Why is my car having troule starting and shutting off?

Tiny
OJAYO181
  • MEMBER
  • 2005 CHEVROLET COBALT
  • 90,000 MILES
When I go get gas and the problem only occurs when I go get gas, the car has trouble starting after I get gas, It stales and shuts off. I have to turn the key and feed it gas at the same time. Also the lights in the car flicker and dim when I try to turn the key, is it the fuel filter? Or something else? Also, when I put it in park and turn it off, then leave it in park and turn it on and rev the engine it only goes until 4RPMs and then shuts off completely, is this a saftey feature? It never did that before, before it would rev up to 9 RPMs and not shut off at all. I tired replacing the gas cap but that did nothing, plus the check engine light is on and has been on for about 3-4 weeks now. Help!
Thursday, January 19th, 2012 AT 12:54 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
PROAUTOTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 288 POSTS
Have it scanned for free at the car parts store and let me know the codes. I'm interested to see what they are. Thanks!

The lights dimming sounds like a loose connection at the battery terminals or the battery getting weak providing fewer cold cranking amps (CCA), without knowing anything more.
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Thursday, January 19th, 2012 AT 1:00 AM
Tiny
OJAYO181
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  • 9 POSTS
I also tired taking it to a garage and advanceed auto to read the codes, advanced auto said it would not read and also, the garage thought it might be an evap reason, but they said at the garage they were not really sure, it was deff no the gas cap, it passed an emmissions test. Also I just tried disconeccting the battery for 30 sec's and reconnecting it, that turned the check engine light off, but I am afraid it will come back on, If it does does that mean that there is trullye something wrong with the car? Do youthink it is the fuel filter or the and EVAP problem? Your thoughts?
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Thursday, January 19th, 2012 AT 1:47 AM
Tiny
OJAYO181
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  • 9 POSTS
Oh also the garge said they had to do exploritary surgery on the car to truly find the problem, do you think I can try anything else to see what it might be? Oh I also just tired reving the engine in park and it still shuts off at 4RPMs and then when I just rev it a little it ideales really low and the lights dim when it hits 1-2RPMs
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Thursday, January 19th, 2012 AT 1:51 AM
Tiny
PROAUTOTECH
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Alternator possibly, what kind of voltage is it putting out?
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Thursday, January 19th, 2012 AT 5:26 PM
Tiny
OJAYO181
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  • 9 POSTS
I am not sure, I am taking it to a garage today around 4PM, I will have to see, also do you thinnk I might be the EVAP canister? Or a leak somewhere in the entire EVAP system? Would you suggest a smoke test?
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Thursday, January 19th, 2012 AT 6:55 PM
Tiny
OJAYO181
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Do you think it could be the EVAP emission canister purge solenoid on the top of the engine or the evap canister in the back on the bottom of the car behind the tank, I read online that these can be a major problem with the 2005 cobalt, your thoughts?
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Thursday, January 19th, 2012 AT 6:58 PM

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