What should I do with this 2000 Sunfire

m2736185 · #1 05-06-2006, 12:35 AM

Well I just bought this 2000 Sunfire with 97k miles on it and a dented in fender/ bumper for $700...seemed like somewhat of a good deal. Well other than the body work the previous owner had headers,intake and an exhaust put it...it seems like it has been beat on a lot but still runs okay. I am not sure if it was lowered it seems pretty low but it looks like stock struts and springs. The intake seems like its missing a tube to the hole on the top of the engine. The car shakes at and idle drops at stop light. I was told the waterpump and starter were replaced...what should I start with on this car? New sparkplug wires and sparkplugs?, flush the coolant? The engine also seemed pretty dirty so I was going to spray it with degreeser and then wash it out..is this okay?

89Sunbird · #2 05-06-2006, 11:08 AM

Go ahead and degrease it....dump all the fluids and top them off with fresh ones...if the intake is not going into the engine, its gonna run like crap because it wont be sucking in fresh air, just the warm air floating around the engine bay....you also risk sucking in debris like the hood liner....

m2736185 · #3 05-06-2006, 09:11 PM

I sprayed 2000 sunfire with degreeser today then rinsed it...and now for some reason it wont start. I think water got into the spark plugs or something..do i just give it a few days untill its dried ? These engines are prett weird..do ou have to take of the engine cover to get to the spark plugs.

89Sunbird · #4 05-06-2006, 11:20 PM

Water shouldnt get into teh spark plugs...more than likely you landed some in the intake or the alternator...you can wait for it to evaporate or you can run down to Autozone or some place similar and buy some spray-on electrical dryer...

m2736185 · #5 05-07-2006, 07:58 PM

I bought engine starting fluid today, sprayed it into the intake and what do you know it started...for 5 seconds then cut off. Then made a clinky type noise. I repeated this about 5 more times with the same result...as soon as i try to floor the gas it cuts off. im out of ideas as to what can be wrong.

m2736185 · #6 05-07-2006, 11:21 PM

How do I get ODB error codes from a sunfire...the old on off on off on isnt working

|WYG|SS · #7 05-08-2006, 06:45 AM

make sure u didnt get water int eh distriputator casue that happened to me would start for a couple of sec then die. then when i would get it to last it would run like crap. just go to a junkyard and see if u can buy an intake tube for the air filter and suff. if u want to get water out of aulternator and other stuff just take a blow dryer it will save u money.

m2736185 · #8 05-08-2006, 04:42 PM

hmm well I kept spraying the engine starter fluid into the intake for a good 2 min to dry out what ever water was in the engine but It doesnt look like water is the issue anymore. I found a plastic type part connected to wires in my intake and it was connected to wires going who knows where...could this be the oxygen sensor? I included some pic

89Sunbird · #9 05-08-2006, 06:24 PM

That is your Manifold Air Temp sensor...looks like someone wired it back into itself???

And your car would run without one...mine ran like a champ with my MAT sensor looking like this...

SledDog30 · #10 05-08-2006, 07:04 PM

The item you have circled on the top of the valve cover goes to the stock air box.

It would have a short hose on it. Since you don't have the stock air box, it has been left "open". Basically, it's a breather.

hotbug1776 · #11 05-09-2006, 12:13 AM

it will run without the MAT, but, you will waste gas, and you might get a CEL. the computer uses that sensor to determine when the fuel/timing needs adjusted for incoming air temp. so you might be burning a little extra gas and not run timed out right, but it will run.

m2736185 · #12 05-09-2006, 12:38 AM

I was told my prob could be either crank or cam position sensor, anyone know where they are located?

cavy2fast4u · #13 05-11-2006, 09:28 AM

sounds like a problem I had the other week. It will only crank when you spray starter fluid in it right? Check to see if you are getting fuel.

m2736185 · #14 05-11-2006, 05:12 PM

really? How did you solve the prob, its def not getting fuel, but im not sure ifs its the injectors the sensor or the fuel pump

cavy2fast4u · #15 05-11-2006, 10:14 PM

I just changed out the pump. Best way to figure out if its your pump is to check your fuel pressure or if you dont have a pressure gauge, just take the fuel line loose from the fuel rail and turn your key on... if no gas comes out then its your pump or your filter has the worst clog ever

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