I just purchased a 2009 hhr. It ran totally fine, but now is dead. No dash lights, no headlights, key gets stuck in the ignition. (But I already know how to get it out.) I have checked every fuse, tested the battery, and made sure the fuse box halves are tight to each other. Is there anything else to check? I saw a few others have had similar problems on this site but I didn’t see any solutions given. Feel free to link other posts if I’ve missed the answer somewhere.

 

Check the large red wire connection on the under hood fuse box, it comes directly from the battery positive. Key gets stuck from dead battery. Did you change keys? Is there a + in a circle stamped on the key?

Checked every fuse for voltage? There are tiny holes on the top for this purpose.

Used car lot immobilizer?

What happened in between working and not working?

 

The battery cable terminals need to be clean and tight, at the battery, and at the fuse block.

Check the maxi-fuse near the battery.

Grounds.

 

Irs acting like it’s been immobilized, but I can’t find anything out of place anywhere on the car. I own two other hhrs and have been using them to compare. It drove beautiful the day I bought it. I parked it over night, now it’s dead. I’ve tried trading batteries with another hhr, but that didn’t solve it. The radio displays the time when I hit the “i” button. That’s the only thing that does anything. The rest of the car is still dead.

 

Ok...

 

Upon further inspection, I found an old wire I assume was for an amplifier installed by a previous owner. It went from the positive terminal under hood, through the firewall, and into the area behind the radio. It was cut off but not taped. I can see where it has touched the bare metal of the dash support. This probably caused my trouble, but what damage could it have done? And where do I start trouble shooting?

 

Do you have a scanner of some sort ?
If you do, can it communicate with the ECM ?
Just for the heck of it do you have a cigarette lighter? If so does it work ?
I say this because under the hood fuse #29 (cigarette lighter) gives power to the ALDL plug under the dash.
If no power to the ALDL, you can't connect to the ECM and read codes, if any.
Being the wire did touch start checking all fuses also.
Also check fuse #41 under the hood, that's for the ECM power.

 

By ALDL, you mean the OBD2 port.

 

Yes that's the acronym for it.
ALDL (Assembly Line Diagnostic Link).

 

I’ll start checking those things. I do have a scanner. If that doesn’t work I’ll make a list of what functions are still working and which are not. That may narrow down what’s left to check. I found that the tail lights work but the brake lights don’t. The other lights are also out. No headlights or dome lights. I’ll update after I scan the car.