97 Sunfire Car Problem - PLEASE Help

First off I am new to these forums so I would like to say Hello to everyone and that I am looking forward to visiting here often.

This is a kind of long story but please bear with me as I will give you all the details. Well my dad bought me a car, a 97 Sunfire Convertible with a 2.4 L engine. At first the car worked perfectly, started went everything fine. My dad test drove it for 30 mins to make sure everything was fine then I was starting to drive it home when after about 15 mins the car just turned off so I pulled over to the site of the road and the car would not start again. Well I called my dad and he came and then suddenly the car started again and so I started driving it with my dad following me when less than 10 mins later it turned off again and would not turn on again. We had to rent a tow dolly and towed it back home. Well to try to fix it we bought new spark plugs for it, still didnt start. My dad bought new coils(the things above the spark plug wires) and still didnt start. So we took it to a mechanic and apparently he thought the plug to the ignition switch wasnt working so he cut the wires and put a new plug. That didnt work so then my dad bought a new ignition switch, the mechanic put it on the car and the car starts now. Now there is a problem though, when the car is running, at certain RPM's the car kinda tugs a little. It pulls for a second then goes again. The RPM's it does it are mostly usual, at 2500-2600 it will do it, at around 2700-2900 it wont do it then when it gets right above 2900 it will do it. at 3000 no and at 3100 yes. I noticed this from driving it on the highway, I noticed the RPM's it would do it. It's weird because the car just tugs, then goes, then tugs. It's driveable but really annoying. I am wondering what could be wrong with the car as it did not do it before it went to the mechanic(the car started once after we had installed the spark plugs and coils and it didnt do it then which was before going to the mechanic). What could he have done or switched that is causing this? Or if he didnt cause it what could it be? BTW, we also changed the fuel filter after it came back from the mechanic to see if that would stop it but no, it still does it.

Help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

I also forgot to say we've changed the crankshaft and camshaft sensors to see if they were the problem but it is still doing it. We did this because the check engine and ETS light came on and when we went to autozone for the light check it said those sensors. Last time I went it still said those sensors, even after we had installed them and had reset the memory(disconnected the battery, the light had gone off but came back on again), as I said it still said both sensors last time I went to get the light checked as well as another code that said "Random cylinder misfire'

First off I am new to these forums so I would like to say Hello to everyone and that I am looking forward to visiting here often.

This is a kind of long story but please bear with me as I will give you all the details. Well my dad bought me a car, a 97 Sunfire Convertible with a 2.4 L engine. At first the car worked perfectly, started went everything fine. My dad test drove it for 30 mins to make sure everything was fine then I was starting to drive it home when after about 15 mins the car just turned off so I pulled over to the site of the road and the car would not start again. Well I called my dad and he came and then suddenly the car started again and so I started driving it with my dad following me when less than 10 mins later it turned off again and would not turn on again. We had to rent a tow dolly and towed it back home. Well to try to fix it we bought new spark plugs for it, still didnt start. My dad bought new coils(the things above the spark plug wires) and still didnt start. So we took it to a mechanic and apparently he thought the plug to the ignition switch wasnt working so he cut the wires and put a new plug. That didnt work so then my dad bought a new ignition switch, the mechanic put it on the car and the car starts now. Now there is a problem though, when the car is running, at certain RPM's the car kinda tugs a little. It pulls for a second then goes again. The RPM's it does it are mostly usual, at 2500-2600 it will do it, at around 2700-2900 it wont do it then when it gets right above 2900 it will do it. at 3000 no and at 3100 yes. I noticed this from driving it on the highway, I noticed the RPM's it would do it. It's weird because the car just tugs, then goes, then tugs. It's driveable but really annoying. I am wondering what could be wrong with the car as it did not do it before it went to the mechanic(the car started once after we had installed the spark plugs and coils and it didnt do it then which was before going to the mechanic). What could he have done or switched that is causing this? Or if he didnt cause it what could it be? BTW, we also changed the fuel filter after it came back from the mechanic to see if that would stop it but no, it still does it.

