My 2006 HHR battery was dead due to key being left on. Had to put another random battery in to start it and while it was running put it's original battery in it and took off for work. Got to work killed it and tried to restart it and I got nothing. Bought a new battery and still nothing, tested starter and it is good. Where do I go next?

 

Check the fuse near the battery, if you disconnected the battery while it was running, that might have caused electrical problems, especially if the positive cable touched to ground.

 

" tested starter and it is good. "
How was this done when you have a no crank condition ?
No start means engine spins over but won't run.

 

I took the starter off the car and benched tested it. Everything seemed to work fine. Put it back on and the same thing. Turn key and nothing.

 

Are you reading rpm?

 

There's no RPM, it won't crank...

 

Red wire from the fuse box to the starter tight?
that little wire in tight from the ignition switch

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/prob...o-crank-56962/

 

my 5 cents to what has already been said ...
a dead fuse near the battery can kill all surrounding electroconsumers:
First, the diode bridge of the generator.
Then, when the diol bridge is destroyed, uncorrected electricity will kill all the chips.
Be careful and prudent.

 

I will check the fuse again, how do I check it with a multi meter? I will also check the red wire, I did notice that the small post where the wire connects to the solenoid is loose, could that be the problem?

 

Yes loose wires are a definite problem. Here a tutorial on fuses