Car cranks,but won't start unless...
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 07-08-2016
Posts: 61
From: Long Island NY
Car cranks,but won't start unless...
This happened to me back in October,but has resurfaced now that it's cold out.
When attempting to start the car:
the starter engages,but it will not fire up;
after a few attempts,a gas smell happens;
holding the gas pedal to the floor while attempting to start helps,after a few seconds,it will finally start,with sputtering;
happens when it's cold out and engine is cold,once the engine is warmed up,the problem disappears.
Also,adding jumper cables and another vehicle helps...maybe the extra juice is doing something? One thing I noticed,I used a charger and used the ABP under the hood,and I think it blew my power steering fuse,I discovered this after I started the car finally.
I searched with Google,saw similar problems,yet there was no clear definitive resolution,only one mentioned a bad positive battery connection was the culprit.
The connections on my car are snug.
BTW this is on a 2007 HHR LT.
Anyone else ever have this happen,and what was the fix?
When attempting to start the car:
the starter engages,but it will not fire up;
after a few attempts,a gas smell happens;
holding the gas pedal to the floor while attempting to start helps,after a few seconds,it will finally start,with sputtering;
happens when it's cold out and engine is cold,once the engine is warmed up,the problem disappears.
Also,adding jumper cables and another vehicle helps...maybe the extra juice is doing something? One thing I noticed,I used a charger and used the ABP under the hood,and I think it blew my power steering fuse,I discovered this after I started the car finally.
I searched with Google,saw similar problems,yet there was no clear definitive resolution,only one mentioned a bad positive battery connection was the culprit.
The connections on my car are snug.
BTW this is on a 2007 HHR LT.
Anyone else ever have this happen,and what was the fix?
Administrator
Joined: 10-13-2011
Posts: 40,083
From: Welland,Ont Canada
If the power steering fuse blew , are you sure you connected to the proper terminal at the under hood fuse box?
Secondly how old is your battery what is the condition of your throttle body, are the ground terminals under the hood tight and clean?
Secondly how old is your battery what is the condition of your throttle body, are the ground terminals under the hood tight and clean?
Moderator
Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 26,533
From: Fredericksburg,VA
Evidently you thought the negative post was the other post on the fuse box. Negative goes to the strut tower bolt (it is marked on most cars).
Typically "crank but no start" is caused by bad fuel pump or bad EVAP purge valve.
Typically "crank but no start" is caused by bad fuel pump or bad EVAP purge valve.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 07-08-2016
Posts: 61
From: Long Island NY
Battery is 3 years old. Throttle body looks OK. The ground terminals seem to be OK.
One thing I forgot to mention is that this issue seems to come and go,not an everyday occurrence.
ABP=Auxiliary Battery Post
Last edited by Oldblue; Dec 22, 2016 at 02:57 PM. Reason: House keeping
Moderator
Joined: 01-23-2009
Posts: 26,533
From: Fredericksburg,VA
From post #3
__________________
Not ANY place under the hood will work! I thought maybe the hoist point would, NOT. The bolt on the strut tower is marked, and the OM says that is where to ground.
Typically "crank but no start" is caused by bad fuel pump or bad EVAP purge valve.
Not ANY place under the hood will work! I thought maybe the hoist point would, NOT. The bolt on the strut tower is marked, and the OM says that is where to ground.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Kelly Nicole
Problems/Service/Repairs
19
Feb 4, 2016 09:54 AM
chefhhr
Problems/Service/Repairs
10
Dec 19, 2012 09:12 AM
JJ_HHR
Problems/Service/Repairs
4
Oct 10, 2008 04:45 PM