Fuel Delivery Issue - Help

[rmcooper]

Hello All,

I’ve been reading this forum as a guest for a while, just joined up to see if anyone can help with an issue I’m having with my son’s car now.

2012 LTZ 1.4L Manual Hatch 85k

He was driving it a few days ago and, after the fact, reported that at ~3,500 RPMs the car was acting like it was out of gas. It was low on fuel so he put in half a tank and limped it home while it cut off continuously. Yes, I have lectured him thoroughly about forcing it to drive during a malfunction.

So now it’s in the garage and I’ve been working on troubleshooting. It will turn over fine, but not start on its own. I have found that spraying starting fluid into the intake will crank it and I can keep it running with additional sprays. Revving the motor with the gas pedal makes no change and won’t keep it running.

I think it’s clear there is a fuel delivery issue here. I would first suspect the pump, but I’ve hit the tank with a rubber mallet trying to reengage the fuel pump and that doesn’t seem to work. I can’t find any information about a fuel shutoff switch or an external fuel filter. Does anyone have any thoughts on what other component/tests I can try or should I just start with a fuel pump replacement?

Engine Codes:
P0302 – Cylinder 2 misfire
P0171 – Bank 1 too lean

 

[2014 Blue RS]

First thought is an issue with an ignition coil. Those are easy to check. If you do a search you'll find some posts about it. See if they match what you're describing. And the codes.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[rmcooper]

I thought it could be spark related at first, but since spraying starting fluid directly into the intake makes it run fine I had moved off of that theory. Would weak coils make it not run on gasoline, but do so on the fluid?

 

[Maddmatts]

Insert obvious precautions about handling flammables here.

Remove the black cap off the schrader valve on the fuel rail. Place a rag over the valve and press the center pin. Fuel should come out indicating that the fuel pump is producing pressure. Although I'm not sure if returnless rails hold pressure after engine shutdown so you may have to do this check with someone cranking the engine.

If air is coming out of the valve, it's possible the fuel system was just air locked and needs to be bled out.

 

[rmcooper]

I couldn't locate my fuel pressure gauge earlier today, but I was going to test that from the valve. Any idea what the pressure should be on this vehicle?

 

[Stew]

Per Trifecta's thread about fuel injectors, variable from 43.5 to 58 psi.

 

[MaD]

I was going to say it sounds like a air bubble in the line, maybe it just needs a bleeding. Hopefully that's all that's needed.

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[mja]

This seems stupid but have you filled the tank all the way? Sometimes the pickup/float can have issues after draining a tank.

Ign on but no starter should engage the electric fuel pump, after releasing fuel line pressure with ign off ... then ign back on, the pump should do its thing. There's no noise at all from the pump?

The single misfire seems odd here. opcorn: I would've told my dad the exact same thing lol 3500 rpm and it ran out of fuel. Don't get on him too much, boys will be boys.

 

[rmcooper]

Fixed - Solution

Ok, got the car running right again and wanted to close the loop for everyone. Ultimately I think it was some form of vapor lock. I was able to keep it running by removing the hose from the air intake and spraying Starter Fluid into the engine. After keeping it running while spraying for a while it would hold under its own fuel delivery system, though not very well and kept getting Check Engine lights. Today I replaced the 2 parts linked below (based on other articles I read in this forum), filled up with Premium, and took her for a 60 mile trip on backroads and interstate without any issues.

Thanks to everyone for the helpful suggestions! Parts links from Amazon and guides I used are below.

ACDelco 22865590 GM Original Equipment Vapor Canister Vent Valve
ACDelco 55573017 GM Original Equipment Vapor Canister Purge Valve

Chevrolet Sonic Repair Manual: Evaporative Emission Canister Vent Solenoid Valve Replacement - General - Engine Control - Internal Combustion Powertrain Control - Powertrain (you can accomplish this without removing the fuel tank)
Chevrolet Sonic Repair Manual: Evaporative Emission Canister Purge Solenoid Valve Replacement - General - Engine Control - Internal Combustion Powertrain Control - Powertrain

 

[mja]

Thanks for the follow up, glad to hear it wasn't a complicated fix.