacts the arm to release the safety plastic arm and now works good.. so I am going to used some grease where the plunger comes in contact hopefully it will last for awhile.. if gives me anymore trouble then I will take it out and use a dremel to cut the part of that arm they keeps from coming out of park that way the key will come out like normal should ..
@@anthonypapaleo1940 I am glad it is fixed:) That black HHR you saw in my video was a lemon. It is long gone now but I became quite the mechanic after spending countless hours working on it. The 2006 model year was the only bad year for the HHR. There were many recalls etc. 2007 and up, there were a lot of changes and corrections in the electrical systems. Good luck with your car and feel free to message me anytime.
Yes. Remember this is a temporary fix. More like a band aid on the problem to get you out of a jam. The problem is your shifter. You need to replace it. Do that, and your car will be all fixed. Ebay has plenty of them.
At 50 seconds, he squeezes the button and the pin moves. What if my button is pressed in and jammed? I can see the black plastic arm moving when I push the brake but the actual shifter button is jammed in. I have tried to pry open to no avail.
Ummm that is a new one for me. If your shifter button is jammed, I would go to your local salvage yard and buy a new shifter. If you do that, your whole problem should go away.
Does this relate to when stuck in Park and when you move the steering wheel into a certain position it works. I did have someone spill tea by it so I don't know
Any idea what? I use hand controls so I noticed if I press it up more that it shifts too. Just so many potential things. The steering wheel needing to be set is weird
Justin Harris hmm...odd. probably if I was there right now I could help you diagnose the problem. But I'm having a hard time trying to picture what your problem is
My remote start never worked anyways, I didnt even know thats what that button was for. Probably because when I bought my HHR the shifter was breaking, a few years ago. I had to start ysing the key trick of pushing in that button every time I needed to get the keys out. Now Ive been gaving trouble with the car sticking in park. I wiggle the shifter while keeping in the brake as far as I can, thus isnt working anymore. Ive spent 1000s on a car worth 2k. No Im doing this. Im done taking thus car to shops
You can always replace the shifter. It isn't hard at all, in fact I had my shifter out of another HHR that I own recently. Just remove those bolts. Under the shifter you will see a codder pin that is holding the shifter to the trans cable. Once you get that out, go to your local salvage yard and get another shifter. Done deal. Super easy.
Get a flashlight and look down in there. You will see 4 bolts. You need a socket and wrench to loosen them. Once you do that, the shifter will come out. Be careful of the wiring harnesses. You can't miss them. If you sever those wires, your remote start will no longer work.
Practically every other car manufacturer puts in a way to bypass the shift locks on the way in case the car has to be towed but not GM this is one of the many reasons why I never have and never will own a GM product
No you don't. Look under your steering wheel and you will see a piece of plastic that you can remove. It's an access panel. Once you remove that you will see the pin that you push on in order to get your key out. There is a video on TH-cam for this. Just type in "Chevy HHR how to remove ignition key"
Kelsie Cobeen they are at the bottom of the shifter. Use a flashlight and shine down in there and you will see 4 on 4 bolts period one in each corner. you have to stick a socket down in there to loosen them remember when she get those loose the bolts are going to fall out so just be aware
On Friday 12/08/2017. I was going to go to lunch but my HHR would not move out of park and I saw the car with padlock picture on my dash. My car was towed home and just today I came across this video and showed my husband, he is doing what you did😘😍😎we will see.
@@shojay9270 Just trying to help the other poor schlubs like me who didn't get rid of their HHR 5 years ago, and by the way, brag, brag, brag. LOL! THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIDEO! I just happened to think about it and realize that. Probably partly because I'm lazy! I thought, awww man, I don't want to have to go under the steering wheel too!
Very helpfull as this cat shows both of GM's safety switch override tricks. And he's most definetely right when calling these switch's stupid. I call them dumbshit worthless safe guards designed by worthless dumbshits. WTF? I'm thinking one of the engineers wifes may have once removed a key in a car still in gear or maybe the engineer himself did it.
