I have the 2 main bolts installed but I see some corrosion at the end of the wires, I will try to brush it and I have a question here : can I use dielectric grease and put it on the wire, will that prevent future corrosion?

 

What bolts, and which wires?

 

The two bolts of the starter, the starter is installed now, but the wire end where there is metal is corroded. I will brush it and I plan to grease all the ends wire that connect to the starter with dielectric grease. If that's ok.

 

Could have been a glorious day, but the vehicule still refuse to start, it still produces some sort of whirring noise, this time I heard short extra noises ressembling knocking/popping noise 2 or 3 in a row. Perhaps more felt than heard. Second try it's the same whirring noise as before. I don't know how to describe the noise it's not loud and doesn't seem that bad, just a "VeeVeeVeeeVeeeVeeeVeehh". It is not the sound of an engine cranking. I knew it did not make much sense to blame the starter, but either way I got a brand new one for free.

What could this be? No code, the vehicule have started then stalled without warning. I am still trying to get a code but nothing. Battery? Ignition switch? A bad fuse? The battery still reads 12.35 volts. I tried to boost the HHR without success.

 

The closest to the sound I hear is this 0:11
The timing chain was not loose when I removed the valve cover (but it felt suspiciously hard or excessively tight from my standpoint), can the timing chain still be the problem anyway?

 

12.35 volts is still a dead battery.

 

Sounds like the starter is spinning but not engaging.

Where did you hook up when you tried to jump start?

The starter should not have anything to do with the engine stopping. The thing in common is the battery.

 

The battery is dead, perhaps from repeatedly trying to start the engine. If it sounds like the video, where the problem is the timing chain... Well, that would cause the engine to stall and not start again.

Perhaps you can remove the valve cover again, and turn the engine by hand(with a socket on the crankshaft bolt), trying to get the 2 camshaft timing marks to line up. Even if they align, we still can't be sure it timed properly, without lining up the crankshaft mark also. But if the camshaft marks won't align, then you know. I believe 1 of the 3 timing links on the chain is a different color from the other 2, and this aligns to the intake(front) camshaft.

 

Be sure to rotate the crankshaft CLOCKWISE ONLY. If you observe the chain moving at least you know it is not broken.

 

Because the battery was near 3 years old I did not mind replacing it for a brand new one that now reads 12.58 volts. Still nothing. Same noise. No start.

I saw wet dirt on top of the valve cover, maybe the gasket is leaking causing lack of compression? Do you think I should buy the whole timing set... The timing kit is past 100 000+ kilo.