Help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

I also forgot to say we've changed the crankshaft and camshaft sensors to see if they were the problem but it is still doing it. We did this because the check engine and ETS light came on and when we went to autozone for the light check it said those sensors. Last time I went it still said those sensors, even after we had installed them and had reset the memory(disconnected the battery, the light had gone off but came back on again), as I said it still said both sensors last time I went to get the light checked as well as another code that said "Random cylinder misfire'

I take you mean heistation by 'tug'? Try some fuel injector cleaner along with the highest octane gas you can get for a tankful, maybe dirty injectors. Also when you said it just stops, is this slowing down, just cruising,,??? If slowing the TCC may be a factor.

I take you mean heistation by 'tug'? Try some fuel injector cleaner along with the highest octane gas you can get for a tankful, maybe dirty injectors. Also when you said it just stops, is this slowing down, just cruising,,??? If slowing the TCC may be a factor.

I mean tug as in when it's going the car does a kind of pulling thing. I mean stops as in it doesnt do it(tug) at certain RPM's but does do it at others.

Thanks,
Joel

[Hello - Maybe this will help you. I have a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire GT. At around 50,000 miles the light indicating a low coolant level starting coming on. After adding Dex-cool for a while, I took it to the dealer and they ended up having to replace the water pump (which they had to pull the engine to get to). After they made the repairs, the car started bucking when excelerating at a low certain RPM (usually 3rd gear, I have manuel transmission). I brought this to the dealers attention and they also tried changing the sparkplugs to no avail. It turned out that they never replaced the timing belt/chain that they needed to replace along with the water pump (according to General Motors). If your car does not have an original water pump, this may be your problem. Hope it helps!

QUOTE=SockaPlayR]First off I am new to these forums so I would like to say Hello to everyone and that I am looking forward to visiting here often.

This is a kind of long story but please bear with me as I will give you all the details. Well my dad bought me a car, a 97 Sunfire Convertible with a 2.4 L engine. At first the car worked perfectly, started went everything fine. My dad test drove it for 30 mins to make sure everything was fine then I was starting to drive it home when after about 15 mins the car just turned off so I pulled over to the site of the road and the car would not start again. Well I called my dad and he came and then suddenly the car started again and so I started driving it with my dad following me when less than 10 mins later it turned off again and would not turn on again. We had to rent a tow dolly and towed it back home. Well to try to fix it we bought new spark plugs for it, still didnt start. My dad bought new coils(the things above the spark plug wires) and still didnt start. So we took it to a mechanic and apparently he thought the plug to the ignition switch wasnt working so he cut the wires and put a new plug. That didnt work so then my dad bought a new ignition switch, the mechanic put it on the car and the car starts now. Now there is a problem though, when the car is running, at certain RPM's the car kinda tugs a little. It pulls for a second then goes again. The RPM's it does it are mostly usual, at 2500-2600 it will do it, at around 2700-2900 it wont do it then when it gets right above 2900 it will do it. at 3000 no and at 3100 yes. I noticed this from driving it on the highway, I noticed the RPM's it would do it. It's weird because the car just tugs, then goes, then tugs. It's driveable but really annoying. I am wondering what could be wrong with the car as it did not do it before it went to the mechanic(the car started once after we had installed the spark plugs and coils and it didnt do it then which was before going to the mechanic). What could he have done or switched that is causing this? Or if he didnt cause it what could it be? BTW, we also changed the fuel filter after it came back from the mechanic to see if that would stop it but no, it still does it.

Help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

I also forgot to say we've changed the crankshaft and camshaft sensors to see if they were the problem but it is still doing it. We did this because the check engine and ETS light came on and when we went to autozone for the light check it said those sensors. Last time I went it still said those sensors, even after we had installed them and had reset the memory(disconnected the battery, the light had gone off but came back on again), as I said it still said both sensors last time I went to get the light checked as well as another code that said "Random cylinder misfire'[/QUOTE]

[Hello - Maybe this will help you. I have a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire GT. At around 50,000 miles the light indicating a low coolant level starting coming on. After adding Dex-cool for a while, I took it to the dealer and they ended up having to replace the water pump (which they had to pull the engine to get to). After they made the repairs, the car started bucking when excelerating at a low certain RPM (usually 3rd gear, I have manuel transmission). I brought this to the dealers attention and they also tried changing the sparkplugs to no avail. It turned out that they never replaced the timing belt/chain that they needed to replace along with the water pump (according to General Motors). If your car does not have an original water pump, this may be your problem. Hope it helps!