SO NOW, when your kid, the neighbor's kid, or even a thief wants to move the shifter . . . no problem. The car rolls down the hill and kills the kid and wrecks your car. Stupid General Motors.
The actual issue is the microswitch being loose on the opposite side of the shifter and not moving the pin where you put your first zip tie. With my solution, you're not disabling any of the switches. Pop the microswitch out and roughen up the mating surfaces then apply a little epoxy on both surfaces and reinstall the switch. Issue solved and everything works still as GM designed, GOD only knows what that reason was tho, LOL
I'm guessing you mean the shifter?? If so there are 4 bolts way down inside there. You will need a flashlight to see them. They are easy to get out but very difficult to tighten when you put it back together
@@Conker999 OK this is what I did... you have to wrap rubber bands around those bolts in order for them to stay up. Then you have to carefully lower the shifter onto those bolts and hope that they won't slip down into the chassis. It's very painstaking and you need a lot of patience.
My friend's 2009 shifter just locked up watching your video made it so much easier I just went in and just cleaned it up a little bit from the side blowing it all out with air and then hit the actuator to move the shifter wove it back a couple times and that works fine
thank you so much for taking the time to make this. I stopped buying chevys after owning this vehicle. It was poorly made.
So thankful for your video!!! Just purchased a 2011 HHR, not even a month ago, private sale and have been on edge about potential hidden issues, due to previous experience with as is sales, so when I came out of the store started my vehicle and couldnt shift out of park, I was pretty emotional. and assumed the worst. Called a friend for a ride home to get groceries to freezer/fridge and started googling my issue. as I try to figure out what's going on first, before I resort to repair shops. also had bad experiences there in the past. with manipulation and deceit. Luckily came across your video, grabbed a couple tools from home and tore everything apart right in the parking lot and discovered a sticking safety pin. cleaned it up, pushed it back and I am able to drive again. SO relieved it was something relatively simple, and again, THANKFUL you made and put this video out! probably saved me $100's of dollars and mountains of stress! You are straightforward and to the point, and very simple and easy to understand. other video creators are concerned with seemingly never ending dialog and/or "entertaining" edits and whatnot. I also really appreciated that about your video. being simple and to the point! Thanks again!
That is probably the most kindest reply that I have ever gotten about that video😅. Thank you for the kind words Sarah and kudos to you for taking charge by fixing your own car to get you back on the road. High five! I made that video 5 years ago now and I do get a lot of thankful comments from viewers. But yours was the nicest. I am on my third HHR. The black one in the video is now gone, I have the red 2009 HHR SS that I drive during the summer and I now have a cherry Silver 2006 that I found in North Carolina I drive as my winter vehicle. It has heated seats which I love. Anyway you made my night by your reply. I am so happy that I helped you. Always remember to take your time and never be intimidated when it comes to working on your car. And never let your car bring you to tears. You are better than that! Please like and subscribe if you wouldn't mind😊. Any more help you need be sure to stay in touch. Be safe Sarah. Happy Motoring! Cheers!
@Alan Flores Hi Alan, glad you made it home ok:) if your HHR starts acting up, just watch my video. Follow the steps and your car will be fine.
2023 with my 2010 Chevy HHR stuck in the middle of the parking lot so no one could get around me and this video saved me from having to get a tow!
Awesome! So happy to hear😁
Thank you very very much! My mom's car did this today and within an hour I was able to get her back on the road.
I used lithium grease spray and moves like it should. She recently spilled tea.
Your welcome:) just remember your mom's car is not as safe as before. You can pull that car out of park even with the car off. Go out there and see for yourself. Just be aware in case you have children. I kept my car locked.
The best explanation ever. To the point that’s all.
I never comment on videos, but felt the need to thank you for posting. My daughter's 2007 HHR was stuck in park, found your video and all is back to normal. Thank you sir!
Chuck Reimel I'm so happy to hear you got your HHR fixed:) Remember you can now pull your daughters car out of park with the ignition off. So the car is not as safe now. Just FYI. Enjoy your summer
If this works, you are a life saver !!!!
