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Chevrolet Aveo Engine Problems

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Comments

  • barkydogbarkydog Member Posts: 45

    @mjancosek said:
    2009 Aveo hesitates at 40mph on up.

    I have a 2009 Chevy Aveo and have been looking for a solution for my problem. I have seen on here that people do have the same problem but no solutions are given.

    1 Month ago I was driving and my car started sputtering on acceleration and the Hold light came on. Checked the code and it said misfire on 2. Ok, I changed the spark plugs and all seemed fine.

    Now when fast accelerating over 40mph it starts hesitating and when you lighten up on acceleration it is fine. If you gradually build up the acceleration no problem at all.

    My solutions:
    1) Put new coil on (is there a way to test this)?
    2) New Throttle position sensor?
    3) Checked codes again today and have U0401. Which is a problem with Engine Control Module. Replace Module?
    4) Is it the valves? Maybe it is not a hesitation but a backfire?
    5) Catalyst Converter?

    These are all the "solutions" to the problem that the people talked about before. Nothing about "This is what I did and problem fixed". So before I start dropping money, is there anyone that has had this issue and actually had it fixed?

    There is a recall for the plugs and coil pack. Chevy will replace these at no charge. They sent notices to all Aveo owners about the recall. Why haven't you done this?

  • mjancosekmjancosek Member Posts: 2

    I did have them change the plugs and coil when I bought the car. The coil just went bad again I guess. All I knew was that there was a recall and who would have thought that a coil would do this to a car. I mean no hard idling and ran fine other than accelerating at 40 MPH.

    This weekend I tested the coil and it was giving out a orange/ Yellowish spark (should be blue).
    So we changed it with another coil and it works, no hesitation accelerating above 40 MPH.

  • lynus1lynus1 Member Posts: 1

    The RPM on my dashboard is periodically racing. The throttle valve was cleaned and the motor on the throttle valve was cleaned but the problem still persists. Has anyone experienced this and what is the cause and how to fix?

  • gmcustsvcgmcustsvc Member Posts: 4,252

    Hi lynus1,

    I understand that you are having some concerns with the RPM in your vehicle. I am not properly trained to offer technical advice, but if you would like for me to look further into your concern, please send an email to socialmedia@gm.com and please include your VIN. If you do decide to send an email, you can reach me directly by putting ATTN: Kristen in the subject line. I look forward to your reply!

    Kristen A.
    GM Customer Care

  • bigdealguybigdealguy Member Posts: 7

    I have a 2009 Aveo that refuses to start, sometimes, until I take off the gas cap and put it back on, making sure to twist it several times. My local Chevy dealer thinks my wife and I are nuts. They did replace the gas cap at my insistence.

    DETAILS

    All the dashboard lights come on, but turning the ignition key has no effect. The first time it happened, I thought maybe the gear shift was not solidly in park.

    I rocked the car and then tried it and it worked. I took the car in to the dealer and they could find nothing.

    After that, each time it would not start, my wife and I would rock the car and it would work.

    A year later, I Googled the problem and found a reference to a loose gas cap causing the engine light to come on.

    The very next time the car failed to start, I just opened the gas cap access door, removed the cap, replaced and twisted a lot and that has been our routine.

    The dealer still cannot identify the problem.

    Any ideas, please?

    Thank you.

  • barkydogbarkydog Member Posts: 45

    When you turn the key, does the engine crank? Or is it just silent?

  • bigdealguybigdealguy Member Posts: 7

    Thank you for your response.

    It is just silent.

    It happened again this afternoon. We were in the parking lot at a store. We got in, I went to start the car and all the usual lights came on, like seat belt, engine, and other ones, but just nothing.

    I pulled the lever to open the access door to the gas cap; tightened the gas bcap by turning it three times, closed the door, and it started right up.

    The problem occurs more often after the dealer replaced the gas cap.

  • barkydogbarkydog Member Posts: 45

    Was the gas cap actually loose? If so, why was it left loose?

    Whether the gas cap was loose or not, your fussing with it has nothing to do with the car not starting. It sounds like this may be due to a faulty starter or a bad ignition switch. If the starter doesn't engage when you turn the key, it's an electrical problem.

    There is such a thing as coincidence. The gas cap is not related your starter not being activated.

  • imidazol97imidazol97 Member Posts: 27,132
    edited April 2014

    @bigdealguy said:
    I pulled the lever to open the access door to the gas cap; tightened the gas bcap by turning it three times, closed the door, and it started right up.

    Are you saying the car does not crank the engine over at all when the key is turned?

    Or are you saying the car cranks, but won't fire and start running like it should?

    If it's that the car does not crank...

    I find it hard to believe that the gas cap has something to do with the car being able to start when you return to the driver seat and try to start it the second time and it works. The key uses a transponder to tell the system that a correct key is in the ignition. I looked in your owners manual to see if there's a time delay in case a wrong key transponder is read before the lockout for starting is reset. There was with the earlier key system with a chip in the key that we could see.

    Hypothesis: gas cap does something related to car when removed and reset.
    I suggest this just for kicks but to test part of the hypotheses going on here: before leaving the car, turn the gas cap so it's not locked down. I'd loosen it as much as possible if it will still let the gas door go closed because of the tight room there.

