2006 HHR was reporting check charging system.
Checked voltage on battery and was not showing charge from alternator.
Car would start, dash would light up.
Replaced alternator and now zero power to dash, no start, no indication of power anywhere.
Battery was out during change charging.


On a side note. Before change I took cover off of post on alternator, decided to move car to garage and noticed no power. Can't imagine removing the cover had anything to do with it.

Help, any ideas where to check first?

Besides not charging car would start and light up before all this.

 

Welcome to the site, retrace your work, a wire got forgotten or missed

 

Check both ends of the cable between the starter and the alternator and the small connector on the alternator.

The wire between the alt and starter should be always 12v on both ends it is connected directly to the side of the fuse box and then directly to the battery.

The wire (2) in the left pic goes to the alternator. (5) in the right pic goes to the fuse box.

 

Done. Still zero power to dash and all.

 

So, you had no voltage at the battery, so you changed the alternator?

 

Yes, he checked voltage at the battery, but
how many volts ?
no voltage from the alternator, but was it ?

I’m inclined to suggest having the battery load tested , take it in or out of the car to any parts place they will test it
to bad the HHR won’t start you could take it and have the alternator tested , they can bench test it.
It wouldn’t be the first ,faulty, fresh outta the box alternator .

 

If the RED wires are connected and the battery is good there must be voltage. (that is a period)

There is a continuous connection from the battery to the alternator with connections at the fuse box and the starter. Simple enough to use a VOM or test light at each connection point to find the point of failure! No fuse involved, there may be a fusible link between the starter and the alternator. No switch or relay involved.

 

Above in Red ^^^
If that's the scenario, then I would be looking in that general area for a loose or bad connection. And any wires close by that could have been "bumped" by an errant elbow.

 

Waiting for buddy to show up with meter again.
Hooked up cables to battery after a minute it would start up. Check charging system message was cleared.
Take of cables it would die after a minute.

Battery fried perhaps?

 

More likely alternator not hooked up right.