05 Cobalt fuel problem

[56pontiac]

Originally Posted by J-Ri

If the plug did tighten, then the threads can either move freely or are already stripped, I'd just back it out and cross your fingers. I've done more spark plugs than I can count in aluminum heads, at first I thought the threads would pull out on half of them, but I havn't had a single one pull any out. The funny thing is, the only time I did have the threads pull out was on a cast iron head

I know what you're saying about aluminum, but it definitely has it's upsides too. A Cavalier with the cast iron 2.4l handles and rides worse than the same car with the 2.2 Ecotec. Not much, but it is noticeable if you really get going . You also have more HP to accelerate because you're not moving all that weight with you. The latest version of the 2.4 Quad4 makes 5 HP more than the 2.2 Ecotec, yet is slower.

Use anti-seize, change fluids on time, and use a torque wrench... pretty much all you need to do with aluminum.

What I don't like about aluminum is the heat factor. When I hit the racoon I never expected it to take out the cooling system. Something that you don't think of. It was about a mile from home.The wife take the car to work the next day ( 20 miles one way ) and calls me that the CHECK ENGINE light came on.She said she checked it and saw there was no water in it. I drove down and said let it set, the rad and a/c are gone.So called the Insurance company. They send a guy down the next day with a flat bed. I told him Don't start the car. Oh, he said, it won't take long. So he starts it up, doesn't like where it was and backs it off. Does this twice. the gets out (car still running ) and walks around to make sure he likes where it is on the flatbed.Finally after about 10 minutes it gets shut off. The next afternoon I get a call - Hey this is Steve down at the body shop. I'm driving this Cobalt around and am I missing something I don't see anything wrong with it ? My exact words - You idiot there isn't any coolant in it. Oh !! That was his reply. I told the wife well with all that cars been thorugh, there is no doubt the head gasket isn't long for this world. Didn't last a month. All I can hope is the head is OK. But knock on wood, I've never stripped a plug yet.I come from the days of the 265's, 283's, 327's and the Fords I've had were the 390's and 429's. I have a 28 Ford Tudor Sedan, 56 Pontiac 2 door wagon and a 79 Firebird. My everyday truck is a 77 Dodge M880. I'll still take the older ones over the new ones. Thanks

[J-Ri]

Sounds like that car's had some bad luck and a couple incompetent service guys in it's few years. The head gaskets don't last long if they overheat very much.

I love the older ones too, if I could afford the gas I'd drive my old '86 truck every day. I just drive too far to get single-digit MPGs. It's had some very hard use over the years, but still runs perfect... starts every time, I don't think I've done anything but oil changes in 10k miles. In the near future I'll be looking for an older Caprice and fixing that up, adding tons of HP, maybe even restore it if I start feeling ambitious. Nobody today makes a car that I really want to buy... except a new Camaro, but for the money I'd spend on the SS trim on that I could have a better, mostly custom, classic car. It's a hard decision.

[56pontiac]

Originally Posted by 56pontiac

What I don't like about aluminum is the heat factor. When I hit the racoon I never expected it to take out the cooling system. Something that you don't think of. It was about a mile from home.The wife take the car to work the next day ( 20 miles one way ) and calls me that the CHECK ENGINE light came on.She said she checked it and saw there was no water in it. I drove down and said let it set, the rad and a/c are gone.So called the Insurance company. They send a guy down the next day with a flat bed. I told him Don't start the car. Oh, he said, it won't take long. So he starts it up, doesn't like where it was and backs it off. Does this twice. the gets out (car still running ) and walks around to make sure he likes where it is on the flatbed.Finally after about 10 minutes it gets shut off. The next afternoon I get a call - Hey this is Steve down at the body shop. I'm driving this Cobalt around and am I missing something I don't see anything wrong with it ? My exact words - You idiot there isn't any coolant in it. Oh !! That was his reply. I told the wife well with all that cars been thorugh, there is no doubt the head gasket isn't long for this world. Didn't last a month. All I can hope is the head is OK. But knock on wood, I've never stripped a plug yet.I come from the days of the 265's, 283's, 327's and the Fords I've had were the 390's and 429's. I have a 28 Ford Tudor Sedan, 56 Pontiac 2 door wagon and a 79 Firebird. My everyday truck is a 77 Dodge M880. I'll still take the older ones over the new ones. Thanks

