Hey I recently purchased a 2007 HHR with the 2.2 for my son. We were able to start it and drive it 2.5 hours home at speeds of 50-55 no problems. The vehicle had a severe oil leak somewhere and the engine was fairly heavily coated with oil. During the trip we stopped several times and checked the oil but it was reading fine so we continued to the house where we parked it.

5 months later we decided to clean it up and begin working on it, we had been told the rear main seal was bad. However, while I was at work my son decided to pressure wash the engine bay. Now the vehicle will not start.

For troubleshooting, we checked the starter relay and verified the correct voltages through the crank relay (34). However, there is no continuity from pin 30 to the starter solenoid. (Ignition switch repair has been done.) Bypassed this temporarily with a hot to the solenoid pushbutton style since we were mainly trying to sort if the engine is worth repairing.

With the bypass switching car on and starting it it runs for about 3 seconds then shuts off. The only code the system is providing is P2176 and the dash is displaying reduced power. I tried testing the map and TPS both have 5 volts coming into them and I had 3 volts outgoing on the map output signal. I'm leaning towards it needing a throttle body but haven't decided to commit to just throwing parts at it while we decide for sure if we want to repair it. He likes the body but would prefer a truck and we are only $500 in for now and could recover most of that by scrapping it. Any suggestions on things to check before replacing the throttle body? Also the throttle body plate looks like it is at a slight angle instead of flat and makes a clicking noise when you first turn the switch on before starting. (Fuel is present at the rail.)

Last these attempts have been made with the airfilter and MAF connected and disconnected.

 

Probably got water into the throttle body connecter, try disconnecting it and drying it.
P2176 means that the computer thinks the throttle position is different from what it is.
Be very careful if you decide to push on the butterfly; the nylon gears can easily get mucked.

There is also the park/neutral switch on the transmission and its fuse #46 on the under hood fuse box

 

Unplugged the throttle body connector and will let it air dry over night. I have tried shifting the transmission through the different gears while attempting to start no luck there, took the connector loose and brushed connectors with dielectric and put back on, ill check that fuse as well tomorrow.

Is it possible to disassemble the throttle body portion or best to just leave it alone, anyway to check output readings on it?

 

No.
The PNP switch enables the crank relay.