This was wonderful, I just purchased an 06 HHR it seems to run and drive great. The very next day , while out on errands my key got stuck. I took it back to the dealer where I purchased the car , and I was upset to say the least. After giving me the runaround they finally got a locksmith on site to take a look at the issue . I went out to look at his attempt to correct the problem and I saw him installing a wire tie , this is when I found out that this was a known issue. Thanks for posting this video, it helps me a lot.
Thanks for your Video a friend of mine called telling me her problems with her HHR she has the same problem and you gave the right video for the job thumbs up buddy save her some money and made some aggravation know when exactly where to go
As Alyse Campbell posted correctly:
"GM will fix this shifter issue at no cost. Regardless of ownership and mileage, up to 15 years from manufactured date.
GM service bulletin / Special service # 14632 covers parts and labor. And reimbursement for past repairs"
Thank you Alyse Campbell! I contacted a service advisor (Randy) at Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, TX and he confirmed the service bulletin you provided and he said they would pick up the cost of repairs if in fact is the shifter assembly problem. He did point out that the brake switch or the switch under steering wheel are not covered by them. It would be a good Idea for people to first troubleshoot the brake switch since it's the cheapest part and super easy to replace. If shifter still getting stuck then have GM / Chevrolet fix the issue.
Does this recall/repair cover the 2005 Cobalt and would the service # also apply? Thanks in advance.
@@jamesdeal4894
Ask them or look up Chevrolet recall center telephone number and ask them. Look up Chevrolet recalls for your year/make/model on the internet and on Chevrolet web site.
Thank you, thank you. I was stuck in a Left turning lane few minutes ago. I was able to move it to a safe place.
Reboot the system,disconnect the battery for a few seconds.it worked for me!
That's nice man but it's been 4 years since I did that video 😂 your a little but late. And I did the same thing and no luck.
i did this and no more problems god bless you!!!!!
Recently purchased a 2008 HHR. Thanks for the video. ..hope I don’t need to do this. Perhaps it’s already been done (I hope); and / or never becomes a problem!
ShoJay - THANK YOU! Have a 2000 Blazer...different-looking fixtures, but same procedure (BOTH steps). Since the brake sensor on the steering column is discontinued, followed your step-by-step from your clear instructions, got it fixed and now I won't get stuck without wheels. One year ago followed another TH-cam vid to bypass the Ignition Security Lock "Safety Feature", as well. You guys who put these videos are MUCH-APPRECIATED!
Raquel Smith your much welcome! Just remember you can now pull your car pit of park even with the ignition off. So that's kind of unsafe...
My HHR recently started sticking in park. I suspect I'll be doing this soon. THANK YOU for your informative video. :)
Thanks man, my 2007 Shitty Cobalt is working its magic the same damn way. Got in the dang thing this morning and all the locks are just going absolutely bonkers up and down, down down up and down up up and down. Then I went to start the car, just fine, but then I tried to shift and bam, it’s freaking locked. But I can however pull my key in and out of the ignition. Some one said to just pull that specific fuse out and manually use the keys to lock your doors, ect. I wonder if this fuse method will work with the safety pin feature in the gear shifter as well? Or do I have to do the ol’zip tie method such as your video. Thanks mate, appreciate ya labor
Thanks Smart Man, you are every woman's dream!!
Leah Mack Lol, that is probably the sweetest comment I have ever gotten on here😊😊 thank you for that
Very nice! Thank you! I agree that there is way to many "supposed" safety features on my HHR. You may have just saved me some cash....
Thank you for this video. I have a 2009 HHR and it's been setting for over two weeks because my shifter won't shift. I've been told I needed a new shifter cable and I been told I needed a new shifter. I'm gonna try this and see if it works . I will get back with you and let you know what happens
Your welcome. That actually is your problem. You need a new shifter unfortunately:/ That will completely take care of your problem. I made that video 6 years ago and if I knew then what I know now, I would have gone that route. Local salvage yards will have shifters for you. If you copy what I did in my video, this will work but remember your car will become somewhat unsafe. Your car will be able to be taken out of gear even if it is off. So if you have children, they can put it in neutral and your car will roll. This video is just a quick fix to get you out of a situation.
