Sunfire won't run?

It has been "down" since May. It will turn over and start but only runs for like maybe a second and seems to shut itself off. I tried the pass-code relearn on it two months ago several times and one time that MAY have been what got it to run but who knows. It stayed runnin and i backed it out of my parkin spot at my apartment overflowing with excitement it had worked. Then backed it into another visitor's spot only to have it die soon as I put it in Drive. So i started it up and it stayed runnin again and put it in drive, died again instantly. Now it will not stay running again. Its got spark, the fuel pump comes on, the alternator is good, battery good, fuses are all fine. I've gotten a replacement computer from a running car and had it reflashed at a GM dealer. The dealer reflashed it and spent 2.5hrs diagnosing it only to tell me verbatim: "Sir we have absolutely no idea what's wrong with your car." Which I thought quite odd since they're a damn dealer mechanic and dismayed cause how the hell am I SUPPOSED TO FIGURE IT OUT? If anyone, I mean ANYONE can help me i'd be more indebted to you than you know..........Please HELP!!!!!!

AIM: bigdaddytito6767
Yahoo: sunmangreen23
email: sunmangreen23@yahoo.com

I'm in the same boat as you...
My dad's a mechanic and his Snap-On scanner says that there's a "99% engine load", thus dumping too much fuel into the engine as soon as it starts.
I got a new computer and I still have the same problem. This problem only started to occur a couple of weeks ago, but the car died completely roughly a week ago. This has left me without a car and is a big problem seeing as my first car (i'm 17) is seemingly never going to work again.
My dad is currently talking to every mechanic he can find to try and find out what the problem is. Hopefully they can find out what the problem is and i'll let you know as soon as I do.

MSN and email: thejuggernaut11@hotmail.com

My dad replaced the following: cam sensor, crank sensor, fuel pump, fuel filter, pressure regulator, coils, ignition modual, two fuel injectors, ignition wires,(spark plugs were fine), and the O2 sensor. This car passed the Emission Test two months ago with flying colours.
What have you tried in order to fix your car other then taking it to the dealer?
P.S. What year is your sunfire? Mines a '96.
P.S.S. Did it cost you anything to have the dealer take a look at it even though they couldn't fix it?

My dtrs 98 sunfire sounds like it has the same problem. Her first car.Runs fine once it gets going ...but take s20-40 times starting it and dieing until it will run.Have put lots of money into diagnosing and replacing parts withnothing helping.Seems to be some sort of oxygen or fuel sensor problem. The car is now sitting idle 3 mos as it is way to hard to start ...now the starter needs replacing AGAIN as it wears out quickly as does the battery when you have to start it 40 times at 0 degrees.

Gail wrote:

My dtrs 98 sunfire sounds like it has the same problem. Her first car.Runs fine once it gets going ...but take s20-40 times starting it and dieing until it will run.Have put lots of money into diagnosing and replacing parts withnothing helping.Seems to be some sort of oxygen or fuel sensor problem. The car is now sitting idle 3 mos as it is way to hard to start ...now the starter needs replacing AGAIN as it wears out quickly as does the battery when you have to start it 40 times at 0 degrees.

Have you had the fuel pressure checked? My buddy found low fuel pressure, replaced pump and strainer, no luck, was only getting 10 volts to pump, should be 12 or a little more, after a week he traced wires from fuel pump to under dash and a simple connector was melted. He made repairs and has been running fine for a while now.

Jason wrote:

It has been "down" since May. It will turn over and start but only runs for like maybe a second and seems to shut itself off. I tried the pass-code relearn on it two months ago several times and one time that MAY have been what got it to run but who knows. It stayed runnin and i backed it out of my parkin spot at my apartment overflowing with excitement it had worked. Then backed it into another visitor's spot only to have it die soon as I put it in Drive. So i started it up and it stayed runnin again and put it in drive, died again instantly. Now it will not stay running again. Its got spark, the fuel pump comes on, the alternator is good, battery good, fuses are all fine. I've gotten a replacement computer from a running car and had it reflashed at a GM dealer. The dealer reflashed it and spent 2.5hrs diagnosing it only to tell me verbatim: "Sir we have absolutely no idea what's wrong with your car." Which I thought quite odd since they're a damn dealer mechanic and dismayed cause how the hell am I SUPPOSED TO FIGURE IT OUT? If anyone, I mean ANYONE can help me i'd be more indebted to you than you know..........Please HELP!!!!!!
AIM: bigdaddytito6767
Yahoo: sunmangreen23
email: sunmangreen23@yahoo.com

Jason: I have the same problem with my wifes car did you ever find out whats wrong.