Latest in the COBALT SAGA. Went to my buddies last night. Fired the Coablt up, and as usual it stalled afetr about 10 seconds.Checked the fuse to make sure it wasnt a timed fuse.It wasn't.So I sat in the car and kept pumping the gas to keep it going.After minute or so of that I let off.The car ran maybe 30 seconds on it's pwn.So back to pumping the gas.After the water temp go up to about 140 I let off the gas.It ran for about 90 seconds. So back to pumping.After the temp got to 160 I got off the gas.It stayed idleing.So I let it warm up for 10 minutes.Shut it down and fired it up a few times.Ran good.So I drove it home (about 25 minutes ) and got on it going up some steep hills (PA mountains !! ) It ran flawless all the way home. Of course the fuel pump is running all the time. Went out this morning and again to get it to run I had to keep pumping the gas. Once it warms up, it's great.Bought some LUCAS injector cleaner and put that in the tank. Will put some fresh gas in it today and see if that helps.I'm also goingto replace the plugs. They only have about 4,000 miles on them, but have been through a lot and have been bead blasted.The Harbor Freight code reader - waste of 40 bucks.Hooked it up and got the N/A .So that means it won't work on the Cobalt.It is CAN updated. So far that's where the Cobalt is at.

[rodeo02]

Originally Posted by 56pontiac

...The Harbor Freight code reader - waste of 40 bucks.Hooked it up and got the N/A .So that means it won't work on the Cobalt.It is CAN updated. So far that's where the Cobalt is at.

Good to see you're making headway on this! Weird about the ~$40 China Freight reader though . A co-worker of mine bought one for his truck. I tried it on my 2007 Cobalt and it works like a champ. I had no codes to scan, but it goes through it's routine and comes up clear. No error messages or N/As.

Joel

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by 56pontiac

Latest in the COBALT SAGA. Went to my buddies last night. Fired the Coablt up, and as usual it stalled afetr about 10 seconds.Checked the fuse to make sure it wasnt a timed fuse.It wasn't.So I sat in the car and kept pumping the gas to keep it going.After minute or so of that I let off.The car ran maybe 30 seconds on it's pwn.So back to pumping the gas.After the water temp go up to about 140 I let off the gas.It ran for about 90 seconds. So back to pumping.After the temp got to 160 I got off the gas.It stayed idleing.So I let it warm up for 10 minutes.Shut it down and fired it up a few times.Ran good.So I drove it home (about 25 minutes ) and got on it going up some steep hills (PA mountains !! ) It ran flawless all the way home. Of course the fuel pump is running all the time. Went out this morning and again to get it to run I had to keep pumping the gas. Once it warms up, it's great.Bought some LUCAS injector cleaner and put that in the tank. Will put some fresh gas in it today and see if that helps.I'm also goingto replace the plugs. They only have about 4,000 miles on them, but have been through a lot and have been bead blasted.The Harbor Freight code reader - waste of 40 bucks.Hooked it up and got the N/A .So that means it won't work on the Cobalt.It is CAN updated. So far that's where the Cobalt is at.

Check that the ECT sensor is reading right, an incorrect reading does more harm before the engine is up to temp

Originally Posted by rodeo02

Good to see you're making headway on this! Weird about the ~$40 China Freight reader though . A co-worker of mine bought one for his truck. I tried it on my 2007 Cobalt and it works like a champ. I had no codes to scan, but it goes through it's routine and comes up clear. No error messages or N/As.

Joel

From the few products I actually bought from them, I think everything they sell is junk. I've got a dead-blow hammer that's ok. I bought a balljoint separator that snapped the first time I used it to separate the tie rod ends on my truck. I have a set of prybars that are so weak all they're good for is pushing a belt on a pulley I can't reach by hand. I had a ratchet that broke just pulling on it by hand, my Matco ratchet at work has had a 3' cheater bar on it! One of my friends bought a set of jack stands, the release lever broke off the ratchet/lock part. While I was looking at it, I noticed the weld penetration was horrible on the frame, and that it wasn't even welded all the way along the seam! I try to buy American anyway, unless there is no way around it. Have you ever looked for a made in USA hand operated can opener or toenail clippers? We used to make good products, and if not challenged by "disposable" products from China, I think we still would.

