car wont start at times

I have a 2003 Sunfire. I am having a problem with it. I drove it the other day, got out, went into a store, came back out and started the car. Well, it started and shut right off. I tried starting again, and it wouldn't even click or attempt to start. THere was no power at all. Well, about a minute after this, the car beeps a few times as if the power was turned on. I tried starting it and it started up just fine. Well, about a week after this, I was driving and noticing the speakers I had put in over 6 months ago, was fading on and off. I got home, turned off the car and tried turning it on, and it did the same thing. Well, i went in and did some things came back out and it started up just fine. What in the heck is going on? Is it something to do with my speakers/amp? I am a female, so I don't know anything about cars. My father took it to test the battery, and that wasn't the problem. I have an appt to have it looked at, but I just know they aren't going to find anything, since it rarely happens. HOwever, something must be wrong or it wouldn't be doing that. I just wonder if the speakers are running something down or maybe it's something completely different. Does anybody have any ideas, I would reaally really appreciate some help!! Thanks so much!!!!!!!!

When you say Amp & Speakers.... Are you talking about a full system... Subs, mids, highs... all with amps. Or do you just have upgraded speakers in fac. locations with a smaller amp running them.

Who hooked up the amp?? Start by checking the connections at the battery, if they ran a wire direct to the battery(Like it should be)... it could be that they put it inbetween the pos cable and battery, causing a Lack of contact between the POS cable. The power wire for the Amp should be between the Backside of the POS cable & the bolt that holds it down.

I had an sunbird with a system, that had that problem... One day when it was doing it, I wiggled the POS cable and it started right up.


When it doesn't start, Do the rest of your accessories work... Dome lights, radio, instrument gauges, etc??

[QUOTE=alisonmarie0807]I have a 2003 Sunfire. I am having a problem with it. I drove it the other day, got out, went into a store, came back out and started the car. Well, it started and shut right off. I tried starting again, and it wouldn't even click or attempt to start. THere was no power at all. Well, about a minute after this, the car beeps a few times as if the power was turned on. I tried starting it and it started up just fine. Well, about a week after this, I was driving and noticing the speakers I had put in over 6 months ago, was fading on and off. I got home, turned off the car and tried turning it on, and it did the same thing. Well, i went in and did some things came back out and it started up just fine. What in the heck is going on? Is it something to do with my speakers/amp? I am a female, so I don't know anything about cars. My father took it to test the battery, and that wasn't the problem. I have an appt to have it looked at, but I just know they aren't going to find anything, since it rarely happens. HOwever, something must be wrong or it wouldn't be doing that. I just wonder if the speakers are running something down or maybe it's something completely different. Does anybody have any ideas, I would reaally really appreciate some help!! Thanks so much!!!!!!!![/QUOTE

It has speakers, amp, and subwoofer, but beyond that I have no idea. When it won't start, nothing works. It's like the battery is dead. Then a few minutes later it starts. The first time this happened, the situation with the speakers didn't happen. The second time, my husband though something was wrong with the speakers, such as a wire or something, because it worked one second and the next it didn't. But when we got home, I turned off the car, and tried to turn it back on. It wouldn't start, nothing. My husband doesn't know a car battery from a remote control battery, that's why I am on my own trying to figure this out. hehe I appreciate any help you can offer. Thanks!!

Ok... So the battery has been tested and is OK. We'll rule that out. Which means its a wire somewhere. How long have you had the car?? How long has the Prob. been going on?? Did the system just go in, or has it been there for awhile? I'd start with the easiest things first, check the POS terminal Like I said above, Make sure the Amp is wired to the Battery correctly (Some people just put the Amp wire inbetween the POS cable & Battery.... Will cause exactly what you're seeing after a while). Check and see if you have any wires going to the battery that don't go through the Factory (Red rubber) terminal that the bolt goes through.

After that, at the starter there are special wires that supply the voltage for the fuse box. They are designed to desinagrate if there is a short (Fuseable links the're called), Once they get old they get brittle and can break apart. But since you have an 03.... I wouldn't think they are the prob.

After that, I'm stumped. Probably have to take it somewhere, where the Mech. will be able to see & test right there.

I'm dead serious about that amp wire.... have seen what you're describing more than a few times from a Lazy stereo installer. (Personally done it to myself too... Only once tho..hehe)

Good luck, I hate electrical gremlins :banghead:

If the car has a security system that will be the place to start. These factory systems often cause problems as you describe and when they go bad they cause all kinds of issues that are hard to nail down. Take it to a mechanic that knows the system. It can be as simple as a bad ignition switch. Good Luck!