Hey guys new to the site 😀. I really need help guys . I got a 2006 chevy HHR 2.4 with only 100,000 kms . The reason it was free was it was left with the gasket under the shroud by the windshield in the rain and got about 1" of water on the floor for a couple months . I fixed the leak but was left with some serious water damage to the electrical . I dried everything out and cleaned the whole car so that is fine . My issue is the gages one day started going crazy and lost power and a bunch of other things . I pulled the fuse box and cleaned up the pins , also put some dielectric grease on the pins to try and help . I reassembled the box and reattached the battery and now I have power to car but it won't turn over at all . I switched the relays with no avail.
I really need your help guys and gals as this is my only car for my family and they are stranded . Also money is so tight right now with work being slow . Can someone maybe give me a list of possible issues to check off . Appreciate all the help in advance 🙏

 

Which fuse box?

 

to the forums!

You could start by checking the fuses, including the maxi fuse back by the battery. Clean and retighten the battery cables. The terminals can break. The positive runs from the battery, to the underhood fuse block, to the starter, then to the alternator. Clean all of the connections.

Have the ignition related recalls been performed?

 

Recheck your work at the under hood and interior fuse box, did you disturb a ground wire? How’s the battery, have you had it load tested? I feel it must be something simple as a bent pin, they like to play those tricks on you, or you reconnected the power wire incorrectly, to the fuse box

 

Just an update . I now have no power to anything what so ever . It's dead as a door nail. I rechecked my work under the hood and everything looked good . I connected the ground and positive back properly but I don't see how it could of been connected wrong . The battery is like 4 months new so I'm not sure thats the problem . Even with a new battery I have nothing at all . I'm kind of a rookie when it comes to that electrical stuff . It's getting frustrating as it's my wife and 3 kids only car and they are stuck at home . Is there a way to blow the whole system somehow or have a ground that's messed up somewhere along the line . I'm at a big loss for what to do , and we are very tight for money so can't bring it to a mechanic . Thanx for your help guys .

 

Did you test the fuse back by the battery?

 

A test light or a VOM will test the large red wire connected to the under hood fuse box on the front lug. That wire comes directly from the battery.

 

Update us after you've checked everything that has been suggested.

 

Hey just an update and new problems haha
power to vehicle is up and running , the vehicle now starts and runs fine but the gauges now are going haywire . The voltage is perfect and battery has been checked . So guys any chance it's a damaged ECM or BCM . This was the original issue before my vehicle lost all power . Also when I first started it all the gauges were fine but no power steering even after I changed the 60a fuse in slot 1 . Please forgive me if I'm repeating things or havnt checked something someone said. I'm a father of 3 little ones and I'm scattered and tired of not having a car for my wife and kids . Thank you so much for your input

 

Was this perhaps incorrectly jump started at some point?