Not holding fuel pressure....
 

Last week after shopping for about 20 minutes tried to start my 2007 HHR LT 2.4L and it didn't start after cranking for 4 seconds (did hear the fuel pump prime up) Keyed off for 10 seconds keyed on and it started up. Got home and shut off motor and tried to restart and crank but no start (no fuel pump prime this time). So after 20 minutes keyed back on and heard fuel pump prime up and tried to start, no start after cranking for 5 seconds. Keyed back off for 30 seconds and keyed back on and the fuel pump didn't prime up. So keyed back off. Went to check for pressure at the Schrader valve and found none. After 10 minutes I keyed on and heard the fuel pump prime and when to check fuel pressure and found none ( didn't have fuel pressure gauge, just a pen to see if fuel is getting to the rails ). So keyed off again and waited 3 minutes and keyed on and no pump prime. So keyed off and crank this for 3 seconds and no start but when I checked for fuel at the rail, I got a some to " spill " out this time. So what I'm finding is the fuel pump is taking about ten minutes to key on prime it ( way too long! ) And fuel system is not holding pressure when pump is off. Car runs fine once started. No DTC. Drivability with this HHR have been fine but for the acceleration have always be lackluster the 6 years and 50,000 miles will had it. 145,469 on it now. Sounds like fuel pump to me, but not able to wrenches on it now myself to do a thorough diagnostics on it. Just seeing if anyone have insight on these symptoms. Thank you for any information you can shut on this situation. PS, not vapor locked.

Welcome to the site, your correct , a fuel pump is indeed the cure. Not a hard job but if you can find a guy to help you, and can get it started , go for a drive to run the tank down till it dings.

here’s a thread with pictures

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/how-...acement-36541/

Yep, X2

Here’s RockAuto discount code
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/supp...-2020-a-61707/

site with a selection of pumps


https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...assembly,10147

Yeap, thanks all for the reply and help! About to order the AC delco from rockauto. Was 80% sure it was the pump, but HATE to buy parts without doing diag. myself. My bad knee keeping from doing it myself..or Maybe I will commit to it if I feel better by then. Thanks all!

If you haven't pressure checked it yet, check the fuel pump relay. I had a bad relay in my Ram did the same thing and was cheap to fix. I bought a fuel pressure setup from harbor freight super cheap, but you can also check it at the parts store free, just hook to the fuel rail and crank, see if it flutters or stays study and if the pressure is within the range.

I don't see how the relay would affect residual pressure. I do see how a defective check valve (inside the pump) could.

hook a fuel pressure gauge up to the fuel rail Shcraeder valve. Pump on should hit around 50-60 PSI, then turn it off it should not lose more that 5 PSI in 1 minute. Then relieve the pressure to 10 PSI it should not lose more than 2 PSI in 5 minutes.

the fuel pump runs for 2 seconds when the engine is not running key on.

May have confused you with wording... The relays get dirty contacts and if they aren't connecting then theres no power to the pump or more like an arc and barely any power as it burns the contacts more. Can swap 2 like relays to check it first... if the problem ends then its a relay.
The fuel pressure on the rail should read anywhere from 40-60psi depending on the vehicle.... if its under 40 or fluttering at all the pump is bad. 2 different tests.

But, the issue here is specifically maintaining prime when key off on an HHR. Relay has no bearing on it.
I posted the testing procedure from the HHR shop manual.

is there a regulator on the HHRs fuel rail or in the pump?