Ok the HHR LS 2.2 is all of a sudden stumbling at start. Itll do it once or twice then rest of day is fine. Mainly in the morning after sitting over night.

What should I start to check? Wanting to fix it before it causes real problems.

 

If you mean seems to miss once immediately after starting. Mine does that occasionally. I just scratch my head and move on. It's way down my worry list.

Most will say: dirty gas, clogged fuel filter/bad fuel pump (same fix), maybe a spark plug gap off, dirty throttle body or just because.

 

first thing I would do is dump some octane booster in it....or fill with premium. it will help if you got a bad batch of gas..

on a more serious note, if you are losing fuel pressure, it may stumble and eventually the fuel pump could be going. but not likely if you dont have high mileage on your car(like 70,000+)

 

A quick and dirty way to check on the fuel pump's health is to enlist the help of your wife/child/neighbor.

Have them turn the ignition to "Run" without starting the engine while you listen at the fuel filler(gas cap off), you should hear the pump emitting a steady hum. If you hear a fluttering hum, grinding noises, or a screech...your pump is on the way out.

It does sound like you have low fuel pressure at initial start up.

 

Ok done list:

Just installed new plugs and boot. With premium plugs, proper gap, i did them.
Oil n Filter Changed.
THEN took it to Shell and got Prem Gas with Octane Booster
Now sitting at 1/8th tank it started this sputter at start crap where you have to slam the gas petal to get it to stay running.

Also 209k miles. Not sure what was all done because its a freebie from wifes parents.

 

Sounding like pump or worse.

 

or worse?

 

compression I would assume donbrew meant...but I think your looking at fuel pump or fuel filter issues. It is a all in one unit(pump, filter, float sensor) if Im not mistaken. You have enough miles for 2 fuel pump replacements

 

At 209K, lots of potential internal wear. Valves, rings, carbon, timing chain, cam sprockets etc. You may need a pro to diagnose. Compression test, leakdown test, visual inspection that sort of thing.

Just about anything else should throw a code.

Free is seldom cheap!

 

1/4 tank? 209k miles? Sounds like crap is in the tank, and at , 1/4 tank (4gal) not enough fuel dilution to offset it. Water? Filter sock dirty? Try some good system cleaner and see what happens. If it is only doing it at 1/4 or below, I'd go this route first.