How to Jump Start a Chevrolet HHR

1. Check that the other vehicle has a 12-volt battery with a negative ground system.
2. Park the vehicles close but not touching, set both parking brakes, and put automatic in P (Park) or manual in N (Neutral).
3. Turn off both ignitions, unplug unneeded accessories, and switch off the radio and unneeded lamps.
4. Open the other vehicle's hood, then remove the red tethered cap on your fuse block to reach the remote positive (+) terminal.
5. Connect the positive (+) cable to the remote positive terminal here and to the positive (+) terminal of the good battery.
6. Connect the black negative (−) cable to the good battery's negative (−) terminal, then the other end to the GND (−) terminal on your vehicle.
7. Start the vehicle with the good battery and run it a while, then try starting the dead-battery vehicle.
8. Remove the cables in reverse order, starting with the black negative (−) cable from the vehicle that had the dead battery.

• The battery is in the rear cargo area, so use the remote terminals in the engine compartment instead.
• Do not remove the fuse block cover to jump start the vehicle.
• If it will not start after a few tries, it probably needs service.

Source: 2011 Chevrolet HHR owner's manual, PDF pages 310, 311, 313. Steps are summarized in our own words (AI-assisted, checked against the cited pages 2026-10-18). Other model years can differ; your manual has the final word.