I'm stumped. Cant get my HHR to start after I installed an amp this morning. I turn the key and nothing. Power comes on in the ACC position but will not crank. Quite confusing since the only wiring I changed was at the radio and power and ground at the battery for the amp. I went back and disconnected the power and ground for the amp at the battery. Still no start. I tried jump starting it thinking that the battery ran down from the doors being opened for a few hours. Still nothing. I think I must have blown a fuse but I have not yet found one under the hood or in the console that's blown. Any ideas. :confused:

This veh. has many intertwined systems that small changes make big differences. The radio has timers, the lights have timers, the computer sees changes and can`t explain them and shuts things off until reset. Thats why I don`t reccomend doing any alterations , even w/ manual. Don`t make it any worst, have it towed to the dealer. There is a free road service that comes w/ the veh..

i unhooked my battery when i did my install and i acctually used the + and - of the battery for my amp. check the fuse in the back next to the battery. if that one is ok then i would double check all of the fuses under the hood and console one more time. make sure the the battery post are snug. try to move them and see if they will spin or not. if it is an automatic then i would try to make sure that it is in park if it is then try to start in neutral. i know this is some common since stuff but sometimes that is all it is. if you have tried all of that then i would try and remote start it, if you have that option.

EDIT: See post #18

In the mean time I figured out the problem. I spliced into the radio harness pink wire for my remote turn on. When I disconnected the pink wire from my amp..:thumb: cars starts. I've seen the pink wire listed in several threads as the power antenna/turn on lead. I guess it's not on the LS. I think I'll be in business as soon as I find a new switched power source.

Jaydogg, thanks I've been going over all the basics in my head it helps to bounce these problems off others the smallest little things get overlooked sometimes. :thumb:

see post #31 for a remote or switched source (http://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1600&page=4)

see post #31 for a remote or switched source (http://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1600&page=4)

:thumb: thanks jaydogg on my way to the garage right now. :D

:thumb: thanks jaydogg on my way to the garage right now. :D
no problem...just trying to help

Thanks agian....brown wire :thumb: got it all hooked up and working.

So I guess this brings up the question...What is the pink wire? :confused:

Thanks agian....brown wire :thumb: got it all hooked up and working.

So I guess this brings up the question...What is the pink wire? :confused:

http://n8zcc.com/pics/HHR/Radio.gif
http://n8zcc.com/pics/HHR/Audio_Amp.gif
http://n8zcc.com/pics/HHR/Audio_Connectors.pdf

BB, that's a very insightfull and useful piece of information. :wtf: I'll call my ex-wife if I need that much grief.

In the mean time I figured out the problem. I spliced into the radio harness pink wire for my remote turn on. When I disconnected the pink wire from my amp..:thumb: cars starts. I've seen the pink wire listed in several threads as the power antenna/turn on lead. I guess it's not on the LS. I think I'll be in business as soon as I find a new switched power source.

Jaydogg, thanks I've been going over all the basics in my head it helps to bounce these problems off others the smallest little things get overlooked sometimes. :thumb:


good job in troubleshooting! Also gives peeps that own an LS useful info about their wiring as well. :thumb:

good job in troubleshooting! Also gives peeps that own an LS useful info about their wiring as well. :thumb:

It's all about the info :thumb:

CH, I think the wiring diagrams must be for the LT, my LS only has two connectors on the back of the radio and they dont match up with what I saw on the diagrams. My front and back speakers are on different connectors. Must be an LS thing. The diagrams do show that the pink wire is for "radio on" which I assumed would be the same as a turn on lead for an amp. I guess Chevy and I have different ideas about what "radio on" means. That's what I get for not testing the wires before I make my connections. Live and learn. :cool:

They probably are for the LT, they are the only radio schematics that I know of. My remote turn on is pink. Well, it's blue to my amp but the factory wire I tapped is pink.

UPDATE: After everything worked fine two days ago. My HHR sat all day yesterday (I'm a bad owner, I know ;) ) But I jumped in today and it wouldn't start. I checked connections, couldn't find anything wrong. I tried to remote start, and it came on, but when I put my key in and turned it to the run position, the motor cut off. :( At the time I was using my spare key so I switched back to my usual key thinking they may have the passkey chip thing embeded in the key that may be screwed up, and it started. :surprised I tried again with the spare key and it stated. Has started by remote and key about a dozen times since. I dont think this had anything to do with the amp I installed. Any ideas about whats going on here? I dont want to end up stranded somewhere.

The spare key you're talking about...was it made at the dealership and not a factory key? If that is the case, you may be experiencing the same thing I did when I used one the dealer made. I posted a comment on this in another thread but for the life of me I don't remember where...so here's what I posted.

Check your keys after you get them. Insert your key and turn to ignition for 10 seconds without starting the engine, then install the new key and turn it to the ign on for 10 seconds. This allows your computer to verify the key. This was suggested to keep the ign from locking up when you really need to use the spare key. The dealer told me that this may need to be done up to 10-12 times and then the key will work. After you check the key start the engine and let it run for 30 seconds or so to be sure it works and the engine does not shut down.

The spare key you're talking about...was it made at the dealership and not a factory key?

Good question. I made sure to ask for two keys and remotes when I bought the car. I have no idea if the dealer made one of them. Anyone know if GM ships our cars with one or two keys?

Deb, did the new key cuase the security light on the dash to come on? It's amber and at the bottom left of the dash.

New cars should always come with 2 keys from what I understand...they did when I had my last one in the 70's. :lol:

When the dealer went to get the manual, title and other paperwork from wherever they store that stuff, there was not a 2nd key, so they told me they were making a new one for me, which I promptly put away and never tried to use until one day when I misplaced the original key.

In answer to the other question about the security light...I did not notice one, but that doesn't mean it didn't come on. But then again...I was so mad my new car wouldn't start, I probably wouldn't have seen it anyway. :lol:

But then again...I was so mad my new car wouldn't start, I probably wouldn't have seen it anyway. :lol:


I know what you mean...:mad:

Check your keys after you get them. Insert your key and turn to ignition for 10 seconds without starting the engine, then install the new key and turn it to the ign on for 10 seconds. This allows your computer to verify the key. This was suggested to keep the ign from locking up when you really need to use the spare key. The dealer told me that this may need to be done up to 10-12 times and then the key will work. After you check the key start the engine and let it run for 30 seconds or so to be sure it works and the engine does not shut down.

Deb, Your key explaination makes alot of sense. When I work in the garage I take my spare key so when I set it down somewhere and lose it I haven't lost my regular key ring with house and work keys. I think there must also be some relation to the battery being disconnected too. I was making changes to my wiring and testing the car every few minutes until it started. It must have eventuly recognized the key. I guess the real problem is I've never had a car before that was smart enough to know which key was being turned. :lol: The stuff I stated about the pink wire not being the amp turn on lead was prob. not good information.