QUOTE=SockaPlayR]First off I am new to these forums so I would like to say Hello to everyone and that I am looking forward to visiting here often.

This is a kind of long story but please bear with me as I will give you all the details. Well my dad bought me a car, a 97 Sunfire Convertible with a 2.4 L engine. At first the car worked perfectly, started went everything fine. My dad test drove it for 30 mins to make sure everything was fine then I was starting to drive it home when after about 15 mins the car just turned off so I pulled over to the site of the road and the car would not start again. Well I called my dad and he came and then suddenly the car started again and so I started driving it with my dad following me when less than 10 mins later it turned off again and would not turn on again. We had to rent a tow dolly and towed it back home. Well to try to fix it we bought new spark plugs for it, still didnt start. My dad bought new coils(the things above the spark plug wires) and still didnt start. So we took it to a mechanic and apparently he thought the plug to the ignition switch wasnt working so he cut the wires and put a new plug. That didnt work so then my dad bought a new ignition switch, the mechanic put it on the car and the car starts now. Now there is a problem though, when the car is running, at certain RPM's the car kinda tugs a little. It pulls for a second then goes again. The RPM's it does it are mostly usual, at 2500-2600 it will do it, at around 2700-2900 it wont do it then when it gets right above 2900 it will do it. at 3000 no and at 3100 yes. I noticed this from driving it on the highway, I noticed the RPM's it would do it. It's weird because the car just tugs, then goes, then tugs. It's driveable but really annoying. I am wondering what could be wrong with the car as it did not do it before it went to the mechanic(the car started once after we had installed the spark plugs and coils and it didnt do it then which was before going to the mechanic). What could he have done or switched that is causing this? Or if he didnt cause it what could it be? BTW, we also changed the fuel filter after it came back from the mechanic to see if that would stop it but no, it still does it.

Help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

I also forgot to say we've changed the crankshaft and camshaft sensors to see if they were the problem but it is still doing it. We did this because the check engine and ETS light came on and when we went to autozone for the light check it said those sensors. Last time I went it still said those sensors, even after we had installed them and had reset the memory(disconnected the battery, the light had gone off but came back on again), as I said it still said both sensors last time I went to get the light checked as well as another code that said "Random cylinder misfire'[/QUOTE]


My car does do a sort of 'bucking' as you said at certain RPM's. That sounds very similar to what you said. I am not sure if the car has the original water pump as we just got it, I would think so however. The weird thing is that the car didnt do this before we took it to the damn mechanic, that's the weird part. I took it to another mechanic and he told me Cylinder #3 is misfiring. Is that what your car was doing(why it was bucking)? because a cylinder was misfiring?

sounds like a fuel problem to me (tugging / bucking) get the fuel filter replaced and the fuel pressure checked both at idle and under load. low fuel pressure is caused by either the pump, regulator, or filter.

sounds like a fuel problem to me (tugging / bucking) get the fuel filter replaced and the fuel pressure checked both at idle and under load. low fuel pressure is caused by either the pump, regulator, or filter.


Could also be dirty/faulty injectors!

took it to the mechanic and they havent found out what's wrong with it yet. it is something electrical however they did say that much.

Another update. Took car from mechanic today, $160 bill. They put new spark plugs in and a new white cover thing(dont know what it's called) and apparently that stopped the misfire. The problem is that the car is still doing the pulling thing, apparently the camshaft sensor is resetting itself. Damn thing...

Have you replaced the plug wires?

When you do, don't get the Exact brand, they suck bad. I was inspecting my spark plugs and as always I pulled on the boot and the damn contact stayed on the plug, three out of four did this. What's worse is that ONE wire has a 90 degree angle on the coilpack side. The boot on that end would push itself off the coil. So I went to Advance and mix-matched it with another set so they are all four straight ends on both sides. Exact my ass.

yea the spark plug wires(boots) have been replaced. The mechanic said it's apparently the camshaft sensor that's malfunctioning. Under load(3000 RPM or so) it resefts itself randomly and that's what's making the car pull. So I'm gonna switch the camshaft sensor(again) and see what happens. He said it could also be one of the cam teeth not being aligned so if replacing the camshaft sensor doesn't work maybe my dad and I will open the valve cover and look at the crankshaft and camshaft's teeth.