    Then when you come out, see if the car starts as a result of the loosened gas cap.

    Hypothesis: time passing is a factor in car resetting and starting.
    Another test for a hypothesis is that time is a factor: leave gas cap intact. But when it doesn't start, just get out of the driver seat and walk around the car without touching the car for a length of time. Then when you sit back down, see if the car starts after an amount of time has passed. With the old chip-in-key system it was 3 minutes before a reset BUT the security light would flash that whole time and go off when the system was ready to test for proper key again. Does your security light flash at that time?

    Hypothesis: something related to key and transponder is involved.
    If you have another key for the car, use it instead of the first. Also, when the car doesn't crank, take the key out, wait 15 seconds, put in the other key and see if the car will crank.

    2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,

  • barkydogbarkydog Member Posts: 45

    If his '09 has an ordinary looking key (not one with buttons on it) It is NOT a chip (transponder) key. (Lots of Aveo owners make this erroneous assumption. Just because the original key has a huge plastic head on it, that doesn't make it a chip key.)

    He said that when he turns the key it is silent. That's an electrical problem: a faulty starter is the most common culprit. The test for that is to turn the key on and off repeatedly in the ignition switch. Another common problem on a starter that is failing is that it might not start after the engine is hot. If it eventually starts by tweaking the key, it's probably the starter, or the ignition switch. There are other possibilities, but they're not probable on a car this young.

    But the gas cap has nothing to do with the starter not cranking.

  • bigdealguybigdealguy Member Posts: 7

    Thank y'all for your responses.

    I don't have a smart key. I know that because, when I got the car I had copies made and the person at Ace Hardware just grabbed some blanks off the rack.

    Again, as goofy as it sounds, here is the process:

    I can get into the front seat or not. This is my wife's car so I make sure it starts every morning. Sometimes I just open the door and lean in.

    I put the key in the ignition and ... nothing. No sound, nothing. All of the panel lights illuminate. None blink.

    It's kind of like the car is not in Park, but it is.

    I take the key out; lean down and pull the gas cap access door release.

    Today, as a matter of fact, I simply turned tightened the gas cap three times without taking it off.

    I tried starting the car again, (today) and ... nothing.

    I got back out again and removed the gas cap; replaced it; turned it five times and ... walla! the car started.

    This is a consistent pattern.

    Have y;all seen the blurb about how a loose gas cap can cause the Engine light to come on? It's something to do with the computer thinking things are not quite right.

    http://repairpal.com/check-engine-light-due-to-gas-cap-issue-483

    My problem is not exactly the same, but close.

    I sure appreciate y'all's help with this.

    Thank you.

  • barkydogbarkydog Member Posts: 45

    @bigdealguy said:
    Thank y'all for your responses.

    I don't have a smart key. I know that because, when I got the car I had copies made and the person at Ace Hardware just grabbed some blanks off the rack.

    Again, as goofy as it sounds, here is the process:

    I can get into the front seat or not. This is my wife's car so I make sure it starts every morning. Sometimes I just open the door and lean in.

    I put the key in the ignition and ... nothing. No sound, nothing. All of the panel lights illuminate. None blink.

    It's kind of like the car is not in Park, but it is.

    I take the key out; lean down and pull the gas cap access door release.

    Today, as a matter of fact, I simply turned tightened the gas cap three times without taking it off.

    I tried starting the car again, (today) and ... nothing.

    I got back out again and removed the gas cap; replaced it; turned it five times and ... walla! the car started.

    This is a consistent pattern.

    Have y;all seen the blurb about how a loose gas cap can cause the Engine light to come on? It's something to do with the computer thinking things are not quite right.

    http://repairpal.com/check-engine-light-due-to-gas-cap-issue-483

    My problem is not exactly the same, but close.

    I sure appreciate y'all's help with this.

    Thank you.

    @bigdealguy said:
    Thank y'all for your responses.

    I don't have a smart key. I know that because, when I got the car I had copies made and the person at Ace Hardware just grabbed some blanks off the rack.

    Again, as goofy as it sounds, here is the process:

    I can get into the front seat or not. This is my wife's car so I make sure it starts every morning. Sometimes I just open the door and lean in.

    I put the key in the ignition and ... nothing. No sound, nothing. All of the panel lights illuminate. None blink.

    It's kind of like the car is not in Park, but it is.

    I take the key out; lean down and pull the gas cap access door release.

    Today, as a matter of fact, I simply turned tightened the gas cap three times without taking it off.

    I tried starting the car again, (today) and ... nothing.

    I got back out again and removed the gas cap; replaced it; turned it five times and ... walla! the car started.

    This is a consistent pattern.

    Have y;all seen the blurb about how a loose gas cap can cause the Engine light to come on? It's something to do with the computer thinking things are not quite right.

    http://repairpal.com/check-engine-light-due-to-gas-cap-issue-483

    My problem is not exactly the same, but close.

    I sure appreciate y'all's help with this.

    Now try this instead: Sit in the driver's seat and try turning the key to start the engine. Don't touch the gas cap. If the starter doesn't crank, rapidly tweak the key on-off, on-off, etc. repeatedly. Do this for at least several dozen attempts at starting it, and let us know the result.

  • bigdealguybigdealguy Member Posts: 7

    "Now try this instead: Sit in the driver's seat and try turning the key to start the engine. Don't touch the gas cap. If the starter doesn't crank, rapidly tweak the key on-off, on-off, etc. repeatedly. Do this for at least several dozen attempts at starting it, and let us know the result."

    I'll sure try it. Thank you.

  • bigdealguybigdealguy Member Posts: 7

    I tried what you said, barkydog.

    When the car would not start, I fiddled with the key, rotating it vigorously and even pushing it in/out of the key hole.

    That didn't work.

    Then, I took the gas can off and left there. The car would not start.

    Next, I put the gas cap on; turned it 5 tims and the car started.

  • bigdealguybigdealguy Member Posts: 7

    I'm disappointed, but that's OK. I was hopping this place could help.

    Thank you for your time.

  • bigdealguybigdealguy Member Posts: 7

    I've been asked to provide a followup to my problem. Thanks to the admins for the helpful (except barfydog) forum.

    There are two (2) parts to the "gas cap" system:

    1.) The gas cap
    2.) The neck of the gas can.

    In my case, the dealer replaced the gas lid, but it actually made the problem worse.

    The problem was with the gas tank filler throat. It had suffered abrasion on the seal lip due to repeated insertion/removal of gas nozzles.

    The dealer removed the burs and made sure the gas cap sealed properly.

    A shout-out to bakerman for steering me in the right direction.

  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372

    Let's get away from the personal back and forth please. The posts where you're shooting at each other have been deleted. Let it die and move on.

    Thanks for your participation and cooperation.

  • barkydogbarkydog Member Posts: 45

    @PFFlyer@Edmunds said:
    Let's get away from the personal back and forth please. The posts where you're shooting at each other have been deleted. Let it die and move on.

    Thanks for your participation and cooperation.

    The starter will engage and crank, and the engine will start whether the gas cap is tight, loose, or completely off. If anyone doubts that, try it and prove it to yourself.

    That is a fact, and I state it as such. It is not a personal issue, it's a fact.

    Let us move on indeed, but let us not mislead or confuse anyone by promoting misinformation that has no factual basis.

  • chavasstanchavasstan Member Posts: 1

    I have a 2011 Chevrolet Aveo. Recently, I have begun to experience car issue. My engine lights flashes constantly. My car was diagnosed with an misfire detection. There is a strong smell of gasoline circulating through the vents in my car. I changed the spark plugs to see if that would help. To my surprise my spark plugs and housing was drenched in gasoline. There's a wonder why my car didn't catch a fire or blow up. Furthermore, after changing my spark plugs my car worked for about a day. Unfortunately, it stopped working during rush hour traffic in the middle of the highway. I wasn't able to gain any acceleration or engine power. I was then escorted to the emergency lane by Statefarm sponsored road side assistance. I almost lost my life in two instances by simply driving this car. I am Applaud that General Motors would even put there customers in danger. No human life is ever worth a faulty-made vehicle.

  • gmcustsvcgmcustsvc Member Posts: 4,252

    Hello chavasstan,

    Our apologies to hear of the concerns you've experienced with your 2011 Chevrolet Aveo. Customer safety is paramount to GM. We'd be happy to document your concerns in our system. You are welcome to send us an email to socialmedia@gm.com if further assistance is needed.

    Regards,

    Andraya
    GM Customer Care

  • Big_Show19Big_Show19 Member Posts: 1
    Need help!!!! 2009 Chevy Aveo 5 LT. Oil pan got a hole in it. So changed oil pan and spark plugs. Car was running before hole in pan after changing the parts it ran for about 3 minutes now it will not start there seems to be no compression when trying to start now. The timing belt looks good. On a code reader it says " crankshaft POS"
    The car was drove very little after oil pan got damaged and it never ran hot.
  • KeekeeKeekee Member Posts: 1
    I know that these posts are old but I just brought a Chevy Aveo 2009 with only 7300 miles on it and I'm having the same problems with the car stalling and stopping in traffic my Client and I almost got hit by a truck twice then my husband didn't believe me he thought I was going crazy so he drove it a he almost got hit by a car. The is unsafe to drive and it needs to be something done about it we have taken it to 4 shops in one day and each shop put it on their machine and it read several different codes from the timing belt, Caltech converter, crankshaft sensor, and the Camshaft sensor . So far my husband and I have replaced the 02 sensors, the hold air compressor, and the Caltech converter. Then after that was on they said everything else would work fine and some of the stuff would go off on my dash and it did but it still had the check engine lite on but I drove it home okay the next day I wasn't so lucky it stuttered and the car moved forward and cut off and I started right up and it acted like it didn't want to go so I pulled it to the side and waited 30 minutes until cars passed and drove it back to the shop where I had picking it up from the day before and told them the problem. I have missed 3 days of work because I do not have a car to drive and I only had this car for a few months before it started to give me problems I thought it would be a great car for me to take my Clients around in and save gas not stay broke or loss money.
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