[56pontiac]

Here is the latest.I put the Code Scanner on again. Three times it read N/A.On the fourth try it said there were 3 codes. It gave me the faults for 2 of the 3.One was for an intermittent miss. Don't remember the other off hand.So even though the plugs were new before the problem, I changed the 3 that I could get out.I also filled the tank with fresh gas (There is a place in PA that has gas that I will never buy again. (I won't mention the namez of the place.More into this later ) and put more Lucas cleaner in it. After changing the plugs I fired it up.It ran smooth and the miss was gone. The engine light has been on for the past 40,000 miles.Now last night,the light went out and has stayed out.No,it didn't burn out.Checked that. There are no codes on the car now.I still have to trace the fuel pump wire to get it on the right one. It is still hooked to another fuse.So the pump runs all the time.As it stands the car is running like new.Back to the gas problem. When the engine light first came on I knew it was bad gas.So after I ran it down to a 1/2 tank I filled it up at another place.After a few miles the light went out.Didn't learn my lesson and got it there again. Same thing, same remedy.So I emailed them and asked what they added to their gas.They would NOT give me a straight answer.Gave me crap about they had filters that go down to millions of microns etc. I emailed them back.Told em I didn't say DIRT, I said additives.Still would not give a straight answer. I do know that methanol is bad for vehicles.Having worked for a time at AMOCO we had to learn about additives.Methanol has an adverse reaction with zinc in the gas tanks (No problem with plastic tanks now ) and with the plastic,rubber etc. in the fuel system. Plus it just doesn't do a car good.Dry gas is Methanol.So Isopropyl dry gas is the best. Anyhow, some places cut the gas with Methanol. That's why I wanted to know what additives they used. Upon talking to others I go to find out they had the same problm.Others don't realize the problems with their vehicles are from the gas.But my wife forgot once and got gas there.As I was driving the car started to miss and the light came on.I said I didn't use the S***Z brand gas and it did it again.She said - Oh I forgot and put it in last night.She won't make that mistake again I hope. So my feelingz are thiz place should stick to making food productz and selling cigarettez and quit selling gaz.I did try to get the spark plus out again that won't come out. I soaked it with PB Blaster over night.Treid to turn it.Nothing.So I treid to tighten it a little.It did go a little.So then tried to loosen it again.Went maybe a 1/16 of a turn.So tighten and spray again.Turned out about the 1/16 only again.Fired it up and let it warm. treid again. Goit maybe an 1/8 this time.Then tighten and loosen.Won't go beyond that 1/8 pr sp turn.But does make this God awful screeching sound of - I am tight and staying right here. treid it again the next day again after spraying it with PB. Same result.So I have 3 new plugs and one old one. I appreciate all hte help from everyone. I hate the Chinese junk.I worked on the Steel Mills near Pittsburgh for 12 years till the shutdown. The way I look at it in this economy if your out of work and driving a Japanese car and shop at the nations biggest retailer and buy the Chinese junk - then eat the Japanese car and Chinese junk.I shop at the small town stores. Might pay more sometimes, but it's worth it. I bougth filters for the Coablt at a major discount auto parts store. They were $2.00 on average cheaper than the BIG Discount store.Oil was .75 cents a quart cheaper. If you think the stuff sold in the Big store is the quality, guess again. Aagin - appreciate all the help from everyone.Can't say it enough and couldn't have done it without you.

