Need help - All electrical cuts out while driving!

[vangelon]

I have a mysterious problem with my Sunfire '98 2.2L with 94k mi. Sometimes when opening the door to get in, the power won't be on (cabin light out) and any attempt to start the car indicates there is zero power (no turnover, no lights). Once when this happened I opened the trunk and noticed the trunk light was on and that power was restored to the entire car, it ran fine for two weeks before happening again.

The first time this occured I tried driving it after the power came back on and it died while driving down the street, no noises, no sputter, just suddenly no power anywhere.

This happens rarely so when I took it to a shop they said it seemed just fine. Then a few weeks later it happened again.

Power seems to always come back mysteriously after a few minutes or so. Also, once it happened like this: got in, cabin light on, tried to start car, engine makes a split second of sound (normal turnover noise) then power shuts off completely, then while I'm staring at my cables and battery for a few minutes power mysteriously comes back on.

I don't like to drive it, I come home on a dark, curvy road and don't want to think about what would happen if it blacked out on a turn.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[GTP Dad]

The first place to start is with the grounds to the vehicle. You could have a loose or corroded ground that is causing an intermittant contact. When the car stops or you slam the door, trunk etc it may jar it into making contact. If the grounds prove good then check the power relays in the box under the hood. You may have one going bad that is causing everything to go off. Just a couple of ideas where to start.

[vangelon]

GTP Dad: Thanks for the reply
I think the ground is ok and not corroded, but I'll check into the power relays. If anyone has any other ideas, please post! I'm not a mechanic and I'm trying to avoid paying for hit&miss guess work to solve the problem.

[missyc65]

My daughter's '96 Sunfire is doing the same thing. I've taken it to two different mechanics and neither of them could find a problem except that it needed a new feul pump which didn't help. I think it has something to do with the anti-theft system because that light comes on before it dies. It's really scary to be driving along in traffic and the car just dies. It also won't start about once a week. I don't want to spend a lot of money on this car but I want my daughter to have a safe car.

[vangelon]

Hmm.. It's nice to know I'm not alone. I've read posts from others with the same problem and most all of them were told to replace the fuel pump too, which didn't help. I talked to my friend today and he told me to take a multimeter and make sure my ground cable isn't rusty and has a good connection (has no resistance). I'm going to try that tomorrow. If anyone has anymore ideas, post! You have the power to help a whole group of people with electrically challenged sunfires.

[homerr]

Hello,
A multimeter is good place to start but do not rely on it totally. Once your system starts drawing power (current) a good connection read on a multimeter could become 'open' due to heat. Check for loose are corroded connections.

Homer

[ZacAttak]

I have the same problem with my 97 sunfire as well, along with many others from rear struts to bushings, power steering, fuel pump. The only solution I have to your problem is to do what I'm going to do.
GET RID OF IT!!!!!! Everyone I know that owns/owned one has major problems within 150k. Good luck!

[Tenindo]

i think i know the problem... I 2 own a 96 sunfire and been though it all.... email me-=--- [email protected] ---- I'll c wat I can do for u! latez!@1@!