Hhr idle mystery
12-12-2014, 01:28 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: 12-12-2014
Location: Detroit
Posts: 4
Hhr idle mystery
I have a 2009 manual transmission hhr with what seems to be an unsolvable problem. I live in Detroit wvuch as you can imagine gets very cold. As the temperature drops, my car gets harder and harder to start. When the car turns on for the first time in hours (say overnight), the rpms will bob up and down dramatically for about 4 times and then sit where it is supposed to. Now that it is December, I have to keep my foot on the gas a little bit to have it even start without dying on me. To make things even weirder, throughout the year, not just Summer, the rpms will sit a little low at idle after about a minute of driving... If I sit at idle for too long, the CEL will come on, but then disappear the next day.... I am desperate for an answer so any help I can get would be great.
12-12-2014, 01:36 AM
#2
Deceased
Join Date: 06-30-2010
Location: Kannapolis NC
Posts: 25,739
aboard!Step #1 is to head to your local auto parts store and have them pull the codes.
Step #2 is to post up the code/codes here so we can see what is setting the CEL.
A couple of educated guesses, and they're just that without the OBD II trouble codes, are a gummed up throttle body and/or a gummed up MAF sensor or loose connection on the same.
12-12-2014, 04:26 AM
#3
Platinum Member
Join Date: 12-06-2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 11,094
Welcome to the site. 
X2 on what 843de stated above.
Plus. If you could post the engine size and mileage on your HHR it would help us give you better info.
Fwiw. Any time a CEL comes on, it means the computer has detected readings that are not within proper operating range. Just because the CEL "went out" does not mean it's fixed itself. Most times that CEL code will remain stored in the computer memory for a certain amount of time or key cycles.
Get the code numbers(ex. P0001, P0002 ) . Don't worry about the code descriptions because they have been known to be inaccurate at times. Descriptions are usually just a generic reading.
X2 on what 843de stated above.
Plus. If you could post the engine size and mileage on your HHR it would help us give you better info.
Fwiw. Any time a CEL comes on, it means the computer has detected readings that are not within proper operating range. Just because the CEL "went out" does not mean it's fixed itself. Most times that CEL code will remain stored in the computer memory for a certain amount of time or key cycles.
Get the code numbers(ex. P0001, P0002 ) . Don't worry about the code descriptions because they have been known to be inaccurate at times. Descriptions are usually just a generic reading.
12-13-2014, 07:35 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: 04-13-2014
Location: MI
Posts: 119
From time to time my RPMs would go up and down and I can feel the engine shake the car. This only happens during idle and this started during the summer time. My HHR is easy to start no matter what the temp is. I took it to my shop and the guy told me that it could be the coils going out on it and that its a common problem with our Ecotechs.
12-14-2014, 10:04 AM
#8
Deceased
Join Date: 06-30-2010
Location: Kannapolis NC
Posts: 25,739
12-17-2014, 08:38 AM
#9
Thread Starter
Join Date: 12-12-2014
Location: Detroit
Posts: 4
Wow thank you guys so much. I am so happy to be getting some help finally! I've been so stumped. I've got a little over 68k on the HHR and as far as the engine code... I can't remember the exact code but I believe it pulled "Rich Fuel Bank #1"
12-17-2014, 08:44 AM
#10
Platinum Member
Join Date: 12-06-2009
Location: Alabama
Posts: 11,094
Adam. Reread the posted answers above. As we stated, you'll need to post up the actually CEL code number for us to try and help.
Code descriptions don't really mean much. They are very often inaccurate and can point you in the wrong direction for the fix.
Code descriptions don't really mean much. They are very often inaccurate and can point you in the wrong direction for the fix.