A friend of mine has a 2008 Chevrolet HHR with the 2.4L. I recently helped him reinstall his rebuilt alternator and install a new battery.
During this he told me shortly prior to the 2 maintenance ventures, he had removed and then re-installed his previous battery and accidentally installed it backwards. I don't remember the whole story, but doing that led to his "car going haywire and everything blinking and going off." It stayed connected backwards for about 3 minutes before it was realized what had been done. After correcting it, he said multiple things were not working correctly and his car would start, run for a little bit and then eventually lose power and die. That's what led him to replacing the battery and rebuilding the alternator.
What else should I tell him to look for that could be damaged from that battery connection mishap? I have never had this happen before, and electrical is not something I carry a lot of knowledge on. So I'm a little unsure where to direct him.
We checked some fuses and found the fuse for his sunroof/back hatch was blown (they weren't working) and when he replaced it, the sunroof worked again, but the back hatch does not still. Noticed the back hatch has a relay. Could that be toast, too?
Also, his radio, key fob, and a couple other things are not working still. Should I just tell him to start pulling fuses and relays checking them?
The car currently runs, but he said while he took a short 15 minute trip, a transmitter he has to show the live voltage of the battery was slowly showing it dropping. Started at 12.2, turned car on went to 11.9, and then after driving 15 minutes has made it to 10.9. He hasn't drove it since that.
Thanks for any help guys!
During this he told me shortly prior to the 2 maintenance ventures, he had removed and then re-installed his previous battery and accidentally installed it backwards. I don't remember the whole story, but doing that led to his "car going haywire and everything blinking and going off." It stayed connected backwards for about 3 minutes before it was realized what had been done. After correcting it, he said multiple things were not working correctly and his car would start, run for a little bit and then eventually lose power and die. That's what led him to replacing the battery and rebuilding the alternator.
What else should I tell him to look for that could be damaged from that battery connection mishap? I have never had this happen before, and electrical is not something I carry a lot of knowledge on. So I'm a little unsure where to direct him.
We checked some fuses and found the fuse for his sunroof/back hatch was blown (they weren't working) and when he replaced it, the sunroof worked again, but the back hatch does not still. Noticed the back hatch has a relay. Could that be toast, too?
Also, his radio, key fob, and a couple other things are not working still. Should I just tell him to start pulling fuses and relays checking them?
The car currently runs, but he said while he took a short 15 minute trip, a transmitter he has to show the live voltage of the battery was slowly showing it dropping. Started at 12.2, turned car on went to 11.9, and then after driving 15 minutes has made it to 10.9. He hasn't drove it since that.
Thanks for any help guys!
