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1998 Ponitac Sunfire keeps on dying


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giveNtake
New User
giveNtake profile image

Sep 1, 2011, 7:16 PM

Post #1 of 9 (2446 views)
1998 Ponitac Sunfire keeps on dying Sign In

1998
Pontiac
Sunfire GT 2.4L
310 000 K

It keeps on stalling, usually after about 45 minutes of driving, especially in heavier traffic (constant starting and stopping, engine running hotter). When it does dye out it:

- Starts by not wanting to accelerate (That's how I know it's going to start acting up)
- When I shift into neutral the rpm's drop to about 500
- Pumping the gas pedal will keep the engine idling at about 500 rpm, pushing it down normally will either stall the engine or the engine will rev to about 1000-1500 rpm hesitantly
- When this happens I shut the car off, restart it and it runs normal but it usually do it again one or two minutes later
- Sometimes after the 5th of 6th time of this happening it will start up but it will continue to run and hesitate at 500 rpm
- Its usually fine for shorter drives and highway driving (maybe because the engine is running cooler)

Additionally:

- Has new(er) fuel pump
- Brand new MAP sensor. (I took it to a mechanic since the car wasn't giving me any codes and I couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. He told me it was the MAP sensor. So I installed a couple of used sensors that I had kicking around but I continued to have the same problem. After, again, stalling and running bad i got a code for the third MAP sensor that I had installed so I picked up a brand new one. But still I have the same problems.)
- Crankshaft positioning sensor was replaced just over a year ago
-New air and fuel filters


Any suggestions to what may be causing this would be great!


Mr.scotty
Enthusiast
Mr.scotty profile image

Sep 1, 2011, 9:28 PM

Post #2 of 9 (2423 views)
Re: 1998 Ponitac Sunfire keeps on dying Sign In

This car has 310,000miles of the original engine?
Thats really good.

So the car is still getting the MAP sensor code?
Can you post the code number(s)?
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giveNtake
New User
giveNtake profile image

Sep 2, 2011, 6:57 PM

Post #3 of 9 (2415 views)
Re: 1998 Ponitac Sunfire keeps on dying Sign In

I only got the MAP sensor code once (from one of the used sensors that I had installed) and I THINK it was P0108(high voltage). Since my OBD reader displayed a MAP sensor code after the first time that I drove the car with that particular sensor that I figured that I had accidentally installed the original MAP sensor (which was toast when I bought the car) so i cleared the code and tried another sensor.

ALSO I have had to replace the MAP sensor twice already since I bought the car, so maybe a fault in the circuit to the PCM?

And yes its got 310 000 Km (about 200 000 miles) on the original engine. I bought the car two years ago with 260 000 Km on it for dirt cheap. The engine ran great but the body was beat up and needed a bit of work.


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Sep 3, 2011, 5:56 AM

Post #4 of 9 (2398 views)
Re: 1998 Ponitac Sunfire keeps on dying Sign In


Quote
Has new(er) fuel pump


What does this exactly mean?

You might have to T in a fuel pressure gauge tester and watch fuel pressure when the problem is occurring.

Another thing you could check is the computer grounds at the transaxle bellhousing bolt. Make sure they are clean and tight.

Not only can MAP sensor high voltage code set if you have an open or short to voltage in the MAP sensor signal circuit, but can also set if the MAP's connector is unplugged while the engine is running or you unplug the connector while the engine is running. You could check the MAP sensor voltage at the ECM by back probing the signal circuit. You'll need a multimeter. If you can get your hands on a code/scanner that has datastream capability you could watch the MAP sensor voltage in the datastream.

Another possibility is that you have an ignition problem. A coil or ICM that fails when they get hot can shut down ignition to cylinders. Quads had lot of problems with coil cartridges carbon tracking or coils crapping out.





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bigmike6117
User

Sep 5, 2011, 9:47 PM

Post #5 of 9 (2370 views)
Re: 1998 Ponitac Sunfire keeps on dying Sign In

Check your idle air control valve. In fact it may not be a bad idea to replace it anyways due to the miles.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 6, 2011, 3:13 AM

Post #6 of 9 (2363 views)
Re: 1998 Ponitac Sunfire keeps on dying Sign In


Quote
Check your idle air control valve. In fact it may not be a bad idea to replace it anyways due to the miles.


Bigmike6117,
We find that it's rarely very helpful when someone that came here for advice on their own car starts giving advice to other people on theirs.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



bigmike6117
User

Sep 6, 2011, 8:16 AM

Post #7 of 9 (2355 views)
Re: 1998 Ponitac Sunfire keeps on dying Sign In


In Reply To

Quote
Check your idle air control valve. In fact it may not be a bad idea to replace it anyways due to the miles.


Bigmike6117,
We find that it's rarely very helpful when someone that came here for advice on their own car starts giving advice to other people on theirs.



Hammer Time,
I apologize for my open willingness to try to help someone out. In fact, I was under the assumption that forums were designed to get input from all parties. Apparently, this forum is different as in only a few "actual" mechanics can help people out. I am appreciative of the advice that I received from here but just because I came for advice does not mean I can't pass on some advice from my personal "home" mechanic experience onto others. Unless I'm completely wrong, dangerous, or all out rude, I don't see anything wrong with it. That may differ from your thoughts as in you do have all the knowledge about automobiles. Once again I apologize for any advice that I had given in error and for obviously stepping on some egos. It still wouldn't hurt to check the IAC though...


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 6, 2011, 9:19 AM

Post #8 of 9 (2350 views)
Re: 1998 Ponitac Sunfire keeps on dying Sign In

If your advice is solid and accurate there is usually no problem but that is pretty rare coming from someone that needed help with their own car. In this case there is a highly qualified tech that is systematically working through diagnostics with the poster. When you come in an post inaccurate advice, it just totally confuses the situation.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



bigmike6117
User

Sep 6, 2011, 10:26 AM

Post #9 of 9 (2345 views)
Re: 1998 Ponitac Sunfire keeps on dying Sign In

Well now I can understand that. Maybe in a private message you can explain the inaccuracy. I do understand that there is a step process when comes to technical diagnosis of a vehicle with the added complication of no actual vehicle in front of you. I did have a similar event that was described happen to me, and thought that if all else fails why not. And, just to add again, I did come to this forum looking for advice, but on the same token it doesn't mean that I'm car stupid nor does it necessarily mean anyone looking for advice isnt versed on some level of car repair. Thanks again for the clarification, the first post seemed a little aggressive.






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