HHR electrical issue- no power steering, no speedo, no gas gauge
the hhr electrical saga continues...After stating earlier I got the codes read and it started and ran. I turned it off and after a couple hours I proceeded to clean, with emory cloth, the ground connection near the strut and the one on the radiator support. I made sure the one near the oil filter was tight. Didnt clean it yet. The car now will just click when I try to start it. Battery has 11.6 voltage and Ive tried unhooking it and hooking it back up to reset the computer to have it still just click. Tried jumping it with one of my portable jump starters and still just clicks.
I did notice the negative cable terminal at the fuse box is tight but grimy. I need a larger torque bit than I currently have, to remove it and clean it.
I have never had so many issues with electrical gremlins as I have with this HHR. I did buy it for a song from the previous owner due to them not wanting to deal with this issue. But I thought that loose fuses and relays was the main issue, put a new battery in, seemed to work for a bit, but it just keeps on happening.
I did notice the negative cable terminal at the fuse box is tight but grimy. I need a larger torque bit than I currently have, to remove it and clean it.
I have never had so many issues with electrical gremlins as I have with this HHR. I did buy it for a song from the previous owner due to them not wanting to deal with this issue. But I thought that loose fuses and relays was the main issue, put a new battery in, seemed to work for a bit, but it just keeps on happening.
If I can find this connector this report details I will try and find if this is the issue.
#PIC4677E: No Start No Crank Intermittently / No Communication Over High Speed LAN - (Sep 08, 2010)
Subject: No Start No Crank Intermittently/No communication over High Speed LAN
Models: 2005-2011 Chevrolet Cobalt
2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR
2004-2011 Chevrolet Malibu
2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic
2008-2009 Pontiac G5
2005-2010 Pontiac G6
2006-2007 Pontiac Pursuit (Canada)
2006-2009 Pontiac Solstice
2007-2009 Saturn Aura
2007-2009 Saturn Sky
With OnStar (UE1)
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This PI was superseded to update models and add codes to list. Please discard PIC4677C.
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The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.
Condition/Concern:
A customer may have a complaint of an intermittent no start, no crank condition, and or SES light on with I/P gauges intermittently inoperative while driving. Any of the following DTCs may be accompanied with this complaint. U0121, U0101, U1040, U2100, U2106, U2107, U2108, P0700, P2544, U0073
Recommendation/Instructions:
Before beginning to deep dive into any diagnostics on vehicles equipped with OnStar first check the VCIM connector C3 (Black) to be sure that it has been fully seated. This connector has been increasingly showing up as the root cause for loss of HIGH speed LAN concerns. Verify that the harness is not pulled too tight where the connector could be pulled once installed.
Per engineering request, if the reseating of this connector corrects the concern, please submit a field product report referencing this PI number.
#PIC4677E: No Start No Crank Intermittently / No Communication Over High Speed LAN - (Sep 08, 2010)
Subject: No Start No Crank Intermittently/No communication over High Speed LAN
Models: 2005-2011 Chevrolet Cobalt
2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR
2004-2011 Chevrolet Malibu
2008 Chevrolet Malibu Classic
2008-2009 Pontiac G5
2005-2010 Pontiac G6
2006-2007 Pontiac Pursuit (Canada)
2006-2009 Pontiac Solstice
2007-2009 Saturn Aura
2007-2009 Saturn Sky
With OnStar (UE1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This PI was superseded to update models and add codes to list. Please discard PIC4677C.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.
Condition/Concern:
A customer may have a complaint of an intermittent no start, no crank condition, and or SES light on with I/P gauges intermittently inoperative while driving. Any of the following DTCs may be accompanied with this complaint. U0121, U0101, U1040, U2100, U2106, U2107, U2108, P0700, P2544, U0073
Recommendation/Instructions:
Before beginning to deep dive into any diagnostics on vehicles equipped with OnStar first check the VCIM connector C3 (Black) to be sure that it has been fully seated. This connector has been increasingly showing up as the root cause for loss of HIGH speed LAN concerns. Verify that the harness is not pulled too tight where the connector could be pulled once installed.
Per engineering request, if the reseating of this connector corrects the concern, please submit a field product report referencing this PI number.
11.6 volts is barely enough to turn the starter, it qualifies as a dead battery.
Does you car have a OnStar module? If it does it is (VCIM=OnStar) under the passenger side rear quarter panel.
What do you think is the "negative cable on the fuse box"? Since there isn't one I am guessing you thionk the power steering lead is negative. If you have used that to jump start all bets are off, no telling what damage has been done. Sometimes only a blown PS fuse soimetimes fried computers.
Does you car have a OnStar module? If it does it is (VCIM=OnStar) under the passenger side rear quarter panel.
What do you think is the "negative cable on the fuse box"? Since there isn't one I am guessing you thionk the power steering lead is negative. If you have used that to jump start all bets are off, no telling what damage has been done. Sometimes only a blown PS fuse soimetimes fried computers.
sorry I misspoke the power steering lead on the fuse box is what I meant. I jumped it from the battery in the rear.
where is this vcim connector? under the rear passenger quarter panel, as in take the cover off to access the taillight harness?
where is this vcim connector? under the rear passenger quarter panel, as in take the cover off to access the taillight harness?
11.6 volts is barely enough to turn the starter, it qualifies as a dead battery.
Does you car have a OnStar module? If it does it is (VCIM=OnStar) under the passenger side rear quarter panel.
What do you think is the "negative cable on the fuse box"? Since there isn't one I am guessing you thionk the power steering lead is negative. If you have used that to jump start all bets are off, no telling what damage has been done. Sometimes only a blown PS fuse soimetimes fried computers.
Does you car have a OnStar module? If it does it is (VCIM=OnStar) under the passenger side rear quarter panel.
What do you think is the "negative cable on the fuse box"? Since there isn't one I am guessing you thionk the power steering lead is negative. If you have used that to jump start all bets are off, no telling what damage has been done. Sometimes only a blown PS fuse soimetimes fried computers.
donbrew, sorry forgot to answer you earlier, yes I have an onstage mirror. So when I find this tcim, thanks for the diagram btw, will I just look for a loose connection as a culprit? anyway to bypass the instant completely and remove it's abilities to be on or interfere? while I'm opening the panel up Id like to be able to do such a thing.
so just upon inspect. The black plastic harness that runs into the module #2 on the diagram, has light brown wires with a black stripe, some reason it looks damaged to me, somehow they have been kinked and obviously damaged. no wire strands exposed but kinked and bulged with a hole in the area of the kinked part.
will this cause what symptoms I'm experiencing? whats my next course of action?
will this cause what symptoms I'm experiencing? whats my next course of action?
The PIC you cited says C3 is the black connector. That is the connector with the LAN wires. It is not a matter of the module killing things it is the LAN connection.
I don't know about disabling OnStar, I've heard you can do it I've heard you can't.
I don't know about disabling OnStar, I've heard you can do it I've heard you can't.
here is the c3 connector with kinked wires due to the harness not having enough slack and being bent when routed behind the module.
the green ground is the only one not showing damage.


