Hello; I have a 2012 chevy sonic 1.8 I have been having the same reoccurring problem. Just recently almost every time i start it it dies immediately after it starts. Sometimes it will do it once and start right back up like normal but sometimes it will happen multiple times, and when it is doing it several times in a row sometimes it runs but it is misfiring and backfiring and sputtering, then if i give it gas then dies out again immediately. Then on the fourth or fifth time i try to start it, it will start right up and idle normally.
hard initial starting
- Thread starter lace
- Start date
Hard starting when cold
I spayed a cleaner into the intake as I read that sometimes there is a carbon build up on the valves. Tried it again today and still the same issue. Going to try and run the fuel tank down to low and refill with gas from Shell. It only does it when the car has not been started for a day and engine is cold. After about five times it will sputter and shake and then smooth out and is good for the rest of the day. There is no codes on the reader or car. Any help would be appreciated. Gary
I spayed a cleaner into the intake as I read that sometimes there is a carbon build up on the valves. Tried it again today and still the same issue. Going to try and run the fuel tank down to low and refill with gas from Shell. It only does it when the car has not been started for a day and engine is cold. After about five times it will sputter and shake and then smooth out and is good for the rest of the day. There is no codes on the reader or car. Any help would be appreciated. Gary
Tormach
Member
How many miles on the car. Is the car stock or do you have some engine mods, will help to understand.
Have you checked the coil pack and spark plugs?
Are the spark plugs the original or have you replaced them.
When its running, can you hear all four injectors ticking in the engine bay.
Could be a number of things causing this.
Have you checked the coil pack and spark plugs?
Are the spark plugs the original or have you replaced them.
When its running, can you hear all four injectors ticking in the engine bay.
Could be a number of things causing this.
Hard starting when cold
the plugs have not been changed. the car has 110,000KLM on it. The reason I was trying the gas is that there was no problem with starting the car until I filled it up a day ago at a CO-OP Gas Bar. then when I went to start it this problem started. The car keeps turn over and barley starting then it shakes and stalls. does this about three to four times. then I turn the key and it starts, and it runs perfect all day even when turning it off and restarting it. It only happens when the car has cooled down and sat for around twelve hours. The engine is stock. Local garage did fuel pressure check and checked for codes and starting system. Everything checked out ok. He said that he seen a service bulletin about a carbon build up on the valves from chevy. He said he pulled a plug and looked into the cylinder with a scope and seen some carbon build up on the intake valves. He used a cleaner that he spayed into the intake and told me to drive it for a week and it should clear it up. I know that usually a carbon build up on the valves or piston top would cause detonation, but can't see if it is that why it would not run rough even after warming up as you would never have a completely sealed combustion camber. So that is my story to this point. Gary
the plugs have not been changed. the car has 110,000KLM on it. The reason I was trying the gas is that there was no problem with starting the car until I filled it up a day ago at a CO-OP Gas Bar. then when I went to start it this problem started. The car keeps turn over and barley starting then it shakes and stalls. does this about three to four times. then I turn the key and it starts, and it runs perfect all day even when turning it off and restarting it. It only happens when the car has cooled down and sat for around twelve hours. The engine is stock. Local garage did fuel pressure check and checked for codes and starting system. Everything checked out ok. He said that he seen a service bulletin about a carbon build up on the valves from chevy. He said he pulled a plug and looked into the cylinder with a scope and seen some carbon build up on the intake valves. He used a cleaner that he spayed into the intake and told me to drive it for a week and it should clear it up. I know that usually a carbon build up on the valves or piston top would cause detonation, but can't see if it is that why it would not run rough even after warming up as you would never have a completely sealed combustion camber. So that is my story to this point. Gary
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MaD
Member
Go get a can of Seafoam.. put some in oil and gas.. amazing stuff! I did that to my 97 pathfinder and it has 250k miles and was blue smokin a little bit and rough idle... did the Seafoam and it stopped smoking and started running really smooth... I can't praise it enough [emoji41] [emoji106]
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Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
Hard starting when cold
Tried the new gas and Seafoam additive. A little better but still have to try 3 to 4 times before it starts. Starts then slowly dies in about 3 to 4 seconds. Have to do this about 4 times until it runs normally, then everything is fine. Anyone have this happen to them.
Tried the new gas and Seafoam additive. A little better but still have to try 3 to 4 times before it starts. Starts then slowly dies in about 3 to 4 seconds. Have to do this about 4 times until it runs normally, then everything is fine. Anyone have this happen to them.
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I also stick to very high volume stations both in my area and when I travel, and I also stick to the Top Tier brands (which are coincidentally where the high volume stations are that I use). Gas that moves faster out of the storage tanks has less of a chance of being bad than "stale" gas.
Hard starting when cold
Changed the radiator ECT Sensor. Must of been shorted out as it read 64F when the temperature outside was 36F. Starts great now. Thanks for all the suggestions. Gary
Changed the radiator ECT Sensor. Must of been shorted out as it read 64F when the temperature outside was 36F. Starts great now. Thanks for all the suggestions. Gary
Jeffery123
New member
If its worse when you fill it up ,maybe you have a bad purge solenoid. If you remove it and can blow threw it its bad.
