1996 Sunfire dies randomly (auto, spark plugs, fuel, best)
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My daughter drives a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire. It will die when she is driving it down the road, but it only seems to happen when it gets warmed up.
*Only happen when the car gets warmed up.
*Acts like it's running out of fuel - even with a full tank.
*Will start up and run again after sitting for about an hour or so (cooling down time?)
My thought is that something electrical is getting too hot and quits working, but we cannot figure out what.
We took it to the local auto shop, but he could not even get his computer to talk to the car.
Anyone have any ideas? Anyone else deal with something like this with a similiar car?
I would do a full tune up and Replace the distributor cap, rotor, spark plugs, Wires, fuel filters, air filters, PCV valve/filter, O2 sensor and then go from there and see if helps or not...
wife's 05 grand am would randomly die, seemed to be the air filter informing us that it needed a change. We'd get a lowering in RPM's, which would cause the engine to die. It'd only do this when you got to stop lights or stop signs, and were off the gas...filter change always made it go away for an additional 30k miles or so....start cheap and easy, and go from there...
For reference, the engine in my wife's Grand Am is a 2.4L Ecotec 4 cylinder. I think there is what looks like an ignition control module of some sort sitting atop the engine, but I'd imagine it has a coil on plug setup, for a distributor-less ignition system.
I had a problem with my old 8 cylinder Chrysler just randomly dying after a tuneup. Turned out that I had a dead cylinder caused by a bad valve or two. The valve seats were eaten up as would be typical for such an old car running on this unleaded gas.
I'm not saying you have the same problem, but try to check some of the simple systems of the car if you can... such as seeing if all cylinders are firing properly, etc.
I had a problem with my old 8 cylinder Chrysler just randomly dying after a tuneup. Turned out that I had a dead cylinder caused by a bad valve or two. The valve seats were eaten up as would be typical for such an old car running on this unleaded gas.
I'm not saying you have the same problem, but try to check some of the simple systems of the car if you can... such as seeing if all cylinders are firing properly, etc.
If memory serves me correct, the old leaded fuel would build up on the valve seats and allow better sealing of the combustion chamber? This is coming from college automotive tech, so i might be grasping a bit.
but he could not even get his computer to talk to the car.
The issue as you describe it and the above quote makes me believe the PCM is dying and is on it's last leg. This is a classic description of how one dies. The unit is OBD compliant and you can get them already flashed at NAPA. While the actual work is not hard, typical GM strategy of putting it in the absolutely most difficult place holds true in her car. I'd have the work done at a shop rather tackle it myself. FWIW, it's hidden inside the front fender. Best of luck.
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