Okay, my 2008 HHR won't start.


Here is a video of what lights come on / stay on and you can hear the clicking sound. I'm trying to remember if that lock sign on the far left is supposed to come on and go back off, or if that is the problem: the security lock out system.

My husband said he doesn't think it sounds like a starter, and we tried jumping it. The radio/lights will come on, but the engine won't turn over.

It is a key with a plus sign on it. I've been trying to search for specific instructions on how to reset the lock-out system (assuming that is what this is) but can't find anything.

HELP please? I would be very grateful!

 

Is this the key that came with the vehicle when you got it? I was actually just at a dealership the other day and overheard someone in the Parts dept. say that if you have a key cut that has a chip in it that either wasn't programmed or was programmed for a different car, the vehicle in which you are trying to use it will NOT start, the key will turn, but it will read the code on the key and determine that it is not the right one and disallow the key from turning over.

 

Yes, it is the same key that came with the vehicle. Unfortunately when we bought the car we only received one key so there isn't another key to try. We have not change/installed done anything to the car. It was fine the last time I drove it (2 days ago) and then today this.

I am not 100% sure that it is the security system or not. That is why I posted, if anyone thinks it is something else please let me know.

It also bothers me that the airbag lights are staying on and the display will read "Service Airbag" -- this along with that security light makes me wonder if the computer system has gone crazy.

 

I wonder if the battery is bad or going bad? I have heard people say they experience random things like this with a battery going goofy.

 

check the battery , if it shows normal voltage , disconnect at the battery for 30 minutes to reset the BCM, and try to start again, sounds like battery issue, but it is hard to diagnose at this point.

 

Yup...thats what a low batt does...

 

I have a 2006 and first mine was doing that, and it was as simple as a relay, worked for a few months, then again, and then it was the battery, got it fixed 4 weeks ago, this week again, now with the engine light staying on, they say it's some kind of cranking sensor or something like that, it is supposed to be replaced this friday on top of my power steering going out.

 

Your power steering has a fuse for the EPS. did you check that. It's under the hood fuse box.

 

If the power steering fuse goes out it shuts down everything the lights won't come on, or at least mine didn't. but mine was blowing the fuse and only thing that was replaced was the battery have blown one since

 

X2 I would start with the battery...make sure its being jumped correctly.

When I was camping, I killed my battery listening to the radio. that video is almost exactly what it did... It has to be really dead, considering your gauges all go dark...