I would do the smart thing first. Spark=blown fuse.
If a spark comes from grounding an electrical chassis (metal case) that means there is + coming from somewhere! I suspect the genius that was playing with wires did something really stupid.

I bet that there is amateur installed equipment . I would start by yanking that stuff out.

Somehow somewhere there is a dead short. I.E.:batt+ touching the chassis. Are there any LEDs anywhere?

In this case my money is that one of the fuses you blew are the PK3 fuses.

 

didn't find any blown fuses so far. A small spark can also mean an electrical connection was made, which is what I am going with, since the TMC is not functioning properly.

Cruise Control is now working. It was the brake shut off switch out of range.

 

Thanks, I will check with them. Seems odd it was working fine and now it is not all of a sudden.

 

I don't know if you know there are 2 fuse boxes.

A GROUND making a spark does indeed mean a connection is being made, but when the spark comes from 2 grounds touching it means there is a short to voltage. Both the TCM and the ECM boxes are ground. Both of them can be fried by energizing the case.

 

I called the local GM dealer about this and the guy I talked to had no idea what I was talking about. Is there something like a number that I can reference for this? I realize it is not a recall.

 

TSB 06-07-30-004G will get them close, I believe there are newer ones (the end letter indicates a revision. H would be the next one).

And #14632 from here: https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/gm-r...14632-a-52498/

Depends on your exact symptoms.

Don't ever think that a service dept will look for or at any TSB, they are too good for that.

 

I will give it a try on Monday, but I don't think this is the issue. I pulled the shifter and inspected the lever and it did come up and close the switch. I also shorted the two wire on the switch to make sure it was not a bad switch. No luck there either. Went back and checked all the fuses in both fuse boxes, and they all looked good. Kind of at a loss of what to do next. At one point in time I did get an ignition switch error, but that was back when I was getting 4-5 errors, so I didn't record it.

 

Okay, stupid question: On the ignition switch, the first detent appears to be accessory. When it is turned to this setting nothing comes on. No radio, nothing. Is this correct?

From the schematic it appears that the power to the shift lock comes from the accessory setting on the ignition switch. So my guess is that there is a fuse somewhere that I have not found or that the ignition switch has gone bad.

 

 

If this is an extended warranty item will my HHR qualify? Obviously I am not the original owner.