Yes, he was a service employee I talked to this morning, but it was the Service Manager who pulled the code yesterday. He was at their other dealership. He did not say what the number was, just that it had a misfire in history. He did not do any tests, only pulled the code and then cleared it. Then told me about corning with low fuel levels sometimes causing a misfire (more than half a tank at that time he pulled the code). Are there any bullentins you know of about low fuel levels causing this? If there isn't any bullentins how would he know this, unless he's the phychic? The light is back on after less than 30 miles of driving still with more than a half a tank of gas. Don't you think he should have told me to bring it in for the diagnostics once he pulled that code? It don't seem right that I would have to demand that the diagnostics be done to see why the check-engine light keeps coming on, they should say "bring it on in." This vehicle is the only transportation to and from work for both me and my wife.

 

dscogin, what year and what engine are we working with here?

 

The following is called a Preliminary Investigation. For what ever reason GM never made it into a TSB.

Service Information 2007 Chevrolet HHR | HHR (VIN A) Service Manual | Document ID: 1998023
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#PIP3333A: Cylinder Miss On Left Turns And Cylinder 4 Miss On Right Turns - Possible Fuel Contamination - keywords CEL contaminated controls cylinders gas injector intermittent MIL misfire P0300 P0301 rail rust - (Jul 12, 2007)


Subject: Cylinder 1 Miss on Left Turns and Cylinder 4 Miss on Right Turns - Possible Fuel Contamination


Models: 2004-2008 Chevrolet Aveo
2004-2006 Chevrolet Cavalier
2005-2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, Cobalt SS
2006-2008 Chevrolet HHR
2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu
2007-2008 Pontiac G5
2006-2008 Pontiac G6
2005-2006 Pontiac Pursuit (Canada Only)
2004-2006 Pontiac Sunfire
2003-2008 Pontiac Vibe, Vibe GT
2003-2008 Saturn Ion, Ion Redline
2007-2008 Saturn Aura, Aura Hybrid
2004-2008 Saturn Vue
2007-2008 Saturn Vue Hybrid

with a 4 Cylinder Engine
(RPOs L61, L91, LAT, LE5, LNK, LSJ, LV6, or LXT)
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The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.

Condition/Concern:
On rare occasions, an intermittent engine misfire may be experienced on cylinder 1 during/following a left turn or on cylinder 4 during/following a right turn. The misfire may / will typically last up to 10 seconds. A SES light and DTCs P0300, P0301, and/or P0304 may also be present if the misfire lasts long enough.

This may be the result of fuel contamination and is more likely to occur on vehicles with a returnless fuel rail because it is easier for fuel contaminates to become trapped in a returnless fuel rail since they do not have a fuel return line that returns fuel back to the fuel tank. As a result, any fuel contaminates that make it to the fuel rail tend to gather over the #1 fuel injector inlet when turning left and tend to gather over the #4 fuel injector inlet when turning right, causing this concern. The cylinder next to the fuel feed line (1 or 4 depending on the model) may also experience some random misfires at idle as contaminates enter the fuel rail from the fuel tank.

Recommendation/Instructions:
If the SI diagnostics do not isolate a cause for this concern, inspect the inside of the fuel rail and/or fuel tank for fuel contamination. If this concern occurs intermittently, it is unlikely that fuel contamination will be found by simply taking a fuel sample from the fuel feed line/fuel pressure test port. Typically, it will be necessary to turn the engine off as the misfire is occurring, carefully remove the fuel rail (while keeping the fuel in the rail), and drain it into a clear container for inspection. If this is not possible due to the intermittent nature of the concern, or if no fuel contamination is found by doing this, it may be necessary to inspect the inside of the fuel tank for fuel contamination.

Notice: The Aveo and Vibe have an access cover under the rear seat so the fuel pump module can be removed for inspection without removing the fuel tank.

If fuel contamination is present, refer to the "Fuel System Cleaning" procedure in SI and clean the inside of the fuel tank, fuel lines, and fuel rail. Once the repairs are complete, advise the customer to only use fuel from high quality, high volume Top Tier filling stations. Repairs made as a result of fuel contamination should not be considered as a warranty repair.

 

It's a 2007 HHR 2.4 with 8,300 miles on it. It has all the options except anti-locking brakes, traction control and on-star.

 

This looks like a "Get Out of Warranty Free" card. Are the fuel filters made in Mexico?

 

There are PIs and TSBs concerning loose grounds and chaffed engine harnes wires and ECM pin connections.

First the Service Manager shouldn't of blown you off. Second is there another dealer around? Third now that he cleared the history code, whatever turned the SES light on today should be stored. It will need to go to the dealer to diagnose whatever code it is setting.

 

Thanks for being a straight-shooter ChevyMgr. That piece about the contaminated fuel don't make me feel very good though. I'd have to sue the gas station where I last filled up to maybe get my money back for all the labor that would cost.

 

There is no fuel filter. Next time I see a fuel sender assy out I will see where it's made.

And before someone starts a "WTF NO FUEL FILTER" post, check this thread.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/show....php?t=14359#4

 

dscogin, it is very unlikely that it is fuel contamination. I just wanted to show you where the service managers idea came from. Maybe 1 out of every 500 vehicles we see have contaminated fuel. Most likely an electrical issue or simply a bad injector(s).