Thanks! I have to wonder how many HHR's ended up in salvage yards because of this

 

There are 2 relays on the BCM, the RAP and the HVAC; neither has anything to do with starting or running the engine. The RAP is for the windows and the HVAC runs the circulator fan.

Fuse #10 might have gotten jiggled, that has something to do with it.

 

According to the gmpartsdirect diagram one relay is for the instrument panel, starter and the other is the fuel pump relay. Both have everything to do with the dic messages i was getting as well as the erratic panel gauge readings. I would surmise that they also affected the bcms ability to control things correctly.

 

The BCM is the fuse panel inside the car.
One of our first suggestions was to check ALL of the fuses and relays in the under hood fuse box as well as the connection between the upper and lower halves of the box, as in this vid.

 

Yep I should have checked that first. Im just glad I got it fixed. The added ground wire is an old school hot rodders trick 😁 Thanks for everyones help!

 

Welcome, enjoy the ride!