@@shojay9270 thank you for your help on your reply it says read more but I don't see any thank
@@paulalaguire9322 Glad to help. Tell your brother the shifter is easy to remove. Just 4 bolts. This is after you remove all of that plastic molding. Also there are wires. Make sure you do not rip them, if you do, your remote start will no longer work. Once those 4 bolts that hold the shifter in place are out, there is a clip that holds the cars shift linkage to the shifter. You will see what I mean once you get down in there. I had mine out. Very easy peasy:)
@@shojay9270 Thank you I will let him know. All of the plastic molding is already removed from the area
@@paulalaguire9322 That is great:) that is half your battle. Best of luck on your project. Cheers!
You’re a lifesaver 👍🏻
Thanks for the knowledge!!
So the fix is to replace the shifter assembly, if anyone is still having this issue.
If the brake lights are coming on when stepping on the brake pedal. Pull the trigger and replace the shifter assembly
How did you remove the shift gear from the middle
What if you have an aftermarket remote start. Is it the same thing that it won't if I did what you did
Holy shit tank u very much my crazy hhr is starting to du da same now I know what to du
Lol glad to help out :)
Thanks, video was great 👍
thanks so much. I'm Def gonna try this. mine has moments where it won't go out of park and it drives me crazy. you are a godsend
Rhoenia Leavitt haha glad to help. I can guarantee you that is the problem with your hhr. it's real easy you'll see just watch my video and you will be fine. just remember you will be able to pull your car out of park even with the ignition off so it's kind of dangerous if you had kids
ShoJay92 my kids are grown so I'm the only klutz I need to worry about. lol
Rhoenia Leavitt oh ok I see. hey if you try to do this I need to tell you the hardest part is taking the shifter out. there's 4 bolts that are hard to get to. you need a socket wrench with an extension and when it's time to put the shifter back in it takes a great deal of patience to get the bolts to not fall into your console so be aware and be careful. I had to walk away a couple times because I was getting so frustrated. I dealt with that right after I shot this video lol. but good luck to you and I hope it works out ☺
Oh yah?? Ok ty, I will try to be patient. Not my strong suit. Lol. Or you could just do it for me. Hahahaha
Rhoenia Leavitt. haha very funny 😁 I'm sure you can do it. Good luck to you mam
Great video
Cut a small square out of a plastic lid. Put the square on the key release plunger then attach the ziptie
Thanks for the info, I'm sending it to my daughter.
Anytime glad to help
Thank you for the tutorial 😍😎😘my husband followed your instructions and we went for a drive, so far so good 😍
Ruby Austin Awesome I'm glad to hear:) keep in touch if you have any more problems. I know the HUG well considering I own two of them
I'm driving my HHR and still no problems 😍thank you thank you for your tutorial😎😍
Ruby Austin I'm so glad to hear:) keep me posted on it. Merry Christmas
Do you have a video where we can take out the gear shifts from the holding place? We have the plastic removed just getting it out of its home is our problem
Do you mean the shifter is still bolted to the car?
@@shojay9270 yes
Ok now I see what you mean. Ok look this is what you do.... shine a bright flashlight down in that center area where the shifter is. You will see 4 nuts. Two on each side. You have to use a socket with an extension to loosen those nuts. Once you do that, the shifter will pull right out. But remember the bolts that the nuts are holding will fall into the car so be careful.
@@shojay9270 ok we'll try that tomorrow thank you so much
Straight to the point no b.s I liked that
Thank you, I hope it helped you.
So with this bypass (and thank you for this video), there's no need to mess with the black or purple wiring or that pesky gray connector that's hard to get to?
No need to. Just zip tie the part I am showing in the video and you will be able to pull your car out of park. Just remember and this very important... your car can be pulled out of gear even with it shut off. So it is kind of dangerous. This video is just a quick fix to get you out of a jam. The actual problem with your car, is your shifter. Either order a new one or go to your local salvage yard and get a different one. Once you do that your car will be good as new. I was I thought of this 6 years ago when I made this video.
