I just purchased a 2007 Chevy HHR with a 2.2 and automatic transmission. I drove the car for a week and it ran great. Yesterday, it wouldn't start when I stopped at the store for a second. I had it towed to the house. Yesterday, it would run for a couple of seconds and die. I decided to look at this morning in the daylight. I thought it was a fuel pump or fuel relay but this morning it started right up. There are no check engine lights on. It has 90,000 miles on it. I'm just worried it's going to happen again. I have an appointment for the ignition recall. It just seems like the gas was being cutoff so it wouldn't run completely. Any ideas?

 

I would get the alternator checked.

 

Just driving it home and temp went up to 208 on the car so I pulled over at store. Now the car is doing the same thing as yesterday. I turned it off and ran in the store and it won's start again. It seems like now when the motor is getting hot it won't let it start up. Yesterday, it was at the end of my commute, which is about 45 min.

 

I just waited for an hour and now the car starts up again. The temp was 208 when i parked it and it wouldn't start. Called a mechanic and he said it could be 2 sensors but wouldn't tell me which ones. I'm going to drive it home now (25 mins) and have my friend follow me. Any suggestions on the sensors?

 

208 F is NOT hot. The fan comes on at about 217 F. Normal highway temp is around 192 F.

But, have you bothered to check the coolant level? In the bottle AND under the pressure cap (when cold).

Yes could be a sensor.

 

Yes, coolant levels are full. Yes, I read that fan won't engage until the 217 range. Driving around town seems to be fine. It seems to be the drive home in that eastbay traffic after work. It's stop and go for 25 mins out of 45 min commute.

 

Even though you have indicated that there isn't a CEL set at the moment, you may wish to head to your local auto parts store to have them "pull the codes". There can be stored trouble codes which may prove helpful in helping us narrow down the likely culprit or culprits causing your issue.

 

Thanks for your input. I ordered all the parts for a tune up and will take it to my mechanic when they come in. He said it may be 1 or 2 sensors and will check for codes. Do u think the ignition recall might affect it from starting?

 

I have not seen any no starts issues caused by the igniton switch.

 

Let us know what the results of the investigation are!