[hi there in wondering in regards to this sunfire not staying running if it could not be your ingnition switch not keeping the current going once you let go of the key. keep your eyes on the dash lights to see if they go off when you let go of the key.

I think I am having the same problems, and was thinking it might be the ignition switch. I have a 98 Sunfire. I've noticed when I put the tilt down on the steering wheel it starts up just fine, but if it is in up position, it starts but won't run. Has anyone else tried changing the ingnition switch...if so did it help?

Hello....i have the same problem :| small world eh....I was riding on the highway going 70 when suddenly my 01 sunfire just dies on me....i pull over to the side and i noticed my oil sign was on...so i thought it was my oil...nope wasn't it....so now its standing outside and does not work.....it cranks but no luck....i noticed if i hit the gas tank a few hard d times it stays on for like less than a minute....Also when i put a little bit of gas where the air filter goes " not exactly on the air filter :|) it does turn on but then shuts it self off......but since i don't know nothing about cars....maybe someone here can HELP ME ! And i mean anyone........

hey can anyone help me. My 98 sunfire turns on (it just went through an accident) and i can hear that the fuel pump wont start up. Where is the fuel pump restart on the 98?

ANY advice would be greatly appreciated

im having the same problem with my wifes car the ignition switch is messed up so i tried to take it out, i got it to where it would turn over but it dies after a sec now won't start at all it has a anti theft fuel shut off on it. so if any one knows how to bypass it that would be great

I have a 97 sometimes just will
not start. Its cranks good and if i
keep trying it will start. when it finally does it runs perfect. no stalling lots of power etc. I suspect the anti theft system bypass would be ok anybody know how?

nick murphy wrote:

im having the same problem with my wifes car the ignition switch is messed up so i tried to take it out, i got it to where it would turn over but it dies after a sec now won't start at all it has a anti theft fuel shut off on it. so if any one knows how to bypass it that would be great

I am having the same problem.Were u able to bypass the fuel shut off?My 98 sunfire is a theft recovery changed the tumbler with new key and the anti-teft keeps shutting down the car

try to replace the crank or cam sensor or temp. air intake sensor. that sounds like a sensor problem.

derek
follow the anti theft wire from the ign. towards the radio and you will find a little box next to the radio . try to unplug it or replace it. another thing is, the box that goes to the ign. were the wires plug into the back, it has two anti theft screws holding it on to the tumbler . take it off and go to the junk yard and get one out of a sunefire or it can be a 96-01 cavalair that should fix the problem if its not the box thats next to the radio.

My 98 Sunfire quit on the highway a week ago while I was driving, not while I was starting it.

The garage has run about every diagnostic there is. There is fuel volume, pressure, the gas filter was replaced, it is not the fuel pump, module, cam or crank. We even got another computer and had it flashed, but the car still won't go.

Now, the diagnostics are pointing to the anti theft system cutting off the gas supply.

This is not a model with the chip in the key. We have no idea what triggered the problem, but suspect it is a wire. Other than the suggestions above,which they are going to try on Monday, does anyone have any other suggestions?

Fuel pump is running but a simple stopped up fuel filter will cause it to die like you mention.

I have a 1997 Sunfire that I bought new. About two years ago, it began to not start if it had not been driven for a week or so and if the weather was damp, rainy, or high humidity. The first time this happened I was stuck in a airport parking lot. So I cranked and cranked like it was out of gas and it absolutely would not start. Until I held the accelerator all the way to the floor, then it started. After the first time, it would only not start intermittently probably once or twice a month, usually starting it the first time of the day. After it warmed up, the problem went away. There never was any indication of what the problem was. Then today when it acted-up again, the "theft system" light came on. So does anyone have any suggestions on what to do?

It's not the fuel pump. They have replaced almost everything from cam/crank, to fuel filter, fuel pump, the module and the computer.

Mine is not one of the Sunfires with the chip in the key for the anti theft system. But they are going to replace the ignition switch today to see if that works.

Wally, mine didn't do what yours does. Mine would start most of the time and quit because it wasn't getting gas. It's possible that your problem does have something to do with the ATS though, either in the key itself and the chip, or in the wiring.

Betty... maybe my Sunfire's problem has something to do with the wiper switch. Every time I turn on the wipers the instrument panel dies completely for a couple of seconds... all the warning lights come on, the tach quits, the speedo quits, and the gas and temp gauges quit, but the engine doesn't miss a beat. Anyway, after some research the ATS known as PASSLOCK, it appears that some people are having considerable luck by just cleaning the ignition switch contacts... just google "PASSLOCK" and you should find some interesting info.