Yeah... I wish I had a lift, but it would still take me longer than 10 min. lol

 

Went out in driveway (just now) tried your starting method - no difference, which makes me think "it's not the fuel pump".... I've got a little bit more hope (now) that the plugs might do it. We'll see tomorrow.

 

Can't find a video on cleaning 2008 HHR - MAF sensor - all I can find is one on cleaning a MAF sensor in a Chevy Colbart, but, in essence it seems that all you do is 'spray' MAF cleaner liberally on it (MAF sensor) - let it get good and dry - reinstall.

Is that it?

 

That's it. Use MAF cleaner and don't touch the element. Be sure to plug it back in securely, maybe use dielectric grease.

 

Ok... thanks Don

btw... changed plugs today - no help - not that I expected that it would. lol

thinking now that ---- if cleaning the MAF ----- doesn't do any good I'll just close the hood, and drive the car till it quits; at least "then" I "should know" - for sure - what the problem is.

 

Ok.... this will be my last entry on this thread - "unless" something crops up in the next few days.

Today I changed my spark plugs (99,790 miles on the old ones) - and they (old plugs) looked really .. really good to me considering all the miles. The gaps were all good (compared to the new ones) and none of them looked burnt, or whatever to me (un-trained eye).

I also 'cleaned' my MAF sensor.

Before that I checked the 'purge solenoid' which 'checked' out OK, and visually inspected my flex pipe as well as trying to hear any exhaust leaks. Again - (from an un-trained eye and ear) - the flex pipe checked out OK.

This whole problem/thread initially started because of my 2008 HHR "not starting" when cold. When warm it would start without a problem but if it was 'cold' it would require me to 'crank' it for a couple of seconds - turn off the ignition - and then crank it again and, then it would start normally and run good. As I mentioned (above) when the engine is warm it starts correctly every time and 'of course' runs good.

After my starting problem 'first' started I put a new 'air cleaner' on (it had 33,000 miles on the old one) and ... here is where I think I caused myself some trouble - I added a $27 dollar can of injector cleaner (from the Chevy dealership). Immediately after adding the injector cleaner my CEL came on. Not a believer in coincidences I beleived (at the time and now) that the 'injector additive' is what caused my CEL, but, of course, I don't know that for sure, only time will tell.

As of now, I am satisfied to drive the car (with the CEL and odd starting issue) and wait for further symptoms, or a breakdown of some sort. If either of them occur I will try to come back to this thread (if it's still active by that time) and let the site know.

For the time being - the car runs perfectly, I took it out this afternoon and ran it up to 95 mph and it never missed a beat - and is as 'peppy' as when it was new if not more so.

I've been getting 29 MPG (hand calculated) since the CEL (1045 miles ago) came on and I am at the end of the road as far as working on this car.

Tomorrow I will wash and wax it (and maybe put a piece of black electric tape over the CEL).

Thanks for all the help/suggestions I got from the guys here; 843de, Whopper, Donbrew, lucky and oldblue - I do appreciate it.

 

I hope that you read a few other threads and heeded the warnings against attempting to "gap" the plugs, or you will be back!

Sounds like the injector cleaner was BG 44K. It has a very good rep, I doubt it is to blame.


Bye.

 

HeavyHalf, I recommend that you reread everything "Lucky" has posted in this thread. I think he has great advice. Personally after using a fuel pressure gauge to determine if it is a fuel pump and it most likely is, you can pickup an aftermarket hhr fuelpump on ebay for under $50. Do the install yourself, you will really get an appreciation for what you have done.

Just my two cents

 

UPDATE: Damn CEL irritated me too much. I took car back to dealership and Service Mgr re-diagnosed it (no charge) and told me it was 'definitely' a bad fuel pump assy.

Fine! I told him. So how much to change it out? $650 was the reply.

I told him I'd pay $500 (out the door tax and all) on the condition that "I could cold start it" after it was repaired and if it didn't start correctly then I "owed him nothing." lol.....

He accepted!!

I let them change it out. It took 2 days to get it back. According to Svc Mgr, the first "new" pump they put in was defective ... in that it wouldn't register the fuel level.

So.. they had to order another pump assy, which is why they had it for 2 days.
btw... I would of been "pissed" had I been changing it myself and had 'drawed' a "bad" new pump....sheeeet!

In any event when they called and said the car was ready I went and picked it up (several hours later) .... raised the hood and felt the motor (to make sure it was a cold start) ... closed the hood and started the car.

It started 'perfectly' (just like it used to)... and has started great (and run great) in the two days I've had back from the shop, and "no CEL" either.

All in all, I'm satisfied although given different circumstances and more time I would of changed it myself .. but what the heck.

On a different note: During the time my HHR gave me all this trouble I did quite a bit of research (on this site and online at other sites) and from reading through different comments from different people I got a picture of the HHR being a somewhat "cash cow" to alot of folks.

In my case we've had this car for 6 years (99,900 miles) and except for this 'fuel pump issue' it's been a great little car, but now I'm wondering if I should 'sell it' before it starts to 'breakdown' more.

It's the age-old question - keep it or trade it. Of course a new car will be more dependable (in most cases) but then again - we've taken care of this one, and it's been a good one - and we only use it as a 2nd car.

Question: what's you guys opinion of a 08 HHR with a hundred thousand miles on it.

Keep it or trade it?

Thanks again for the help.

 

Brakes, hubs, struts, control arms. After another 50 K start looking for possible head gasket problems.

Learn how to wield a few tools and save yourself a thousand or so bucks.