Car Trouble: HHR

Any car folk on the forum? I was hoping to ask for some advice on the HHR network, but their stupid computers flagged my IP as spam and wouldn't let me register. They have Chevy reps on there, and the forum is full of people who own HHRs. But I know we've got a lot of smart folks here too, and maybe someone has seen this problem before...Our 2006 HHR is having trouble with an "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" error.It began a few weeks ago when it was really cold. It would turn over and then shut off instantly and give an "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" error. Waiting a few minutes to try again would get it going, but with the Engine light on. After several restarts it would finally run without any warning lights.After exhausting all the usual suspects in an HHR malfunction (spilled salt, planetary alignments, etc.), someone read the error code: P0601. From Googling, I found that the culprit here is the ECM. Knowing this seemed helpful because on Thanksgiving the car wouldn't start for nothing. It kicked on twice but then died after moving only a few feet. So I tried a fix I use with computers and pulled the main fuse for the ECM and then tried turning the car over several times. I hoped it would reset the memory in the ECM like it does the BIOS of a PC, and for whatever reason it actually 'solved' the problem. The car not only started instantly, but the engine light was off and it had no trouble running.Last night the problem came back again with temperatures in the single digits (it is now below zero today). I didn't pull the fuse (I don't know why...) but just tried to start it again. And it went. Then it died on the highway. After waiting a while it started and made it home. Once in the garage, I was able to pull the fuse out and that seemed to reset the Engine light and the car was okay.It was also okay this morning.It seems that the ECM will need to be replaced. But getting a new one is expensive. And then programing it is more. I found one online that says it can be programed to my VIN, but I am worried about paying for that only to find it doesn't work.Is there anyone else who's been in this situation? Ever bought car computers offline that needed to be preprogramed? It seems the VIN programing is just minor, and that the real programing comes from switching the car on for several minutes and then doing some sort of a crankshaft relearn.If all this seems straightforward enough, I'll probably get the part online (which is used, but what can ya do?). If it seems to be too much, then I guess it's off to the chop shop (not because they use stolen parts, but because they chop off your arms and legs as payment...).I'll see if anyone here has any experience with this sort of thing; got an appointment with the dealership tomorrow otherwise.JonEdited by Jon, : No reason given.

What is an HHR?

Here ya go.

You are my hero.

It's a little tin can marketed as a car; in place of an engine there are several small wheels spun by mice. An elaborate network of wires and computers help create the impression of it being a real car (they make vroom noises and help burn off the gas in the tank). If they fail, they immediately lock up the mice wheels to keep the secret hidden...Okay; it's not that bad. But this car has cost us several hundred dollars a year for the past few years now just fixing silly things that no one has ever heard of because they either don't exist (and aren't needed) on regular cars or never malfunction except in HHRs.We want to get a different car when we can afford it, but this is what we've got for now.

Anyone else having trouble accessing lmgtfy.com. Worked fine earlier. Tried to use this afternoon and server not found.

That link just worked like a champ two seconds ago.

Is it down? Check at Down for Everyone or Just Me

that site says it is down. Thanks for the link.

I guess I have it cached... I'm on a work server, I think name removed said he caches everything that everyone goes to for a few days.

Try going through a proxy server. There are a number of them for free on the webgo to proxy4free.com, and it will bring up a list of them you can use as an alternate ip address.