The Check Engine Light (CEL) is set off by engine trouble codes detected by the cars computer. Sometimes certain codes will be stored in the computer and don't set off the CEL until they occur a certain number of times.
Having the codes pulled require some sort of OBD scanner. Most auto parts stores will do this for free, although they generally use a basic scanner. There are even smart phone apps that you can get that will pull codes and also clear them if needed.
If you have someone pull the codes for you, get the actual code number. Ex. P0001, P0002. There is usually a code number description on the scanner but those can sometimes be inaccurate and misleading to the actual problem.

 

ok....here is what i was told.....when i originally took the car in for the engine bucking there was no check engine light on (took it to NTB) they called and told me it was the camshaft position solenoids and sensors both intake and exhaust.....they fixed it....it started doing the same thing yesterday....i took it to my new repair shop and he said a code of 004 came up....he advised me to take it back to NTB since it's still under warranty....NTB plugged the little handheld device in and a no code found came up on the screen (i was standing there watching him) he asked how did the other guy come up with a code so i called him and he said he went into the history and code 004 popped up....NTB said he got that code because it's still in the history and since that's the only code that has every popped up in my car that's the code he's going to get...so NTB says they can't do anything until the CEL comes on...does any of this make sense

 

There is no 004. Code #'s have a 4 digit number preceded by a letter (i.e. P0001, P0002 like I showed you earlier)
Want to get more familiar with some of the codes, read the link below.
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/prob...010-hhr-14259/

 

Any shop that replaces all the camshaft position solenoids and sensors for both intake and exhaust at the same time, are not to be trusted at all. The chances of all those components failing at once is totally astronomical. Somebody got burned on that repair bill.

Code 004 does not exist!!! The codes are comprised of 4 characters, a letter followed by 3 numbers. So 004 means nothing as it is incomplete info, as per Firemangeorge's post.

According to your original post here, the original problem was in last MAY - and the same symptoms just popped up again. So one can kinda assume that since they shot-gunned the parts replacement in May and it seemed to resolve the problem for quite some time, that something in that same list of parts has gone bad once more. But until one can get a code downloaded, it's anybody's guess as to what specifically is causing the problem.

 

 

The only thing I can think of is that you misheard and they meant P0014 was a code in history or more likely freeze frame.

They had absolutely no evidence indicating bad parts.

A much more likely diagnoses is excessive timing chain play, that is easily detected by taking the cam cover off and visually inspecting the chain. Or, one of the connectors to the solenoids is flaky.

 

 

 

It could be P0004

 

That code appears when you use green coolant instead of Dex-Cool.

JK, that's not a GM trouble code.