Rocket Dawg

Thanks for that info. My thoughts were to confirm that its still going to act up tomorrow morning when its cold out.

donbrew

The book I have says to wrap a rag around the release valve on the tester to sop up the spray. But yours works too.

Rocket Dawg

Tried an experiment this morning.15 degrees outside. Cycled the key on and off 4 or 5 times to pressurize the system. That didnt do anything. Tried to start it, it stumbled and stalled. Re tried and it started and ran fine. Today its going to get the ethanol % checked by a better tester and the fuel pressure checked. The fuel pump may have a check valve in it thats not doing its job. and/or, this style of pump/ car cant be pre-pressurized by the method I tried. Yesterday was about 25 degrees. It had extended cranking by about 1 to 2 seconds, but started and ran. A little bit of a "shake" for about 1 second and then it was fine. I'll let ya know how it goes the next few days.

Oldblue

Seems to be the fuel pump assembly, if the alcohol percentage was off it would be harder to start and run rough longer.
But let’s see what the other scan tool says.

Rocket Dawg

Ethanol percentage was at 10% .. Fuel pressure was spot on. Pressure tester left on over night and checked the following morning. Spark Plugs were black and replaced. Picking it up this morning. We put a mass air flow sensor in it. It has an air temp sensor built into it. Although it didnt fail to the point of throwing a code, it might be reading the air temp incorrectly at start up. It was an educated guess. It starts and runs great. The mechanic noticed a small puff of gray colored smoke from the exhaust at start up that dissipated instantly ( over rich condition and the black spark plugs) It no longer does that with a new MAF sensor in it. Ill monitor the spark plugs and exhaust. The cold temps are done till next winter.

Oldblue

Hopefully that’s fixed! Thanks for the follow up

PulpFriction

Thanks for the update. Bad MAF sensor might have caused the car to incorrectly adjust for the E85 fuel.

I don’t remember if it was mentioned in this thread the importance of turning off the motor when fueling a flex-fuel HHR. Not just for safety. Part of the process of adjusting for fuel.

So Winter is over in Grand Rapids, huh? That’s optimism!

Rocket Dawg

Winter isn't over, but more than likely the 15 degree mornings are done till next winter. We had a couple of 24 degree mornings and it starts and runs fine. So the parts replaced were a CTS coolant temp sensor, purge valve solenoid, mass air flow sensor and the spark plugs