[56pontiac]

The Cobalt ran good for about a day. Then it started running rough. It seemed like bad gas. So it had about a half tank.I filled it up and it started running good after a few miles. It had said on the Code Reader about a misfire.I had cleared the misfire code, rescanned and the msifire code was gone. But was replaced with these 2 - 420; CATALYST EFFICENCY BELOW THRESHOLD ( BANK ONE ) - 463; FUEL LEVEL SENSOR A CIRCUIT HIGH INPUT.My wife had brought the car home and said it sounded like the exhaust was making a funny noise. I drove it and it did.Sounded like it wasn't flowing through at full presssure. It seems to sound better, but maybe we are used to it ??? Hope to get al the bugs worked out of it soon.but our luck has always been fix one thing to have 2 more go wrong. Thanks in advance.

[rodeo02]

The catalyst inefficiency code is picked up by the O2 sensor mounted downstream of the converter. The only function of that sensor is to set the code you got. Basically it needs to read the proper delta between it and the upstream sensor, indicating a proper functioning cat. With all the start/stops misfiring and fuel loading, I'm not surprised you got this code. It should go away after some miles of normal operations. I've seen new vehicles throw this code, it disappears and never comes back. Keep in mind, lots of misfiring will ruin that $$$ catalytic converter.

Joel

[56pontiac]

Thanks for that info. I cleared the codes day before yesterday.So far the engine light hasn't come back on.I'm still running the fuel pump off another fuse. I have to look more to find a broken wire or whatever else is causing no power to the fuse block for the fuel pump.The car runs great the way it is.But I know if I keep the pump running all of the time it sure won't last as long. In 2 weeks we need to take it on a long trip. Just not enough hours in a day anymore. Thanks again.

[tib22]

It appears we have the same problem. I've got an 05 cobalt ss/sc. I bought it wrecked as i rebuild salvage cars. when I first got it, it started but ran really rough. then it would not start. Eventually It started, but died soon after. I cracked the fuel line near the injectors and no fuel. the car would start if i put a little fuel in the throttle body. I never had heard the fuel pump kick on, never. i read this thread and decied to jump the fuel pump relay no luck. i pulled out the fuse box under the hood. looked it over, plugged it back it and magic, it started. I test drove it, got home and it died. i eventually got it started the next day, but died not long after. putting everything together i bought a new relay for the fuel pump, no luck. I took the cap off the old relay, plugged it in and tripped the relay by hand. magic the fuel pump kicked on but stayed on even if the key was out if the ignition. its like the power to the relay's polarity was reverse. I am guessing that maybe the circuit board that the fuses plug into under the hood is bad. My fix, I found the hot wire to the fuel pump. its the larger grey wire on the far left at the plug in under the rear passenger seat. I spliced into that wire and connected it to a wire in the fuse box near the passenger floor that only turns hot when the key is on. now the fuel pump comes on only when the key is on. I know its not the correct fix, but it works. I have a feeling that the circuit board in the fuse box is bad, but just a guess. if you have any questions email me at [email protected] ill be glad to explain it. if you find the correct solution please inform me.

[56pontiac]

Haven't had time to get back to this site.The Cobalt has kept me busy. The head gasket went and had it replaced.The factory said the head cannot be serviced.But it had a slight warp.So I had it shaved .015.Put it back together and that part of it is working fine.Had it on the road a week. Wife called and the car wouldn't start when she got to work. So I towed it home.Fuel pump again. Even with a jump wire , no luck. Messed with it for an hour and it fired up. Took the wife to work because I still didn't trust it. Same thing happened to me. A no start. Messed with it again. No luck. Called a friend to take me home and get my truck and tow dolly. Took her about an hour to get there. Tried it once more before we were to go. It fired up. Got it the 15 miles home. I figure there must be a bad wire between the fuse block and fuel pump. I am going to run a hot wire from the fuse block back to the pump harness. This car reminds me of the Chevette my wifes sister gave us years ago. The car was 2 years old. She called it the car from hell. I wanted to pay for it. She said she couldn't take any money for it. Did you ever get a car for free and still feel ripped off ??? It was down more than up. I sold it for the $60.00 I had in the new battery in it. The guy was warned by me what a piece of junk it was. He stuck hundreds into it. Still was junk. He put it where it belonged ... in a Charity Benefit where people paid a dollar to hit it with a sledge hammer. Then it was off to the crusher. If we still didn't owe 2 years on this car that is what I would do with it.