Ask the Car People.SM


Pontiac Sunfire Starting and Stalling Problems

304 messages,  Last post on May 10, 2013 at 2:05 PM

You are in the Pontiac Sunfire Forum.

What is this discussion about? Pontiac Sunfire, Coupe, Convertible

Messages Page 25 of 31

#236 of 304 Re: My 2000 Sunfire GT 2.4 is finally fixed! [19amy82] by onelex

Jan 16, 2010 (4:12 pm)

Replying to: 19amy82 (Jun 14, 2009 8:48 pm)
im glad ur car got fixed! im having similar problems,i changed the fuel pump,iac sensor,map sensor and the crank sensor,replaced the all hoses that where cracked or just not looking good! i took the spark plugs out cleaned them,had the ignition module checked it was good! changed the fuel pressure regulator,put the original radio back in the car,the radio is working. i tried to start it up and it feels like it has more strengh but it still wont start!! what is going on i cant keep guessing! and if i could i dont know what else to do! doc can you help? i have a 1996 pontiac sunfire gt...

#237 of 304 Re: mrsjplk [mrsjplk] by onelex

Jan 16, 2010 (4:40 pm)

Replying to: mrsjplk (Sep 18, 2007 6:24 pm)
look at ur car book if u have one if not look up pontiac and there is a way to unlock the radio and keep it unlocked it just has to deactivated,or u can call pontiac the can connect you to a tech tat will help u!!

#238 of 304 Re: 98 Sunfire Malfunctions [mizzl3ytchy] by sand1trap

Jan 22, 2010 (10:08 pm)

Replying to: mizzl3ytchy (Jan 01, 2010 2:16 pm)
Did you have any luck with this? Believe it or not...same exact problem and the mechanic replaced the same things except the starter....No idea what to do next...Amazing...

#239 of 304 Here's the Key Turn How-To for the anti-theft by 19amy82

Jan 22, 2010 (10:40 pm)

Some of y'all might be interested in this, as I posted about it awhile back- this is the instructions direct from the manufacture in relation to the anti-theft reset problem I had- and everyone else has probably run into by now. You can go back and see how long ago we fixed my problem. I'm up to 177,000 miles now and I love my car!!! I wouldn't take anything for it at this point... now only if the driver side window was still working!
 
--- Here's the instructions ---
 
In order for a theft deterrent vehicle to run, a password is communicated between the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) and the PCM. If a PCM (ECM) is replaced, the new PCM (ECM) needs to learn the correct password of the vehicle. When the new PCM is installed, the EEPROM calibration is flashed into the new PCM and the vehicle will learn the new password upon initial ignition ON. If the IPC is replaced, the PCM needs to learn the new password from the PC. The password learn procedure is as follows:
 
Attempt to start vehicle, then leave the ignition ON. The THEFT SYSTEM telltale will flash for 10 minutes .
When the THEFT SYSTEM telltale stops flashing, start the vehicle. Once the vehicle is running, the password is learned.
 
* Just my observation here, it's really going to be beneficial to have your factory radio installed to do this, as I don't know if you could even tell what's going on without it and its red flashing anti-theft light. By now it's just a couple extra steps to take your aftermarket out, put your factory back in, then once this reprogram is done, you can put your aftermarket back in.
I will also tell you- I was uneasy installing an aftermarket radio after all the problems we had, but the key is a high quality wiring harness for your Pontiac. My 2000 Sunfire was the first year Pontiac went to this new fangle idea of putting the "brain" of the car inside the factory radio. So, where a lot of folks can go to Wal-Mart and get one for $10 I didn't have that luxury. I can say with all the confidence in the world to go with the Pac-Audio "Radio Replacement" (as they now call it) It's the only one that "Maintains a "healthy" status on the Class II databus" aka tells your PCM (ECU) that all is good. These items are costly ($100ish)- in fact they might cost more than the aftermarket radio itself, but don't make the same mistake I did and get a cheapo version- that's what caused my $1,000+ headache in the first place. And go ahead and google replacing your factory radio with a new factory radio, and be prepared for a real shocker! Currently, I can gladly say I've been using my aftermarket radio with my Pac-Audio piece now for months without any kind of issue what-so-ever. I'm not affiliated with this company, but I really should be. I will say I keep my factory radio in the trunk of my car just in case my aftermarket would ever be stolen, as I don't know if these cars would even run without the radio in there or not!
 
Good luck to all- and if anyone has any questions please feel free to ask away!

