My 2006 HHR 2.2L LS won’t crank or start. It had been having issues sporadically turning over leading up to this, not sure if that is related or not, but is now dead in the water.

- new battery on today with cables connected it’s sitting at 12.3 volts. When I turn the key it drops to 12.15 volts.

- took starter off and tested it. It’s fine

- ran fuses and the 2 relays are clicking in the box but it’s like no power is being delivered to the starter

im at a loss for what it could be. We have power to the interior items. It’s just not cranking. Any ideas?

 

That new battery is discharged or has a dead cell.

 

I don’t think so. I put it on my neighbors HHR and swapped them out. It was fine.

 

12.3 volts is to low...

 

Try putting their battery in your HHR. 12.3V is definitely low, and indicates it needs a charge. The 12.3 may or may not be enough to crank and fire.

 

Is power being delivered to the SOLENOID when you turn the key? A fully charged battery should be more than 12.9 volts.

 

Dead cell in the new uncharged battery, very possible.
Wrong battery for HHR , possibly, what is the CCA rating?

 

Battery should be 12.6 or higher. Even after sitting for a couple of weeks.

 

I have 46 yrs. Experience as a heavy equipment technician and it sounds to me like you have high resistance in your battery cables thats why your battery test good and the starter test good. The cable has high resistance in it, thats reducing the thats reducing working amperage and Voltage to the starter motor. Any voltage drop below 10.4 volts at the starter positive battery cable terminal while turning the starter motor is being cranked over and starter won't work under a load.. if under 10.4 volts at the starter while starter is engage after 10 seconds ...replace that damn long battery cable that nobody ever wants to replace because of cost.

 

Ron
It’s a 4 year old thread that the OP never came back to.