2000 Pontiac Sunfire SE from North America - Comments

Approximately 1 year ago, the fuel level indicator began showing erratic fuel levels, which caused me to run out of gas. I was told that it needed a fuel sending unit replaced.

Now, I am told the fuel strainer is clogged, and that my fuel pump may now be damaged due to this problem. There is an OPEN investigation into this by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, reference ODI Action No. PE02-66, filed on 9/6/2002. http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/defect/results.cfm.

I am disappointed that Pontiac does not offer to fix the fuel system delivery problem, even though there are numerous Technical Service Bulletins describing the problem, and an ongoing NHTSA investigation.

I have been having this EXACT problem with my 2000 SunFire for about a year now, i.e. the erratic reading on the gas, etc. Now, the car has taken to stalling on me at times, starting back almost immediately sometimes and not at all others necessitating it being towed to a shop.

I've replaced the fuel filter twice in 3 months, as I was told "bad gas" might have clogged it. Now, I've had it back to a Pontiac dealer after the last stall, and they've run a diagnostic check and can find nothing wrong.

I'm wondering what to do next -- but this sheds some light that I had not heard about before.

This is a follow-up to my last comment on here.

Since my post, I went to another Pontiac dealership asking for them to repair my stalling problem by any means necessary. I explained to them how it only stalls on long, graded hills, and only after driving about 30-45 min. when the engine gets hot. I also told them how once you get to flat land again, or let the engine cool, it typically starts again.

After hearing this, the technician said they've gotten a bulletin from Pontiac about such a situation, and it suggests a problem with the fuel strainer in the gas tank. He said it apparently is a model-wide problem with those strainers collapsing, causing stalling problems when going uphill and when the engine is hot.

They dropped the fuel tank, and replaced this fuel strainer. He said that my former strainer had indeed collapsed, and would not allow proper fuel to be sent to the engine once the engine heated up and when I got to a hill.

I've been driving it a full week now since the repair without any problems whatsoever. My erratic gas gauge problem also seems to have been rectified with this repair.

The part cost $18.50. I suggest anyone with similar problems attempt to have a dealer go this route before trying anything else, especially if someone recommends replacing the fuel pump. Apparently that wouldn't solve the problem anyway, and you'd be out a stack of cash for nothing.

Well, I finally found a bit of information on the exact same problem. Car just stalls with no warning, all dash lights come on, and you have to wait 10 to 15 minutes before the car will start again. Sometimes, it just won't start at all.

Is GMC going to address this problem? This has been happening off and on for over a year, and no mechanic has been able to find the problem. What was the total cost of the repair though the GMC dealer? You said the part cost $18.50, but what did they charge you to drop the tank and repair?

HELP!!!

Whether GM will make fixing this problem a priority, I don't know. All I know is what I stated in my last post, and that's that the Pontiac dealers SHOULD have been warned about the strainer problem based on the bulletin referenced to me by the service tech. at the dealership that repaired my car.

I still have not had any problem with my car since the fuel strainer was replaced, and I've gone up some wicked hills since then. Right now, I'm confident the problem is gone.

Whether it'll stay gone, I don't know. If there is another condition that's causing the fuel strainers to collapse, then it probably will someday. But if the original factory strainers are the problem, then maybe it's fixed. Or at least that's what I'm hoping.

As for the cost for repairs -- the new in-tank strainer ($18.50) was the easy part. Dropping the tank and other associated labor cost me $111.50 for two hours labor, bringing the total cost to about $130.00. Given that I had to have it fixed, I had no choice, but to ante up and pay it. I'm not sure about an outside mechanic doing it, though. All of the ones I spoke with wanted to put a new fuel pump on it -- NONE suggested the fuel strainer problem.

I have a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire SE. I too, have been having stalling problems. Primarily when the weather changes from Summer to Fall. The colder months and the change in the gasoline definitely effect my car. The car will run and then for no reason stall out and die. Sometimes the car will die if I am just sitting at a light in neutral. Also, at times, it seems to not want to take gas when the gas pedal is pressed. It almost feels like a clog of some sort. Yet no mechanic or the dealership seams to find anything wrong.

Since I have had my Sunfire, I have replaced the head gasket, catalytic converter, alternator, clutch, and I have a wheel bearing going out.

I am so fed up!

Erin of Spokane, WA.

I have a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire has 108,000 my fuel pump went out last week I wonder if the strainer problem could have been what caused it to do that. If there is anyone out there who reads this and can identify with my problem please e-mail me at jdgatliff@yahoo.com. The fuel pump on my car has the pinch together quick connects on it. But when I went to ordr the new fuel pump nobody has the pump with the same quick connect fittings to connect to my car. the only two places where I can find that shows there is two different types on that car is my haynes manual and the service dept at my dealer, but the service dept does not know the part number for the type on my car. And the parts dept only shows the ones opposite to what is currently on my car. Please help if you have ran into this problem and found a solution to it.

