I'm new here just registered. I have an HHR SS that had to sit for 2 years before I got to it. Recently I changed the roll pins and shifter cables (couldn't before that's why it sat). Once the new cables were in, battery charged, everything back together, car started right up! Went to start it again, started right up! However, it since will NOT start. At first it was the starter single click, no crank no start. Ok, get another starter, bench tested both, both work outside the car, Swapped and installed both 2-3 times, same problem. Ok, make sure the engine didn't seize, and it's not we manually turned it. Took off all ground wires I could see (strut tower, beside strut by fuse box cradle, and transmission bell housing grounds (both). Cleaned all the rust and grit off every wire loom (the circles don't know what they're called), put it all back. Tried again, no starter click, all fuse box relays dead except wiper relay clicking. Well everything else works inside the car, maybe I blew something. Checked every fuse, every relay, every nut on the wires I took off. When this was happening my boost gauge was reading above 40kpa when it should read 0 upon attempt to start. Nothing is blown. Took everything apart, 3 times, checked every pin and prong for the fuse box, nothing broken or dirty. Put it all back, no fuse box click, no starter click, code reader saying communication error. Looked at the wiring for my hhr lt outside, I accidentally had 2 wires swapped wrong. So I fixed that on the ss, boost gauge reads properly now, engine light not flickering fast like a bad bulb now (forgot to mention that), code reader reading the car but no codes. Now where I sit now is no starter click (even when it was before), no relay clicks, no lights dimming (constantly keeping the battery charged just in case), dash looks normal except for service ESC, (power steering should come up as that wire to the fuse box post is completely detached), boost gauge normal, BUT fuel pump kicks in on accessory AND upon turning the key (as the key is turned over). It doesn't attempt to start, or crank, or click anymore. I've tried everything, searched everywhere, it's my first ss, my first manual, and first time having any of these problems. Please someone tell me what I'm missing, ANY ideas at all will be appreciated. I've spent weeks and hours on this some breakdowns and give up attitude times, but there has to be a solution somewhere.

 

Welcome to the site, seems to me, it could be the clutch position switch not correctly positioned. Then again a dead cell in that 2 years dormant battery could be the problem, have you traded batteries with your other HHR?

 

I could only read about half of the wall o' words, but I saw no mention of checking the battery voltage. Should be a minimum of 12.4 Volts.
Try some line spacing.

 

Yes, anything less then 12.4 volts is a dead battery.

 

Not sure if I'm replying correctly, but my dad is checking the voltage right now. If it was the CPS would that have gone from a blown fuse seeing as it started fine the first 2 times? Jiggling the shifter doesn't work either, but it does act as if I'm trying to start in gear (as in no response)

 

Battery voltage is 12.99 and 13.2 for readings

 

What 2 wires? I bet you have the battery hooked up to the eps stud.

 

the 2 wires at the bottom of the fuse box cradle (plastic holder) near driver fender, near transmission mount. 2 wires on side of strut tower near firewall driver side. 2 wires connected to the transmission bell housing

 

Are there 2 red wires connected to the front stud on the fuse box? The rear one is the eps.

 

there's a black wire and red for the stud you described. Theres a separate smaller red wire for the power steering yes. When the 2 wires on the same stud are switched wrong (red wire bottom, black wire top or whatever the wrong way is), the car responds differently, so I set them back to the same as my LT