Heyo, starting a new thread as suggested.
Here is everything I noticed and replaced so far:
Replaced both air filters. The belts look intact. Checked every fuse. Visually checked for rodent damage, hard to see everything though.

Cooling fan fuse was blown - replaced. It's remaining intact after a drive / car reached full temp.
A/C fuse blown - replaced, was blown again immediately (not sure if triggered by car start or AC turned on, waiting for replacement fuses).
Tested both relays with meter and 12v source for clicking, confirmed resistance between pins 87 and 30 only when 85 & 86 are powered.
Tested the diode marked AC.

So, next for the fan. I'll try directly powering the fan motor in the manner someone instructed me in that old thread I revived. (sorry) :)
What should I try next for the A/C?

 

Fuses don't just up and blow, There must be a short circuit. Where did anybody touch anything before this started?
Most likely a chafed wire, Less likely a fried switch or motor or solenoid. I would look at the wires associated with the AC pressure switch and clutch.

The fan should run if the AC compressor is running or if the temp reaches 219F

 

yeah, goes without saying, fuses should not blow immediately.

nobody touched anything around the time these issues started. i do live in the woods and mice have been able to get in the car, and i've found mice nests under the hood currently have mothballs there to prevent mice.

fan does not run even when temp goes all the way up before the red markers. my spare fuse assortment just arrived. thanks I'll see what I can find!

 

Don't bother looking at the analog temp gauge, when it gets to red the engine is probably already damaged. The digital temp is reliable.
The wires are insulated with a soy product, the rodents love it.

 

Replaced AC fuse #22 with one of the spares I got in the mail, it's not popping this time, with car running and AC feature enabled, confirmed current is flowing through the fuse. but air still not cooling down even a little bit, using digital thermometer.

Digital engine temp readout is on newer HHR's? sadly I don't have one of those.

 

You have a DIC , you change function by press the info button on the left side of the steering wheel

 

Aha! thank you just checking online, looks like If it starts to go over 230 I need to pull over.

Yeah the needle maxed out one time. when i first realized I even had the issue. I had hired a beekeeper, and drove him to where the hive was to remove, and got out of my car, left it idling unintentionally but was just like, eh i'll be a few minutes no big deal, came back to the car and heard a ping, wondering what it was, then i noticed the needle moving up to the maxed-out position and shut the car off, left it there for the day.

Since then it has been driven several cities away and back no problem other than blasting the hot air when needed and being sure to maintain good speed for the airflow to keep the gage in the middle, even in this weather that seems pretty easy at 50mph+ but i'll use the digital readout now!
I work at home so I don't need to drive that car much, have a work truck - but it can't leave the property. So I am doing everything I can to fix the car before I need to go somewhere again, or just take it to the shop close enough to get to before overheat.

 

Side question, where are there known gaps from the outside to the interior? have seen mouse droppings in the car a few times, and when that happens i just place a live catch trap on the floor and catch em.
Are those gaps easy to seal up? (Also how do I change my avatar, looked everywhere.. i used to use these kinda forums for years i can't believe this is eluding me, lmao)

 

Got to be a Premium member to change your avatar.

The only way in for rodents would probably be via the cabin air filter. Pull it out and check. Those critters may have chewed their way through there.

 

really, even with the slot closed? wow. But yea wouldn't you know it, my last mechanic, a retired licensed pro working out of his property HHR specialist, he apparently did a whoopsie and forgot to put in the new one. he said he replaced it while working on my wheel hardware and sway bar etc. i have the receipt! he only took it out, commenting on how dirty it was, with where I live... welp, at least i wasnt using the AC much since then over winter and spring. So it has a filter again as of a couple days ago.