I need to do this in my 08 hhr 2.2 pia pia sometimes
GM will fix this at no cost. regardless of ownership and mileage. Up to 15 years form manufacture date.
GM Service Bulletin / special service # 14632. labor and parts. and reimbursement past repairs
Alyse Campbell I'll have to check it out. Thank you:)
Thank you Alyse Campbell! You are 100% correct. I contacted a service advisor (Randy) at Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, TX and he confirmed the service bulletin you provided and they would pick up the whole cost of repairs if in fact is the shifter assembly problem. He did point out that the brake switch or the switch under steering wheel are not covered by them. It would be a good Idea for people to first troubleshoot the brake switch since it's the cheapest part and super easy to replace.
Thank you this is what's wrong with my car. I need it fixed maybe I can get someone to help
My car has been getting stuck in park for weeks and it’s so frustrating. I had a guy try to simply tell me I need to spray some WD-40 on it and clean it, did that and it kinda worked for about a day and went right back to to the same problems. So I’m pretty certain I’ll have to try this method and pray that it works. my only concern is being that you’re taking the locking mechanism away how safe is the vehicle when in park regarding the shifter and the ignition/key release?
ANJELICA COVINGTON Thank you for your reply, I'm assuming you have an HHR?? To answer your question if you copy what I did to your car, you will be able to pull it out of park even with the ignition off so if you have kids keep the doors locked.
Seems like you could cut the top half of the shifter lock off so it still engaged and disengaged and cut the tip off the key safety solenoid, so it could still engage, etc. That way everything g would think it's still working.
That wqs a great help tha ks so much
My locksmith just wire tied the white button under the wheel to let me remove the key as well. Much cheaper and easier than removing the shifter.
So you didn't have to remove the shifter to fix the shifter? Just the pin under the wheel and the shifter now works?
Can you just cut off the ear of lock of shifter to allow the shifter button to move? That way everything else should work by not push OJ ng in the silinoid.
You can try that but if you do, there is a chance you won't be able to get your key out of the ignition.
Jay ty u for the info ur a life saver ty. did. it wrk perfect
Glad to help out, were you able to get the shifter back into place? There are 4 bolts that stick up and like to fall down inside of the car.
I couldn't get one but didn't want to take the hole thing out so I pulled the bolt up and stuck the tip of a toothpick in and broke it off. That way I could get the nut on.
@@kevinbrown3768 What year is your HHR?
@@shojay9270 Which one? 😂 We got our 2011 new. Then my wife's parents liked her's and each got a used one. Now my mother-in-law has dementia and some kind of brain infection and my father-in-law died so we had 3. That one is a 2007.
@@kevinbrown3768 I am so sorry to hear all that about your family's health condition:/ I am on my third HHR. The black one you saw in the video I sold last fall. I currently own an 09 HHR SS. Love that car. Be sure to check out the videos I have of that car on my TH-cam channel. I recently bought another 2006 HHR 2LT from North Carolina this past January. That car is amazing! It is silver with a matching leather interior. Looks just like my black one I had only this one is in way better shape. No rust I had it shipped up here to New York. I will be making a video of my newly acquired 2006 this summer so keep an eye out for it:)
Hello i have a 2011 chevy hhr cant get it out of park and its so frustrated.
Hi there, just read your message. Still stuck in park? It has been 6 years since I did that video. You have options. Either follow each step in my video or replace the shifter. The shifter is what is bad. That too is easy to replace. Have you attempted to remove the shifter yet? Message me back and I will do my best to help you;)
is there a video that shows how to remove the gear shift box so I can get to the safety switch
Rhoenia Leavitt do you mean all that plastic molding around the shifter ?
No. I need to life up the gear shift assembly
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Rhoenia Leavitt. do you mean that part like I am doing in my video?
Yes
Rhoenia Leavitt. ok like I was telling you yesterday there arw 4 bolts down below. take a flashlight and look down there you can't miss them. you need a socket wrench with an extension. loosen the 4 bolts and the shifter will come out
Thanks for this video. My key just recently got stuck in the ignition of my 2006 hhr and i did not want to stick my finger under the steering wheel everytime i want to get my key out. I guess i should just go ahead and tie the shifter lock mechanism down too while im at it, before that messes up on me as well.
