Rough Idle and Stalling? Your Fuel System May Be Failing

Had similar issues with my 2007 Chevy Aveo. The symptoms matched exactly, rough idle, stalling, jerky acceleration, and persistent check engine light. Initially thought it was just the fuel pressure sensor, but diagnostic testing revealed multiple problems in the fuel system. The main culprit was a failing fuel pump and clogged fuel injectors. The fuel pump wasn't maintaining proper pressure, causing irregular fuel delivery. The repair involved: Replacing the fuel pump assembly, Cleaning all fuel injectors, Checking/fixing wiring connections to the fuel pressure sensor It was a fairly serious repair job that took two full days at the shop. The car's performance improved dramatically after fixing these issues, smooth idle, better fuel economy, and no more stalling. Worth getting a proper diagnostic scan done first. These symptoms often point to fuel delivery problems, but could also be related to sensor issues. Don't ignore it, continuing to drive with these symptoms can cause more damage to the fuel system components.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful since it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with right now. I'm planning to take my Kalos to a shop next week, and hearing about your fuel injector and pump issues gives me a good starting point. The check engine light is still coming on intermittently, and that stalling problem is getting pretty annoying. Do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for all those repairs? Also, have you had any similar fuel system problems pop up since getting it fixed? Just trying to budget for what might be coming and figure out if I should consider multiple repairs while they're already working on it.

Thanks for asking about the costs. Actually, my case turned out much simpler than initially expected. After seeing the mechanic last week, it was just the fuel pressure sensor that was acting up, specifically a loose cable connection. Total bill came to 95 for fixing the faulty wiring connection, which was way less than I'd feared! The check engine light hasn't come back since, and the engine's running smooth now. None of that jerky acceleration or stalling anymore. Really glad I didn't need the full fuel pump replacement or injector cleaning I originally got quoted for. Quick tip though, while your symptoms sound similar, definitely get a proper diagnostic scan. Sometimes these fuel delivery issues can look alike but have different root causes. Getting the right diagnosis first can save you from replacing parts you don't need to. The fuel system issues haven't returned at all since the repair. Seems the faulty sensor connection was causing all that drama with the engine misfire and rough running.

I finally got my car checked out at the mechanic's last week. Turns out it was a combination of issues, dirty fuel injectors and a failing fuel pressure regulator. The diagnosis took about an hour, but they found the root cause pretty quick. The fuel injector cleaning service sorted out most of the rough idle problems. They also replaced the pressure regulator, which fixed the engine stalling and jerky acceleration. The whole job cost around €450, more than I hoped but less than I feared. Been driving for a few days now and what a difference! No more engine misfire, the idle's steady, and fuel economy has actually improved. The check engine light hasn't come back either. Really glad I didn't wait any longer to get it fixed, the mechanic mentioned it could've caused more serious engine damage if left unchecked. Think I'll stick with these guys for future repairs. They took the time to explain everything and even showed me the gunked-up injectors. Way better than my last mechanic who just wanted to replace everything without proper diagnosis.