The dealer and GM attributed it directly to the dealer mechanic not changing the original timing belt when they changed the water pump. the GM manuel states the two components must be changed simultaneously. Because the car was no longer under warrenty after the initial repair and it is roughly 6 hours of shop labor, I never did have it it fixed. The dealer was not willing to fix their mistake without me paying the labor charge. My car is now at 152,000 miles and its still doing it in 2nd to 3rd gear. Its almost as if your excelerating and all the sudden the car is gasping for air and lurches you forward but then I downshift and its okay and keeps on going. Yes, its very weird! Its annoying but I have just gotten used to it. I don't think the car has really had the same responsive exceleration as it did when it was new since.





My car does do a sort of 'bucking' as you said at certain RPM's. That sounds very similar to what you said. I am not sure if the car has the original water pump as we just got it, I would think so however. The weird thing is that the car didnt do this before we took it to the damn mechanic, that's the weird part. I took it to another mechanic and he told me Cylinder #3 is misfiring. Is that what your car was doing(why it was bucking)? because a cylinder was misfiring?[/QUOTE]

I forgot to answer your question about misfiring cylindars. The first thing the dealer mechanic tried when I brought it back was to change the spark plugs saying the same thing "its mis-firing". That wasn't it. I just had the spark plugs and fuel filter changed again at 152,000 miles due to a batch of bad gas but it still does the bucking thing. I'm 99.9% sure its the original timing belt that was never changed because it started doing it right after they changed the water pump and it has been that way ever since. Maybe you could call GM directly and ask them about it. I think the early burn-out of the waterpump was common on the early model Sunfires. Yours may have been changed too. Mine happened at 50,000.

I also forgot to mention that my check engine light is on and off all the time too. The code indicates the car "running rich". I think that is consistent with the timing problem. I did have the oxygen sensors replaced a few years ago which made the overall performance a little better but it still does the bucking thing.

Thanks for the help tarad, really appreciated. Once the misfire was gone the car was tugging a little less, now the damn misfire is back and it's doing it more often. It's time to take it back to the mechanic as their work and parts supposedly have a 1 year/12,000 mile warranty. It's the exact same cylinder that's misfiring again so I'm guessing their ignition cap burned out the same as the one i bought at autozone did(they said theirs, 'ignition' brand was tons better). So it's time to see if they'll get that fixed again or what.

well the mechanic said the chances of me buring the ''ignition' brand starter cap were slim. He said that the car needs to be fixed but he does not know what it is so he cannot give an estimate, he said it could range from $50-2000 and the advice he gave me was to try to sell the car and buy another one, he told me the 2.4L engines in those cars are very problematic.

He also checked the misfires and it's all cylinders that have misfired, the 4th one the most.

Also, when you get off the car and go to close to door it gives you a small shock, what could be causing this?

I think some people here will disagree with him saying the 2.4 is problematic.

I too get a nice little static shock when getting out, what IS causing this?

I think some people here will disagree with him saying the 2.4 is problematic.

I too get a nice little static shock when getting out, what IS causing this?

static caused by the car travelling through the dry air. Don't knopw anyone who's had trouble with a properly maintained ld9!

heh, I hate the damn shock. I wish the car could be fixed. What is wrong with it...aah...I wish I knew so it could get fixed. That is the worst part of the car, something is wrong but even the mechanic had no idea as to what.

heh, I hate the damn shock. I wish the car could be fixed. What is wrong with it...aah...I wish I knew so it could get fixed. That is the worst part of the car, something is wrong but even the mechanic had no idea as to what.

you get these rubber strap things that drag on the road and attach to metal under the car! they ground it so you don't get shocked!

Would that be safe in a lightning storm?

you get these rubber strap things that drag on the road and attach to metal under the car! they ground it so you don't get shocked!

Did you have the same problem? Where can I get these things?

Did you have the same problem? Where can I get these things?

it's perfectly normal. Autozone should have them. possibly even Wal-Mart

I would rather have a little shock than ground my car and get hit by lightning. Just a few million volts difference.

you wont get hit by lightning! WTF! it wont turn your car into a lightning rod anymore than it is! it's not an excellent ground, it's rubber!

I know that, I was just being funny! LOL, Lightning Rod! LMAO!