Reidcal

I have cleaned and replaced all those damn sensors, been going for 2 yrs and in the winter you have to pump the gas like a carburetor. I switched to e85 the other day. Problem gone. But why?

RJ_RS_SS_350

to the forums!

The FlexFuel vehicles, sometimes the computer thinks there is more alcohol in the fuel than there actually is, and makes adjustments based on this. Now that you actually have a high percentage of alcohol, the adjustments are working. Our member PulpFriction should be along soon, he's been through this and has more information.

donbrew

Same problem? A 2007 that is hard to start and sometimes cuts off just after starting? No codes?
First, a 2007 is not flex-fuel so E85 might do damage.
Second, what sensors and why?

In short, why not start a new thread with your exact symptoms instead of making us read 6 pages from several years ago.

Oldblue

Original post says no codes , so you have exactly the same problem, perhaps you could elaborate , please.

Seeing as you have a 2009 then yes you could run E85.
this is the problem jumping into an older thread cause it was about a 2007, 2.2 non VVT , non flex fuel

Reidcal

Sorry I was exited to find someone with similar problem.

So some background:

2009 HHR 140K, 5-Speed Manual, Engine will start rough when cold (below 40) it sounds like an old Radial engine but after 10-15 seconds it smooths right out has been happen last 2 winters has gotten a little worse and now have to pump gas when starting.

Replaced/cleaned:

Air filter

Factory Battery

Spark plugs

Map Sensor

Mas Sensor

Ran Fuel cleaner

Cleaned throttle body

Checked for vacuum leaks with propane and starter fluid.

And no codes

But the other day I filled up on e85 something I normally don’t do and the next day started fin @-15 deg.

PulpFriction

Pumping the throttle likely does little, but when it hits the floor it goes to 0 fuel and opens the throttle. This is the flood clearing mode.

It sounds like it's excessively rich on startup. This is rare but known to happen in flex fuel cars. You might also have smoke and sputtering. Normally this would throw a code, P0442 P0172 (oops, sorry, shouldn't rely upon memory for these numbers.)

You need a scanner to read the stored ethanol percent. Often available even on cheap scanners but might be hard to find in the menus. This value is NOT reset when codes are cleared, BTW. This is the amount of alcohol the computer thinks it's working with. This needs to be compared with the percent that's actually in the tank. You determine that by sampling the fuel. A workaround is what you did, filling it with E85 so that what's in the tank more closely matches what the computer thinks it pals. It may straighten itself out now.

Also, be sure to turn off the car when fueling. Also, check for fuel line leaks, and tend to any codes, especially anything to do with emissions like O2 sensors. It seems the system needs to be working near perfectly for the car to correcting calculate how much ethanol is in the tank. There is no ethanol sensor.

Oldblue

Possible the fuel you had before the E85 was watered down by contamination from condensation, with the weather like it’s been.

donbrew

Might be just had water in the tank, the E85 sucked the water up. Alcohol is hydrophilic, it absorbs water.

Reidcal

Could it have had water in it for that long? Been 2 yrs use a tank atleast every month.

Oldblue

It’s possible, I suggest when you fill up next don’t go to that same station, they might have water in their tanks!