Will changing the grade of gas cause a CEL
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 02-26-2020
Posts: 39
From: FL
Will changing the grade of gas cause a CEL
Hi everyone,
Long time reader, first time post.
My wife owns a 2009 Check HHR SS with just over 120,000 miles on it. Im normally the one that fills him (yup, she named him Harry from HHR) with gas, and in the last 4 weeks i have filled him up twice, i thought id treat"him" and instead of using the regular gas that he has been getting for many years, he got two tanks of Super+ (Mobile? 7-11? not sure). Well Last week his Check Engine Light (CEL) came one, and luckily i have a FXd reader and it was the first time out the box. I followed the instructions, plugged him into the car, and the error the car was giving was a "P0332 Knock Sensor 2 Circuit".
In reading other posts and rummaging around the Internet, i read that one cause (of the several) was air to gas mix/ration, and so my question is, do you think that me changing the gas from regular unleaded to the highest one the gas station offered (Super+) is what has caused this issue?
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer with my problem, it is appreciated,
DeVoiD.
Long time reader, first time post.
My wife owns a 2009 Check HHR SS with just over 120,000 miles on it. Im normally the one that fills him (yup, she named him Harry from HHR) with gas, and in the last 4 weeks i have filled him up twice, i thought id treat"him" and instead of using the regular gas that he has been getting for many years, he got two tanks of Super+ (Mobile? 7-11? not sure). Well Last week his Check Engine Light (CEL) came one, and luckily i have a FXd reader and it was the first time out the box. I followed the instructions, plugged him into the car, and the error the car was giving was a "P0332 Knock Sensor 2 Circuit".
In reading other posts and rummaging around the Internet, i read that one cause (of the several) was air to gas mix/ration, and so my question is, do you think that me changing the gas from regular unleaded to the highest one the gas station offered (Super+) is what has caused this issue?
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer with my problem, it is appreciated,
DeVoiD.
Administrator
Joined: 10-13-2011
Posts: 40,083
From: Welland,Ont Canada
Welcome to the site, that code indicates a knock sensor problem, not necessarily related to fuel octane
https://www.obd-codes.com/p0332
It could be a loose connection, or the mounting bolt has worked loose.
My first read , you stated that you filled up with Super+, instead of the regular fuel , you indicate the HHR is an SS , which requires premium fuel . So did you mean you and your wife have been filling up with regular 87 octane? Or your regular fuel station brand?
I suggest you may have a bad tank of fuel.
https://www.obd-codes.com/p0332
It could be a loose connection, or the mounting bolt has worked loose.
My first read , you stated that you filled up with Super+, instead of the regular fuel , you indicate the HHR is an SS , which requires premium fuel . So did you mean you and your wife have been filling up with regular 87 octane? Or your regular fuel station brand?
I suggest you may have a bad tank of fuel.
Platinum Member
Joined: 12-06-2009
Posts: 11,721
From: Alabama
From the Owners Manual:
"If the vehicle has the 2.4L L4 engine (VIN Code V) or the 2.0L L4 engine (VIN Code X:all SS models), use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 91 or higher. You can also use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, but the vehicle’s acceleration could be slightly reduced, and you might notice a slight audible knocking noise, commonly referred to as spark knock. If the octane is less than 87, you might notice a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could damage the engine. If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher and you hear heavy knocking, the engine needs service."
And there should be a sticker inside the fuel door that states : Premium Fuel Recommended
"If the vehicle has the 2.4L L4 engine (VIN Code V) or the 2.0L L4 engine (VIN Code X:all SS models), use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 91 or higher. You can also use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, but the vehicle’s acceleration could be slightly reduced, and you might notice a slight audible knocking noise, commonly referred to as spark knock. If the octane is less than 87, you might notice a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could damage the engine. If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher and you hear heavy knocking, the engine needs service."
And there should be a sticker inside the fuel door that states : Premium Fuel Recommended
Moderator
Joined: 05-01-2014
Posts: 8,512
From: California
Unless the ECM has been tuned, it doesn't actually require premium, but it will run better with it. It is recommended to run premium.
I recommend getting it to a shop. I was getting knock sensor codes right before my engine broke. I suspect carbon deposits caused a hot spot on a piston, and burned a hole in the piston.
Running regular gas causes the ECM to retard the timing to avoid knocking.
At that mileage, the direct injection engine may have some carbon deposits. The PCV system may be dumping oil vapors into the intake system, which could cause the deposits.
I recommend getting it to a shop. I was getting knock sensor codes right before my engine broke. I suspect carbon deposits caused a hot spot on a piston, and burned a hole in the piston.
Running regular gas causes the ECM to retard the timing to avoid knocking.
At that mileage, the direct injection engine may have some carbon deposits. The PCV system may be dumping oil vapors into the intake system, which could cause the deposits.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 02-26-2020
Posts: 39
From: FL
To clear some things up:
I meant Chevy and not Check... sorry, spell check got me again.
Its a manual, and not automatic (sorry i should have stated that before)
My wife has been filling it up with regular unleaded since she bought the car (used), and who knows what the previous owners filled it with.