Erik P Just remember when you do all of this to your car, you will be able to pull it out of park even with the ignition off. So if you have small children or tend to leave your car unlocked that could be dangerous. Just be safe and be aware:)
I know this is old but your shifter from a 2007 hhr ? And do you know if the 2006 are the same .. thanks
The shifter in that video is the original one that was in the car and my car was a 2006. I checked GM parts directs website, and it looks like the 2006 and 2007 shifters were the same. They may look a little different but will work fine. I would go to your local salvage yard and pull one yourself because a new shifter is $477.00 dollars. That is insane.
@@shojay9270
Thanks mine which is a 2007 was sticking for a bit but I used brake clean on where the plunger contacts the arm to release the safety plastic arm and now works good.. so I am going to used some grease where the plunger comes in contact hopefully it will last for awhile.. if gives me anymore trouble then I will take it out and use a dremel to cut the part of that arm they keeps from coming out of park that way the key will come out like normal should ..
@@anthonypapaleo1940 I am glad it is fixed:) That black HHR you saw in my video was a lemon. It is long gone now but I became quite the mechanic after spending countless hours working on it. The 2006 model year was the only bad year for the HHR. There were many recalls etc. 2007 and up, there were a lot of changes and corrections in the electrical systems. Good luck with your car and feel free to message me anytime.
does that mean you can shift in gear with no key in the ignition
Yes. Remember this is a temporary fix. More like a band aid on the problem to get you out of a jam. The problem is your shifter. You need to replace it. Do that, and your car will be all fixed. Ebay has plenty of them.
Thanks for the video, It was a great help. Awesome
Good job 👏
At 50 seconds, he squeezes the button and the pin moves. What if my button is pressed in and jammed? I can see the black plastic arm moving when I push the brake but the actual shifter button is jammed in. I have tried to pry open to no avail.
Ummm that is a new one for me. If your shifter button is jammed, I would go to your local salvage yard and buy a new shifter. If you do that, your whole problem should go away.
Does this relate to when stuck in Park and when you move the steering wheel into a certain position it works. I did have someone spill tea by it so I don't know
Justin Harris unfortunately no that is something totally different
Any idea what? I use hand controls so I noticed if I press it up more that it shifts too. Just so many potential things. The steering wheel needing to be set is weird
Justin Harris do you mean that your HHR has paddle-shift? And is your steering wheel locked?
ShoJay92 steering wheel isn't locked. But in the proper position it'll get out of park
Justin Harris hmm...odd. probably if I was there right now I could help you diagnose the problem. But I'm having a hard time trying to picture what your problem is
My remote start never worked anyways, I didnt even know thats what that button was for. Probably because when I bought my HHR the shifter was breaking, a few years ago. I had to start ysing the key trick of pushing in that button every time I needed to get the keys out. Now Ive been gaving trouble with the car sticking in park. I wiggle the shifter while keeping in the brake as far as I can, thus isnt working anymore. Ive spent 1000s on a car worth 2k. No Im doing this. Im done taking thus car to shops
You can always replace the shifter. It isn't hard at all, in fact I had my shifter out of another HHR that I own recently. Just remove those bolts. Under the shifter you will see a codder pin that is holding the shifter to the trans cable. Once you get that out, go to your local salvage yard and get another shifter. Done deal. Super easy.
How did you pop the whole face off I'm trying and the top part is stuck and I don't see anything to pop it out
Are you talking about the chrome piece that goes around the shifter?
How do I get the gear shist box loose?
Get a flashlight and look down in there. You will see 4 bolts. You need a socket and wrench to loosen them. Once you do that, the shifter will come out. Be careful of the wiring harnesses. You can't miss them. If you sever those wires, your remote start will no longer work.
Practically every other car manufacturer puts in a way to bypass the shift locks on the way in case the car has to be towed but not GM this is one of the many reasons why I never have and never will own a GM product
They did recall bolt
do i really have to do all of this just to roll my vehicle forward? , key wont come out, no battery installed..