I bought a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire SE about a month ago and I was doing research on modifications when I found this site. I purchased my car from a dealer who had acquired it from a car auction. My car was originally a rental / leased car. I was able to get it with low miles (37k) and every mile was accounted for on the car fax report. The report also verified the dealer's statement that it was a leased car. I had one question regarding the car ~ where did everyone else that purchased their car buy it from (if you don't mind telling)? Was it a private owner, a lease (common with Pontiacs), new or used? The prior owner can make a lot of difference in the performance you get and I'd like to compare the results I get. Thanks!

I have a 2000 Pontiac SE Sunfire. This care has been a major headache since I bought it last year from a small used car lot by my home. yesterday I took it in after my husband replaced the battery and starter. The car didn't want to start up, and the gauge lights keep flashing on and off when driving, especially the "Service" and "Theft System" dash lights. The Pontiac dealer had it all day yesterday and told me it was my alternator and charged me $475 to put in a new one. Drove it this morning and guess what, the lights are still flashing on and off. The car for some reason doesn't like cold mornings and hesitates to start up when Fall hits (this time of year in Michigan). So far in a year I have spent $855 on the alternator, battery, starter, had the brake line fixed since it had a hole in one of the lines and all the brake fluid ran out of it and the driver side motor replaced in the window. I also had a new master switch put in it for all the windows. AAAAGHH. I also own a Jeep cherokee and have only had to put a $25 turn signal switch in that vehicle in the past year. I used to like POntiac, specifically Grand Am, but the Sunfire is just a major headache. It is great on gas mileage and a cute little 4 door to get me back and forth, but I prefer my Jeep over this Sunfire.

Does anyone know what I can do about my sunfire and it overheating before my head is warped and all those other problems occour? If I went into a garage and asked them to see if my temp. gauge is busted how muhc would that cost and is it worth doing that? What do I do?

I own a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire GT. I have been having problems with the car shaking at idle and stalling on the highways. I drove 4 hours on vacation without any problems, but then the car stalled 5 times on the journey back home. I have been trying to find a solution to this problem for over 2 years now.

2 years ago, I noticed a slight miss every once in a while. Now it shakes whenever it is not accelerating. It stalls on the highway sometimes, after 10 minutes of driving or sometimes longer than 4 hours. I have replaced a fuel sending unit as per the bulletin mentioned earlier.. this didn't fix it. This included the fuel strainer.

I just changed the fuel pump, filter and I have checked the remote control starter in case the wires were causing problems... nope. I am very frustrated. I am now waiting on a new computer for my car because I just found out that they warranty computers for up to 160,000kms. Hey, it is worth a shot.. especially if it is free.

I am thinking the ignition coil, but I really don't know. I hear that may not fix my car either. UGH! I have been to 3 GM dealerships around where I live, and 3 mechanic shops, and still everyone keeps throwing their hands up in the air. I don't want to sell it because I actually like the car. I just hate the major issue I am having. I don't figure anyone can help me, so I am writing just to let you know I too have stalling problems. I just wish I knew why.

I have a Pontiac 2000 Sunfire and have been having stalling problems. Had it in to the repair shop all day and it didn't act up at all for them. Went to pick it up, backed out of the parking spot, and, you guessed it - it stalled. The mechanic got in and tried it - it stalled. We don't know what is causing this. The "Service" light comes on. Seems to be idling way too low. It happens almost always when I back out and crank the wheels while backing up, although it did stall once pulling out of my driveway. I have also had to replace a left front wheel sensor, as the "ABS" and "Traction Control" lights were coming on. However, even after the repair, the lights still come on. Had it in to the shop again for this, they put the scope thing on it, and drove around the building (with me inside), all 4 sensors show fine. Anyone have any ideas??

I have got a 2000 pontiac sunfire which I'm having trouble with it stalling out. it started one morning I got off of work I went to go start it and it would not start it sounded as if it was flooded well I waited about 10mins and it fired right up drove abou 30 minutes and I just died and I waited about 15 more minutes and it fired back up. I was told it was the fuel pump so I changed it and the fuel filter, the coil pack and a few of the censors like MASS AIR CENSOR, IAT CENSOR, and a few more. well after all that it went good for about 2 days and it started dying again. and for some reason I don't have any fuel pressuer, but my fuel pump is kicken on. somebody sayed that my fuel pump is bad or it could be the CRANK CENSOR. I would appreciate any bodys help THANKS.