#240 of 304 Re: My 2000 Sunfire GT 2.4 is finally fixed! [onelex] by 19amy82

Jan 22, 2010 (10:55 pm)

Replying to: onelex (Jan 16, 2010 4:12 pm)
I'm going tell you, I would seriously consider getting a new ECM (computer) and checking out my post below on the key-turn dance you have to do for the anti-theft reset.
 
Salvage yards might be a good starting point- I got my replacement at the Pull-A-Part for $32ish, O Reilly was able to flash it for me for $75, so one more $100 was annoying yes, but it turned out to be what fixed it for me.
 
You could also get the whole package at O Reilly, and I think it was less than $200 for the computer (ECM) that was already flashed for my car.
 
See just putting the factory radio back in didn't cut it for us, because the damage had already been done to the computer. Looking back, it was pretty obvious that something was going to be squirrely with this by the sheer fact that Best Buy wouldn't sell me any radio install parts, for fear of lawsuit.
 
Out of all the things my husband changed, poked, prodded, replacing the ECM was by far the easiest, so you shouldn't have any trouble swapping it out.
 
Good luck with it- let me know if it this helps!!!

#241 of 304 2000 sunfire troubles by egionet

Feb 15, 2010 (11:45 am)

i have a 2000 sunfire sedan. i just did a long road trip from canada to florida. didn't have problems before. but now my car has problems starting cold and doesn't real speed up when pressing the gas. the engine light is on. the motor still runs quit but u can hear the sputter from the tail pipe and my motor shakes. i had already changed the spark plugs and wire harness. it ran great the whole drive. just the next morning i started having that trouble. what can it be...?

#242 of 304 Re: My 2000 Sunfire GT 2.4 is finally fixed! [onelex] by watherman13

Feb 21, 2010 (10:48 pm)

Replying to: onelex (Jan 16, 2010 4:12 pm)
Yes i have had my 96 sunfire do the same thing found out it to be the PCM i replaced it and all my troubles went away (its located on the passenger side in the wheel well)

#243 of 304 Re: 2000 sunfire troubles [egionet] by 19amy82

Feb 22, 2010 (8:32 am)

Replying to: egionet (Feb 15, 2010 11:45 am)
Seriously, I would go with the ECM/PCM theory first. Don't be afraid of this, because dealers will make you think it will cost a fortune to get one.
Not true, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2000-Pontiac-Sunfire-Engine-Computer-ECM-Programm- ed_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem35a72ce64aQQitemZ230438004298QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fT- ruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
$83 shipped on ebay, and already flashed to your vin number.
It's very easy to replace compared to the countless other items we tried fixing first.
Once you get it, you need to follow these instructions:
 
In order for a theft deterrent vehicle to run, a password is communicated between the Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) and the PCM. If a PCM (ECM) is replaced, the new PCM (ECM) needs to learn the correct password of the vehicle. When the new PCM is installed, the EEPROM calibration is flashed into the new PCM and the vehicle will learn the new password upon initial ignition ON. If the IPC is replaced, the PCM needs to learn the new password from the PC. The password learn procedure is as follows:
  
Attempt to start vehicle, then leave the ignition ON. The THEFT SYSTEM telltale will flash for 10 minutes .
When the THEFT SYSTEM telltale stops flashing, start the vehicle. Once the vehicle is running, the password is learned.
-
There's a good chance this is the problem, and if it is it's really a simple fix, we've all just be taught to think "car computer problems" must mean spending a fortune on fixing!
 
Good luck- let us know!

#244 of 304 2005 Sunfire stumps technicians by monae

Mar 01, 2010 (3:52 pm)

Until 2 weeks ago my Sunfire ran great (almost 30 MPG) and gave me no problems. It has less than 70,000 miles (25K more than when I bought it 1 1/2 ago). Twice it acted like it was starting, not hesitating cranking sounds, but nothing happened. It was like I hadn't turned the key. Then last week after making a turn it just died. On the third try, it started and drove fine the 7 miles home. I took to my mechanic and after 45 miles, several starting and ideling for 30 minutes, they could find nothing. Oil and fuel pressures perfect. All connections fine. I drove less than 1.5 miles and it died again. And again started on second or third try. I have been told everything from fuel pump to short in the car somewhere. Has anyone else had this problem?

#245 of 304 Re: 98 Sunfire Malfunctions [mizzl3ytchy] by trpd5

Apr 02, 2010 (5:17 am)

Replying to: mizzl3ytchy (Jan 01, 2010 2:16 pm)
I would check for bad wiring down by your PMC

Messages Page 25 of 31

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement