Car quits after starting randomly

[Southtown57]

So sometimes my car idles rough and wants to bog down when I first start it up. Well today it actually stalled after I started it. It's completedly random when it does it, most of the time it starts right up no problems at all. Even when it does start rough the car runs perfectly fine once I get moving. The car is on stock tune when started and it's not extreme cold causing it to act up cause its been in the 60s outside.

Plugs? Purge evap?

Thanks guys

[Omiotek]

any codes? check your map sensors... ive noticed they become senstive with water and cold.... we had to throw on in our solstice the other day

[Southtown57]

Nope no codes at all.

[Omiotek]

the easiest thing to do would be to have someone hook up a tech 2 and check voltages on all your sensors..... seems like a map sensor to me.. we have had to gms1 sensors go to hell on the solstice this year. the one time we started it.... yeah not so good. it was scary but then we uplugged the map sensor at the intake manifold and it was fine.. needless to say a replacement fixed the issue.

[Southtown57]

Will do. Thanks man

[Omiotek]

also check you pcv just for sihts and giggles.

[Steddy]

It's cold out

Mine used to do this like clockwork the second it got cold out.

No reasons why, no codes, everything checks out, you start it, it bogs, it dies.

What I found that helps...is try to start the car without the clutch pressed in to "prime it" so to say, then start it.

[Southtown57]

But it was in the 60s today when it happened. I'm in South Carolina now. Glad though cause Pittsburgh just got a bunch of snow lol

[Omiotek]

yeah i forgot if this works or not but if its the one map sensor im thinking of(one on the intake manifold) you could try to unplug it when its running rough and see if it helps

[Southtown57]

Well the dealership keep the car for a couple days trying to cold start it to make the problem happen were it stalls. Didn't do it for them so they said everything is fine and keep an eye on it lol.

Car did it again today and is giving me the codes:

P2232 – O2 sensor signal circuit shorted to heater circuit bank 1 sensor 2

P0138 – Heated oxygen sensor (H02S) Circuit high volatage bank 1 sensor 2

P0036 – Heated oxygen sensor (H02s) heater control circuit bank 1 sensor 2

P0141 – heated oxygen sensor (H02s) heater performance bank 1 sensor 2

These codes all deal with the rear 02 sensor in the downpipe and shouldn't be affecting drivability correct? Since I have a ZZP catted DP. But I guess I'm going to take it back into them to try to get it worked out.

[The_cobalt_kid]

I suppose it could be flooding enough to stall... Maybe? Steady's trick might be doing the opposite of priming the engine idk exactly what the PCM cuts to prevent a start when the clutch switch is open. I would assume spark which would mean his theory is correct but if it's fuel (possible bc the cars run platinum plugs that foul easily) then he'd be leaning it out, possibly enough to start, ALTHOUGH, he isn't getting said codes so probably unrelated and a pointless rant. /end

[Southtown57]

Rick Hendrick Chevrolet down here told me that they cannot fix my car with the stalling issue because I have an aftermarket downpipe (ZZP catted) and that the 02 sensor is pre catalytic now instead of post catalytic like the stock exhaust setup. And that's the whole reason they think my car stalls because of that is probably messing up the air/fuel ration. HOW MUCH BULL♠♠♠♠ IS THAT? They told me to bring it back in "stock condition" and they would replace that 02 sensor and go from there. He also told me that since my 02 sensor was now in front of the cat that they had to of tuned my car for it to work. LOL. I was like, no it's been on my car since 2,000 miles and now I have 29,000 miles and this problem just started and the exhaust shop never tuned my car for a downpipe lol. I can't believe this bull♠♠♠♠ Chevy is trying to feed me. Makes me want to throw in the towel on Chevy.

[USMCFieldMP]

Its not Chevy/GM... its the tech/service adviser.

Just explain to them what you/we all know. Act the part of the knowledgeable owner and someone will usually notice. Worked for me, at least. Service Manager realized I knew what I was talking about when my Intercooler Pump died and none of their equipment could/would confirm that.

So basically, let them know that its not the rear O2 Sensor... because that's just there to check the cat's performance and is in no way used to check AFR for the purpose of the engine's tune. Etc. Etc.

[Southtown57]

GM makes the rules for their dealerships. It's just some dealership's service manager's are more lenient and reasonable when it comes to aftermarket parts. I know it's not GM as a whole I was just pissed when typing that. I'm taking my car to another Chevy dealer Wednesday so hopefully I'll have better luck with them. I told them it wasn't the rear 02 causing the problems but they wouldn't have it. They referred me to take my car to a aftermarket performance shop located down the road to have them try to fix it. I mean what kind of dealer does that?

[USMCFieldMP]

Take it back and tell them you installed the stock DP and replaced the O2 sensor yourself... and it didn't change anything.

[The_cobalt_kid]

and ask local parts store for copy of receipt if they sold an 02 sensor lately... lol

[Southtown57]

I just don't know how they could tell me the rear 02 screwed up my air/fuel ration lol. I even told them it does not and they didn't care.

[USMCFieldMP]

Like I said... its just the Tech/Service Adviser. They're idiots. Comes from upbringing. Their parents were probably idiots too. I had them try and tell me all sorts of crazy stupid stuff about my car... and they're going to stick to their guns, because it wouldn't be right if the customer knew more about the car than the mechanic.

Hell, I had a tech try and tell me my warranty was void because I put a supercharger on my car. My 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged. He stuck to his guns too, until we went to the parking lot and I showed him another SS for sale. There are good ones and there are bad ones. If you find a good one, stick with them for life. Once the service manager realized I knew what I was talking about, I just went through him for everything.

[Southtown57]

Took it to another dealership today. They cleaned the fuel injectors and throttle bottle. Said that the carbon build up was really bad and causing the throttle bottle to stick when cold. Should have taken care of the problem now.

[USMCFieldMP]

WTF is a throttle bottle?