Hello - I searched through all the gas tank / out of gas threads I could find but I am still a bit stumped.

Driving today my 2008 HHR LT died as I turned on to a side street, and would not run again. It would restart easily but would die, sputtering, less than 1 second later. Tried that about 5 times.

It really felt like I was out of gas - having experienced that before with another car.
I saw that the gauge said I still had 1/3 tank left, and just hoped the gauge was wrong.
Walked back home, and came back with a gas can. I dumped in 2.5 gallons and it started right up. "Great!" I thought. It wasn't anything more serious.
I drove to the next gas station and filled it up with 9.1 gallons.
Well the car holds 16 gallons, so 9.1 + 2.5= 11.6. So that means my gauge was not wrong, I really did have about 5 gallons in there earlier.

So what do you think might have happened?
Some crap sitting on the pump intake, and it got washed off when I dumped in the new gas?

I can't see it being a clogged filter because it would fail whether I had 5 gallons or 16 gallons in there, right?

Not sure what to do next but I feel like it's going to happen again and next time I might not be on a side street.

Thanks!!

 

Is the pump sounding louder, when you start the HHR?
It could be a failing pump
It could be a loose fuse
It could be a loose ground wire
Have the codes read, there might be a pending code

 

Thanks for your reply, OldBlue.

The pump sounds just like before, both earlier today and after getting more gas. When the key goes "on" I can hear it kick on for a moment. No change there in volume or tone of the pump.

I have an intermittent code for one of the O2 sensors (failing intermittently), but no current codes. (I have a reader).

I'll have a look at the fuse but I would assume that if I am hearing the pump turn on, whether I was "out of gas" or full, that the current is solid to the pump.

 

O2 sensor code can be caused by a bad fuel pump. The regulator is part of the pump.

First check the fuel pressure.

 

Same thing I was thinking

 

Awesome advice - I did not know that. I will let the shop know, as I saw the tutorials and am not going to drop the tank to investigate!

Much appreciated.

 

Could you explain how?
Thanks

 

Too much or too little gas to the injectors Might cause a drip or bad spray pattern, causing odd O2 readings.

 

Sounds like the fuel pump is headed south, but what pray tell was the code??

 

The exact code escapes me now Old Blue. I should have written it down but I have no short term memory anymore. It was one that indicated the O2 sensor (at the front of the engine I believe - the easier one to get to) was failing.

At the moment, the car is in the shop for a massive exhaust leak and I believe he will replace the fuel pump as well.

It has about 130k on the original so I wouldn't be surprised. I'll let you know hopefully later today.