Snoopy, I drove into work with the sunroof open this morning...

 

I use my sun roof almost everyday. Either fully open or just the rear open to allowing some venting/fresh air.

Really a nice option !!

Anyhow....I want to stay on topic.

Calgary, I would think if the engine "turned over" you had enough battery energy and I would also think the oil was NOT sufficiently thick to prevent ignition. Therefore, my guess, would be electronics or fuel. Maybe as other suggested, water in the fuel system. Keep us posted.....it's kind of an interesting scenario.

 

I've had mine continue to crank after letting go of the key (but not turning it to off). Kinda wierd. It doesn't crank after it kicks, just cranks longer when it needs to.

 

It does crank longer the first time on its own, then dies once or twice. thats when the hold comes into play. i noticed that after it dies, i can set the key back to the off position and then i can give it the "flick" once again cranking on its own to start.
The only time this occurs is in the mornings every so ofter, first start of the day. for the rest of the day i don't have the problem. It doesn't do it every day, just once in a while.

 

yur tank has a lot of water in it from condensation if your running a month before you are filling it up you have a lot of water in your gas tank . you need to put several bottles of gas tank water remover ...... my buddie has a sabb and he sometimes goesa month before he fills it up it acts the same your you described......good luck.

 

Try this method in winter or in humid climate: Put the key in the ignition, turn to on (don't start yet) and listen for a 'whirring' sound coming from the rear
of the HHR (that's the fuel pump giving you just enough gas to start). When it STOPS making the noise (2-3 secs) turn the key and HOLD it there 'till the motor starts. If you just get in the car and cranck the starter without waiting, there's not enough gas pumped to start the engine (in damp or cold weather anyway). If you miss, wait at least 5 - 10 mins for the gas to evaporate from the engine. If you attempt to start again right away, you'll flood the engine, especially if you step on the gas pedal (I know I know, you hear the engine 'sputtering' and it seems to cry out for a 'little' help from the gas pedal). If you do, then it's REALLY flooded and it will not start.
***I've seen mechanics and touring club mechs. use the technique of flooring the gas pedal on a flooded engine and holding it there BEFORE they turn the starter but that only works if it's not seriously flooded***
If you try this and miss, then you're really up the creek
The trick is basically: in exteme weather, don't miss the first try.
It could also be a TON of other stuff. Deffective gas pump, worn out wiring,
frozen gas line, water in the gas, etc etc....
Pluggin' it in one hour before starting it will really help if your car has no ohter starting problems (the heat provided gets rid of the excess humidity also)
Anyhoo, that's the price to pay I guess for living in a winter wonderland
I would LOVE to see some of you guys from the southern states driving in a snow storm when the road is so icy it's like a mirror and you can barely see the front of your HOOD because of the wind and snow. And while your nose is in the frozen windshield (your not-so-new wipers are covered with ice and just smearing) a huge 18 wheeler zooms by 'cause he's sitting tall above the snow drifts, and it makes your heart rev faster than your engine

 

Overload, I have to take issue with your analysis. Most, if not all, EFI systems cut off any fuel flow with the gas pedal floored and the engine not running (EPA concerns among others). These systems are very intelligent and will not allow the engine to flood if the system is operating correctly. The easy way to clear a flooded engine (a rare occurrence today except for the extreme cold climates where the gas simply will not vaporize) is to simply hold the pedal to the floor and crank the engine until it begins to hit (but typically no more then thirty seconds) then release the pedal quickly.

Flooded engines overwhelm the vapor control systems, and defeat the environmental systems and are a danger if the car is in an accident. This condition has been programmed out of the EFI control systems years ago. However, having sent the extremely low mental state of General Motors, anything is possible in a Chevy.

I had this problem years ago with a Volvo wagon parked outside and a block heater solved the problem with -25 degree starts. One should warm the car enough to get other circulating liquids to operating temps so as not to blow out seals with an over pressure. A couple of minutes and a slow easy start out is all that is required at these extreme temps.

 

The HHR was in the shop yesterday for an oil change and to have this problem analysed. They checked the starter, battery, fuel delivery and all were found to be okay. They did however clean the throttle body due to some carbon buildup. They said to monitor and bring it back if it happens again of course who knows if and when my car will sit out in the cold like that again. I don't like waiting to see if a problem will happen especially when it's a problem that could leave me stranded when it's freezing cold.

 

Sorry to bump this.

Same issue with me, actually in the same city as the OP.
08 SS.

Its been in the high -20C's the last 10 days at night, -20C as high's those days.

The first week, had in our attached semi heated garage. Even though it was probably -10 to -15C in there with the -28C outside, it started each morning.

Made the mistake on Friday of leaving it outside overnight one of those night...12 hours later when wanting to start it Saturday morning, no dice.

Had to push it out of the driveway to get the other vehicle out, and sat out Sat night. Each time, more then enough cranking, although I knew the battery was cold, it cranked only a few times, but its not a starter or battery issue.

Sunday I went through the hassle of usuing our Denali to push the HHR back into the garage. A space heater, and cranking the furnace while opening the door to the house, and the garage has gone up in temp the last two evening to around 10C. Tried this morning to start..no luck. Repeated procedure tonight a couple times, still the same...cranking but not firing nothing...the car cranks and has plenty of juice, but won't fire.

I figure its gas...only 1/3 tank left. I put in gas line antifreeze Saturday and again today, and hoped it would get through the system (I pushed the gas down as the manual states, hoping to get gas and thus the antifreeze through the system), with the help from the much warmer temperature.

Probably don't have enough gas and water's forming in the line (unless my guage is wrong and I am out of gas, dobut it)...but how warm will it have to be and for how long for that line to unfreeze? Anything I can do to expediate the process?

 

Hey CalgarySS, sorry to hear about your problems. It really sucks when you can't get fired up especially when there is probably a lot of things to get done before Christmas.

I must say that I haven't had any starting problems outside of that one night when my car sat outside. This winter is the first winter my HHR is outside 24/7 because my girlfriend uses our parking spot in our garage. My HHR has been outside with the block heater unplugged since the cold weather rolled in and it has not had a problem turning over at all.

Hopefully your problems can be remedied somehow.