6:00 am, and the kid just called. my 2006 HHR is sitting on the side of the road with no power. No lights, key won't come out, trans won't shift, no lights. Yesterday we replaced battery and starter, Starter wouldn't turn so we replaced it with a used one that was tested. after replacing starter, car started and Battery indicator was lit. Battery is marked 3/20 so I can only assume it is 6 years old and replaced it. Everything looked good. This morning my son drove to work, got about 10 miles from work and it started going crazy. Lost power steering, lights, etc. he called and said it was running, but he couldn't shift out of park, no lights, couldn't shut off motor. Then it shut off and he could still get the rear hatch open, I had him look at the fuse box under the hood and push down on it, jiggle it around, nothing. Key won't come out of ignition.

So now it is sitting by the side of the road, dead, and he got his boss to drive him to work. no place to call for a tow until after 8, and it has just started snowing outside..... I'm guessing a battery or alternator?? possible it wasn't charging and the battery is dead? and of course I am about 30 miles away. Thinking my only option is a tow truck at this point and having it towed home ?? any ideas??? Son has little automotive knowledge and doesn't pay much attention to light on the dash... Not much I can do over the phone.

 

First, look at the under hood fuse box. The battery cable connection has been known to go bad.
Has the ignition key recall been done?
Check the battery voltage at both the battery and the fuse box.
Check the cable between the starter and the alternator for continuity. It might be a blown fusible link.

 

is there supposed to be 2 wires on the battery connection at the starter? I didn't do the starter install but I think they only hooked up one wire to starter battery connection

Looking at fuse block under hood, fuse #1 (60 amp yellow fuse) is clearly blown. Heading to get some fuses..

** Update** replaced #1 fuse in fuse box under hood, crawled back to battery and it measured 4.5 volts. Put a jump box on at battery and car unlocked (good sign) I was able to start car and it ran terrible. surging which I contributed to the low battery. Pulled battery out and put it on a charger. (battery was new yesterday) fuse next to ground terminal on battery looks OK. plan is to get battery fully charged and then more testing. open to suggestions (much appreciated)

 

Should be two cables at the starter solenoid, one go back to the fuse box the other to the alternator

 

Asked BOTH of my sons who can get under there easier than me, if they connected two wires, they both said numerous times Yes two wires Even after specifically asking about the larger bolt, 2 wires.. they said there was only one. I finally muscled the jack, and stands out to the street, wearing my kneepads and ignoring the pain, I got one stand set and slid under to take a look for myself. And yes, plain as day there was an orange wire just above the battery terminal that was NOT repeat NOT attached. Keep in mind I asked if both wires were attached on the larger terminal.... AAARRRGGGHHHH!! I should have got under there and did it myself. Anyhow, Maybe the battery I replaced was OK, but it was 6 years old so I can live with that, and not thrilled about the 30 mile tow. My oldest son crawled under this morning and said it was the same as what he took apart. As I have always said., gotta do it myself if you want it done right.

My thanks to Oldblue and Donbrew for their words of wisdom. Gonna let the battery charge up and test it in the morning.

 

You’re very welcome!

 

New battery charged up to 13.4v and installed. car running has 14.4v so I'd say we are good!

 

Yes, seems safe to say!

 

So you're saying the reason the battery wasn't charging is because the battery charger wasn't hooked up?!?

 

Yes, that appears to be an injected problem. so much for using amateur talent when I am unable to crawl under and do it myself, which I finally just did. I am now paying the price in pain. The joys from too may years of working as a mechanic and multiple surgeries to correct problems RJ__RS__SS__350 I invite you to spend a winter here in Minnesota with 3 weeks of sub zero temps, and the rest with temps from 3 degrees to 30 degrees, and occasional snowfall until the mid April months. Current prediction of + 8 inches of snow the next 2-3 days... And no driveway or garage, you get to work in the street.

I only offer the results to assist someone else who has the same problem as to help them find the mistake that I encountered. Once I got my body on the ground, and under the front end, the problem was quite easy to spot and rectify. Getting up off the ground was a different matter...