Have a 2009 HHR. HAD A NEW ALTERNATOR PUT ON. ON FIRST START IT’s charging then will stop charging. My battery went dead got a jump to get home. When I got home shut it down and restarted and the battery had charged. It’s intermittent charging. Is that how this charging system works. Or what could be the problem.

 

Welcome to the site, the alternator may have had to work to recharge the battery, and that takes away from running the computers and other electrical things like headlights and stuff.
if the old alternator died, have that battery load tested, see if it needs some attention.

 

Double check the grounds and 12v+ connections and the battery ground clamp thing in the back.

 

First go back to whoever diagnosed and changed the alternator. They may have messed the battery connections up.
Second look at the plastic ring thing with a wire coming off it that is around the battery ground cable. That is the current sensor that controls the alternator output.
What is the voltage with the engine running (that is the alternator) The voltage motor off is the battery?

I re-titled the thread since there are a lot of 2009 HHRs out there and not all of them are a problem.

 

The OP hasn't been back to his thread in a week.
Looks like another One-N-Done.

 

Now I know how women feel after a one night stand 😔

 

We had a Chrysler 300m or whatever. 96 or 2003 or something. New alternator but kept draining battery. Simple fix - factory ground under the hood. Just sanded it, and each layer of nut and ring terminal (it had 2 or 3).

easiest place to start are the grounds and the positive connections. Especially if the alternator was recently changed.

Make sure the terminals are soldered or crimped correctly. Back when I didn't know what I was doing, I used vice grips on a copper lug. Everything worked fine but the car wouldn't start the next day.