No sticker (inside the fuel door) saying which Octane to put in (87 or otherwise).
Also, ive not heard any kind of "ping" or knock before or after the CEF came on. I dont know if it was just my thoughts, but the only "might have been something" thing i noticed, was changing into 3rd, 3rd seemed a little weak with acceleration, but again, i might have imagined that.
Remember, we had no issues until the vehicle was 1/4 the way into its second consecutive tank of Super+ (premium).
There are only two gas stations that we gas up at, and their regular unleaded is octane 87, but im not sure what octane that super+ was, just that it was higher.
A bad tank of gas sounds like a nightmare, and my wife had experienced that before - with a different vehicle - and it was a total bugger to get resolved (Thankfully the gas company picked up the tab, which is amazing they did that!).
Additional info:
I know that sensor is around where the starter motor is located, and I wanted to take a look to see if maybe the wire was the issue, and so i went into the trunk, and disconnected the battery (i dont want to go anywhere near anything in the engine without doing that), and tried to get under the car, well, i didn't know it has some kind of "skirt" that would have to be removed in order to see what i was looking for, and so I gave up (im not a mechanic, just mechanically minded), and reconnected the battery. I did not think anymore of it, well in the morning, i start him up, and the check engine light is no longer illuminated, and it stayed that way for almost 3 days, and then it came back on in the middle of the morning commute to work. is that weird? or just what to expect if you disconnect the battery and reconnect it?
By the way, thanks all for being kind and helpful. My wife and I really do appreciate it.
I meant Chevy and not Check... sorry, spell check got me again.
Its a manual, and not automatic (sorry i should have stated that before)
My wife has been filling it up with regular unleaded since she bought the car (used), and who knows what the previous owners filled it with.
No sticker (inside the fuel door) saying which Octane to put in (87 or otherwise).
Also, ive not heard any kind of "ping" or knock before or after the CEF came on. I dont know if it was just my thoughts, but the only "might have been something" thing i noticed, was changing into 3rd, 3rd seemed a little weak with acceleration, but again, i might have imagined that.
Remember, we had no issues until the vehicle was 1/4 the way into its second consecutive tank of Super+ (premium).
There are only two gas stations that we gas up at, and their regular unleaded is octane 87, but im not sure what octane that super+ was, just that it was higher.
A bad tank of gas sounds like a nightmare, and my wife had experienced that before - with a different vehicle - and it was a total bugger to get resolved (Thankfully the gas company picked up the tab, which is amazing they did that!).
Additional info:
I know that sensor is around where the starter motor is located, and I wanted to take a look to see if maybe the wire was the issue, and so i went into the trunk, and disconnected the battery (i dont want to go anywhere near anything in the engine without doing that), and tried to get under the car, well, i didn't know it has some kind of "skirt" that would have to be removed in order to see what i was looking for, and so I gave up (im not a mechanic, just mechanically minded), and reconnected the battery. I did not think anymore of it, well in the morning, i start him up, and the check engine light is no longer illuminated, and it stayed that way for almost 3 days, and then it came back on in the middle of the morning commute to work. is that weird? or just what to expect if you disconnect the battery and reconnect it?
By the way, thanks all for being kind and helpful. My wife and I really do appreciate it.
Administrator
Joined: 10-13-2011
Posts: 40,083
From: Welland,Ont Canada
The battery disconnected was a battery lobotomy, in which the computers all reset or rebooted.
The CEL is it the same code? It, took 3 days or so many drive cycles , I would think a faulty knock sensor would present itself immediately.
the loose wire theory or loose mounting bolt could be all there is to it.
I also suggest going back to the same fuel you have run previous to the problem.
The CEL is it the same code? It, took 3 days or so many drive cycles , I would think a faulty knock sensor would present itself immediately.
the loose wire theory or loose mounting bolt could be all there is to it.
I also suggest going back to the same fuel you have run previous to the problem.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 02-26-2020
Posts: 39
From: FL
Yep, the same error code when it finally came back. Yeah, you would think it would come right up immediately after starting it up again, after having the battery disconnected, but it did not, and was almost 3 days before the light came back on... very strange
Agreed, I'm not going to put the super/premium gas in it, once we go through the stuff thats already in the tank, it will be back to regular unleaded for him.
It is amazing how crammed all the wires and connectors are in those vehicles, and even read how some wires are so close to the exhaust manifold that they get crispy and the outer plastic is burnt off! so, I think you are right, loose wire or mounting bolt. We are dropping him off at a garage tomorrow morning, and will see what they have to say.
Thanks so much for all the help,
DeVoiD.
Agreed, I'm not going to put the super/premium gas in it, once we go through the stuff thats already in the tank, it will be back to regular unleaded for him.
It is amazing how crammed all the wires and connectors are in those vehicles, and even read how some wires are so close to the exhaust manifold that they get crispy and the outer plastic is burnt off! so, I think you are right, loose wire or mounting bolt. We are dropping him off at a garage tomorrow morning, and will see what they have to say.
Thanks so much for all the help,
DeVoiD.