No you don't. Look under your steering wheel and you will see a piece of plastic that you can remove. It's an access panel. Once you remove that you will see the pin that you push on in order to get your key out. There is a video on TH-cam for this. Just type in "Chevy HHR how to remove ignition key"
Thank you sir, i will try this. I see why GM discontinued this vehicle, I have bought gm since the 50's' never again, thanks--
You are welcome. If you still have any questions feel free to message me.
yeah i did this almost a year ago and it is still working. i am though worried when i have to take it to get inspected that it will pass.
inspected?
yup it was in for an inspection last month and it passed
I shoved a wadded up piece of paper towel with out taking shifter out! Pushed it back with screw driver and shoved a piece of towel to hold it
Where do you access the 4 bolts to remove the shifter assembly?
Kelsie Cobeen they are at the bottom of the shifter. Use a flashlight and shine down in there and you will see 4 on 4 bolts period one in each corner. you have to stick a socket down in there to loosen them remember when she get those loose the bolts are going to fall out so just be aware
How do you go about getting the plastics off?
Kelsie Cobeen just pull on it
Do you have to take the gear shift apart? I am not able to move it into nuetral to do so if needed?
Kelsie Cobeen if you are talking about that Chrome piece of plastic that goes around the shifter it just simply pulls off
On Friday 12/08/2017. I was going to go to lunch but my HHR would not move out of park and I saw the car with padlock picture on my dash. My car was towed home and just today I came across this video and showed my husband, he is doing what you did😘😍😎we will see.
Ruby Austin Haha that's great I hope it works:) message me if you have any questions I'll be right here
i am thank full this works for me
glad to help lol. good luck
Thanks dude..!!
If you just cut or break off that hammer head, you don't have to go under the steering wheel.
Lol well I made that video 5 years ago and that car is long gone now but thank you anyway.
@@shojay9270 Just trying to help the other poor schlubs like me who didn't get rid of their HHR 5 years ago, and by the way, brag, brag, brag. LOL! THANK YOU FOR YOUR VIDEO! I just happened to think about it and realize that. Probably partly because I'm lazy! I thought, awww man, I don't want to have to go under the steering wheel too!
It's on the side of the shifter. do you see how I'm rotating it in the video?
Very helpfull as this cat shows both of GM's safety switch override tricks. And he's most definetely right when calling these switch's stupid. I call them dumbshit worthless safe guards designed by worthless dumbshits. WTF? I'm thinking one of the engineers wifes may have once removed a key in a car still in gear or maybe the engineer himself did it.
Lmao Charles😂😂😂. Thank you for the slapstick... I needed that tonight.
SO NOW, when your kid, the neighbor's kid, or even a thief wants to move the shifter . . . no problem. The car rolls down the hill and kills the kid and wrecks your car. Stupid General Motors.
Exactly, safety mechanism is there for a reason. If a shop did this, massive liability. Fix the faulty part, not disable the safety mechanism.
Was 👍
The actual issue is the microswitch being loose on the opposite side of the shifter and not moving the pin where you put your first zip tie. With my solution, you're not disabling any of the switches. Pop the microswitch out and roughen up the mating surfaces then apply a little epoxy on both surfaces and reinstall the switch.
Issue solved and everything works still as GM designed, GOD only knows what that reason was tho, LOL
very good
wheres the shift release
How did you remove the shift gear from the middle
I'm guessing you mean the shifter?? If so there are 4 bolts way down inside there. You will need a flashlight to see them. They are easy to get out but very difficult to tighten when you put it back together
@@shojay9270 how did you do it? I'm stuck on tightening the bolts. How did you hold the threads up
@@Conker999 OK this is what I did... you have to wrap rubber bands around those bolts in order for them to stay up. Then you have to carefully lower the shifter onto those bolts and hope that they won't slip down into the chassis. It's very painstaking and you need a lot of patience.
@@shojay9270 Okay thank you. Ill give it a try tomorrow.
@@Conker999 OK shoot me a text and I will do my best to help you.