Maintenance and Upkeep Discussion HHR maintenance tips ranging from oil change intervals to brake pads and everything in between.

E85 fuel and now it idles rough at start up

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 02-23-2022 | 11:25 AM
  #41  
Rocket Dawg's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: 07-27-2014
Posts: 247
From: Grand Rapids Mi
Thanks for that info. My thoughts were to confirm that its still going to act up tomorrow morning when its cold out.
Old 02-23-2022 | 11:39 AM
  #42  
donbrew's Avatar
Moderator
 
Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 25,339
From: Fredericksburg,VA
The book I have says to wrap a rag around the release valve on the tester to sop up the spray. But yours works too.
Old 02-24-2022 | 06:46 AM
  #43  
Rocket Dawg's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: 07-27-2014
Posts: 247
From: Grand Rapids Mi
Tried an experiment this morning.15 degrees outside. Cycled the key on and off 4 or 5 times to pressurize the system. That didnt do anything. Tried to start it, it stumbled and stalled. Re tried and it started and ran fine. Today its going to get the ethanol % checked by a better tester and the fuel pressure checked. The fuel pump may have a check valve in it thats not doing its job. and/or, this style of pump/ car cant be pre-pressurized by the method I tried. Yesterday was about 25 degrees. It had extended cranking by about 1 to 2 seconds, but started and ran. A little bit of a "shake" for about 1 second and then it was fine. I'll let ya know how it goes the next few days.
Old 02-24-2022 | 07:58 AM
  #44  
Oldblue's Avatar
Administrator
 
Joined: 10-13-2011
Posts: 37,825
From: Welland,Ont Canada
Seems to be the fuel pump assembly, if the alcohol percentage was off it would be harder to start and run rough longer.
But let’s see what the other scan tool says.
Old 03-05-2022 | 07:32 AM
  #45  
Rocket Dawg's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: 07-27-2014
Posts: 247
From: Grand Rapids Mi
Ethanol percentage was at 10% .. Fuel pressure was spot on. Pressure tester left on over night and checked the following morning. Spark Plugs were black and replaced. Picking it up this morning. We put a mass air flow sensor in it. It has an air temp sensor built into it. Although it didnt fail to the point of throwing a code, it might be reading the air temp incorrectly at start up. It was an educated guess. It starts and runs great. The mechanic noticed a small puff of gray colored smoke from the exhaust at start up that dissipated instantly ( over rich condition and the black spark plugs) It no longer does that with a new MAF sensor in it. Ill monitor the spark plugs and exhaust. The cold temps are done till next winter.
Old 03-05-2022 | 08:21 AM
  #46  
Oldblue's Avatar
Administrator
 
Joined: 10-13-2011
Posts: 37,825
From: Welland,Ont Canada
Hopefully that’s fixed! Thanks for the follow up
Old 03-06-2022 | 08:27 AM
  #47  
PulpFriction's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 12-05-2014
Posts: 2,682
From: Northern Ohio
Thanks for the update. Bad MAF sensor might have caused the car to incorrectly adjust for the E85 fuel.

I don’t remember if it was mentioned in this thread the importance of turning off the motor when fueling a flex-fuel HHR. Not just for safety. Part of the process of adjusting for fuel.

So Winter is over in Grand Rapids, huh? That’s optimism!
Old 03-10-2022 | 10:23 AM
  #48  
Rocket Dawg's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: 07-27-2014
Posts: 247
From: Grand Rapids Mi
Winter isn't over, but more than likely the 15 degree mornings are done till next winter. We had a couple of 24 degree mornings and it starts and runs fine. So the parts replaced were a CTS coolant temp sensor, purge valve solenoid, mass air flow sensor and the spark plugs
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jcunningham
Maintenance and Upkeep
17
04-22-2024 08:48 AM
tonyof757
General HHR
45
01-14-2021 12:30 PM
kenny240
Problems/Service/Repairs
8
04-02-2015 03:32 PM
miles solo
Problems/Service/Repairs
27
12-31-2013 10:22 AM
mikey12561
Fuel Economy - Hypermiling
21
07-21-2010 11:40 AM



Quick Reply: E85 fuel and now it idles rough at start up



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:43 PM.