I come out of the store and my hhr with a 2.2 won't start. I tried till the battery was dead. I got another battery. It started but alot of noise I didn't recognize. I towed it home. I have since tried changing the two actuator solenoids, crank positioning Spencer, fuses and relays. Is it my timing chain. I had some hesitation before this happen and when I changed the actuator valve I noticed metal shavings

 

to the forums!

It's too bad you didn't get any diagnostic codes before you disconnected the battery.

To check the timing chain, you can remove the valve cover and inspect the timing chain, it needs to be tight, not just kinda tight.

 

Welcome, I don’t recommend trying to start your HHR , take the valve cover off and inspect the timing chain, if it’s loose , then that noise you heard could have been contact from the valves to the pistons. There may be piston damage. To see that you need to remove the cylinder head.

 

Yeah, if running poorly and strange noises, shut it down stat and don’t crank it, don’t even let a mechanic crank it, until the timing chain is proved OK.

 

I found metal shavings in my oil and it was def the chain.