Ok, I've been a huge idiot and i need some guidance guys. I went out and rolled the windows down this afternoon, to make sure some stuff in the back didn't get too warm. Idiot that I am, left the key in the ON position as I was frantically checking on the stuff in the back, so when we come out to leave for the evening, the DIC and dash lights are blinking like crazy. I see where the key is, swear, and try starting it.

Nothing but clicking.

I break out the jumper cables and the spare car. Hook it up according to directions, charge for five minutes nothing but the same clicking.
I hook up the battery charger, it charges up to 57% and then stops.
I use the engine start function on the charger. More clicking.
I begin to think it might be that the key needs to be re-learned, from what I read on here, so I use the other key. Same clicking. Occasionally it will say SERVICE AIR BAG.
I don't think it's the security system, because the security light generally goes out after 30 seconds or so. But the engine light stays on for a while.

What could cause it to not start from a jump start?

I really need some help here. It's my wife's birthday and she thinks I broke her car.
It's Friday night and the local dealer is closed on Saturday. And I don't think road service will come to my house to jump/tow me to the dealer.

2008 HHR LS 5-speed. 32000 miles.

Help

 

Sounds like a very dead battery to me....... Maybe try charging it out of the car (disconnected but still in place is okay, leave the gate open if you do it this way) and see if it goes beyond that 57%.......

I'm not a pro, but that's what I would try next......

 

If your car is under waranty, go buy a battery. Call them monday morning, Tell them you got stuck and had to buy a battery to get home. And they will get a check for you from GM in 2-4 weeks. It worked for me as my battery died with 16000 miles on the SS on a sunday , About 200 yars from a pep boys LOL , I had them test the batt. It was dead , So i bought the best battery i could for the SS at the time and was at the dealer mon. morning with there crap battery and my bill for the new battery. $124.00 I have not had a prob with the new battery, And im at about 56,000 miles.

 

The thing that happened to me was; it would not jump start using the "under the hood" method, so I resorted to the "battery to battery" method and that worked. If the lock icon is flashing You may have to reset the security thingy, it's in the manual, I don't remember how but it is simple. The battery is exact sized to the car, meaning it will run down pretty fast, it's happened to me 2 or 3 times, and never will start using the "correct" method.

 

Thanks guys. Batman, who should I call? Local service center or 1800CHEVUSA?
donbrew - I was too scared to try that jump method :) As I said, my wife's car, her birthday, last thing I want is to get blamed for killing the battery AND the electrical system.

Had it towed to a local service place (think Pep Boys but just within the state). They will look it over in the morning. Hopefully it's the battery and I can get reimbursed for it like Batman says. I printed out the 30 minute method for relearning the key, just in case that is it.
Thanks again. Any other thoughts are welcome. I'll be heading in to the garage at 7AM to see what's up.

 

Ok, short update - battery replaced. Everything working fine.

Longer more interesting story to come, possibly later today. Still working on that birthday do-over for the wife.

 

glad to hear everything is OK..... my battery died yesterday, I jumped the car off using the positive and ground provided under the hood, and now both key fobs and my TPMS sensors don't work? Help!

 

Have you checked all of the fuses and fusible links? The TPMS and RKE are the same module, so if it is not working then those 2 things won't be.

 

Fool,

DonBrew is right, there was/is a problem with the 2008 Remote receivers; they loose their programming under some power outages. Your battery just went dead – you had a power outage!

You will have to take it to the dealer to have it reprogrammed. There is a service bulletin out on this and several threads on this site that deal with this issue.

See:
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/problems-service-repairs-42/keyless-entry-quit-working-26707/
pay particular attention to the links I supply in post #16.

Good luck

 

Try driving it for ten or so min. The tire sensors should come back to life. They take a while to reconnect after a power outage.