I have a 2011 1LT, 2.4 engine, auto trans). The car has 68,000 original miles. I have taken very good care of the car. It has new tires, new front hubs with speed sensors, new rotors and new disc pads. The radiator and cooling system has been flushed. New battery. New head and tail lights...needless to say I have also replaced a number of other worn or broken interior parts.
Now for my problem...if the car has sat for several days the initial start requires several seconds of turning over before starting. After the first start, all starts are as quick as they should be. Once started the car runs fine and has very good acceleration with no lagging or hesitation.
I don't drive the car every day so the car does sit which concerns me.

Thanks for any help...

 

A: load test the battery
B: test the fuel pump
C: tighten the four bolts in the under hood fuse box and press all of the fuses and relays firmly into their place.
D: report back
E: are there any codes we should know about?

 

Yeah that sounds like fuel pump. You should be able to get a loaner tester from the auto parts store. Although it could be rusted fuel/evap line(s), usually near the driver side rear wheel.

 

Maybe the EVAP purge valve. It should be normally closed.
To test the fuel pump: hook the gauge up to the Schrader valve on the fuel rail, start then stop the engine, pressure should be around 50-60 psi, then leave it connected fit should not drop more than 5 psi in 1 minute

 

Sounds like the pump is not holding prime for the fuel rail. Put a pressure gauge on it.

 

If you just turn on the ignition without starting it, the fuel pump will come on and then quit after a couple seconds if the car doesn't start.

For a cold start, do that twice. If the car starts immediately, that suggests that the check valve in the fuel pump isn't holding fuel pressure.

Pretty harmless. Worth fixing on a 13-year-old car? IDK.

 

If it’s an HHR, then yes it’s worth replacing the fuel pump. If that’s the problem