I have a 2011 Chevy HHR i only drove it 3,000 miles in the span of 6 months it’s still sitting ant 120,000 miles.the Battery went out one day so I charged it. Ever since then I noticed the lights getting dimmer and dimmer until one day it just died. The day before the car door latch broke and it’s always been hard to turn the car off traction control as well as having hard shifts every so often. The check engine light before the car didn’t start initially read “a/c temperature sensor” but when I got a mobile mechanic out months prior to it not starting he wiped the system and it read “traction control” for him. The day the car wouldn’t start I was able to get a jump start on it and drive it back home. I noticed poor acceleration on that last drive home and ever since it’s been sitting in my driveway. Now all that’s illuminating on the dashboard is a check engine light, a traction control light and an abs light. The battery charger I use is a craftsman it’s fairly new and it’s not picking up anything wrong with the battery I don’t think it’s anti theft mode and I have the a/c temperature sensor to replace the one that’s in it and I checked the starter I don’t even have to tap it to get ithe solenoid to shoot out when I turn the keys what else should I check?
I can’t get the car to crank at all. All it does is click. And show those lights on the dash.
That indicates a dead battery. Those lights are supposed to do that if you put the car in RUN without starting it. Scotty calls them "idiot lights". If the alternator is under-charging the battery (generating voltages that are less than 12.6 volts is under-charging) the battery is going to eventually die.
@justin-shepherd I do appreciate your help I’ll keep posted I got high hopes about it now
get a volt meter, start the car check the voltage at the battery if its under 14 volts your alternator is bad...
A fully charged battery has 12.6 volts of potential. There should be no more than 14.7 volts at the alternator for a seriously discharged battery. Over 14.7 volts is overcharging, anything less than 12.6 volts is undercharging, and your battery will eventually die. A properly charging alternator is in the neighborhood of 13 to 14 volts.
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It is hard to read your question. If I'm understanding you correctly, the alternator could be on its last legs and it may be failing. If you have a bad alternator, anything that's electrical may go haywire.
Check the alternator by using a multimeter that's set for voltage. Bridge the two battery terminals. Start the car. If the reading is over approximately 14.7 volts, the alternator is overcharging and needs to be replaced.
I noticed poor acceleration on that last drive home and ever since it’s been sitting in my driveway.
Check your transmission fluid.
@justin-shepherd I appreciate your answer and feedback. Going to take it to oreillys and get the battery and alternator fully checked out soon. I can’t get the car to crank at all. All it does is click. And show those lights on the dash. I forgot to mention that all the fuses are new as well. I called the dealership they told me the same thing probably alternator or battery and to me that’s pretty suspicious to hear it from them yk? lol. (They also told me not to drop the pan)😂😈
@justin-shepherd checked the alternator and battery at oreillys and autozone they both passed the test that they run. But something in me still feels like it’s the alternator just because of how a 15 minute car drive killed my car battery completely after charging it at capacity level.
checked the alternator and battery at oreillys and autozone they both passed the test that they run. But something in me still feels like it’s the alternator just because of how a 15 minute car drive killed my car battery completely after charging it at capacity level.
If the battery light is coming on, there's a problem somewhere. My Ranger's battery light came on, and I swapped alternators. The battery was only 6 months old. That didn't fix it. Ford hid a so-called mega fuse in the engine bay that controls the alternator. When I discovered that fuse, it was corroded. I installed a new mega fuse and the battery light never came on again.
get a volt meter, start the car check the voltage at the battery if its under 14 volts your alternator is bad...
