I think I've got it fixed!!!!!!

I'll give an update in a bit.

 

Do tell! What did you find, how did you fix it, which parts needed to be replaced?

 

After going over every thread I could find on here and on the Cobalt forum it looked like the problem was the Power Steering motor, took a chance and replaced it with a new Denso unit. That almost worked, the ambient air temp would display but after about 30 seconds would go blank again. That led me back to the tcm and voltage coming from its outside case.

It turns out if you can match the numbers on a salvage yard tcm it is basically plug and play. Stuck in a 25 dollar, numbers matching tcm and I'm on the road.

Thanks for your help gentlemen.

I mentioned the ambient air temp on the dash display because If that was reading and the power steering message wasn't, I knew it was working.

On a side note, feeling especially smart and triumphant, i jumped in the Hhr to go fill the nearly empt fuel tank with some chevron premium. Filled the tank, jumped in and the key wouldn't turn the lock cylinder! Wiggled the key, got it to turn, no crank. After a few minutes of swearing i decide that the battery is too low to start it. Call my son to help and bring jumper cables.

After 25 minutes of trying to jump it with no luck i was ready to admit defeat, get a fountain drink and call AAA. I reached into my pocket to get money for a soda and pulled out............. the keys to the Hhr. I'd been trying to start it with my worn out silverado key.

 

This is a good time to ask if the recalls have been done. Link in my sig.

Did I miss some mention of a power steering warning? There is a lifetime extended warranty/recall on the Power steering motor. Hopefully you didn't get the old part number

 

Reminds me of my 08 and 11 HHR's that had identical key cuts. What are the odds? For awhile it was common in our household to think we had a dead car only to realize we were using the wrong key. I color-coded the keys, but the ultimate solution came when we sold the 08.

 

The power steering idea came from the Cobalt forum, one of the guys on there had the same issue. I had cleaned every ground i could find, triple checked the harness and pulled the fusebox apart. Zero results, finally i decided it was worth $90 to find out. Wound up showing progress and decided to try a junkyard tcm. So far, so good. I can always get a reflashed one if this doesn't work out.

I did look up the vin, all recalls performed. To be honest, even though I'm a lifetime chevy owner. I'm really not a fan of the local dealerships, $90 seemed a reasonable price to not have to deal with service dept managers who think their customers are dumb enough to pay $600 for a replacement battery in a 2017 malibu. I'm pretty sure it was the latest part number.

 

Problem is they were on 2 separate key rings, and no remote for the pickup. Embarrassing. As soon as my son realized what I'd done he just drove off laughing.

 

Thank you again guys. Now I'm off to search for the threads about rebuilding the shifter..

 

Just get a new shifter 2009 -2011 is the upgraded part that replaces the original that was the reason for an extended warranty.

 

donbrew strikes again?
Thank you brother, that will save me the aggravation of trying to rebuild the old one while simultaneously trying not to break it. Me and and small, old, plastic parts have a love hate relationship.