Comments: 1-15, 16-18
We recently purchased a used 1999 Sunfire for my 16 year old daughter. We took it to a local Pontiac dealership and paid $70 to have them look at it and see if there was anything seriously wrong with this. They found a few minor items, but nothing that concerned them enough for us not to buy it.
My daughter drove it for two weeks before it wouldn't start. After some diagnostics were ran, it was determined that the alternator was bad. I replaced that and the car ran for another whole week.
It then died again. It now was decided that the starter was bad. I purchased a starter and was about ready to replace it. I noticed that the current connection (s) on the starter were not tight. I tightened those up and the car started right up. It then ran for 1.5 days before completely dying while my daughter was driving down the road.
After towing it to the local Pontiac dealership (not the same one as previous mentioned) they say the engine is "internally locked" and they can replace it for $4,800. I think they are full of you know what.
I wouldn't recommend this piece of junk to anyone. If you're thinking of buying one of these, don't. Although I like Pontiac's (I'm an old Trans AM guy), I don't know why. I had nothing but trouble with the Trans AM and now this piece of junk Sunfire. I say avoid Pontiac products at all costs.
The engine should be replaced by a cage with a pair of running squirrels.
Just a comment about your initial diagnostic. Although you did the right thing in having it checked out, why would you take it to a Pontiac dealership? First of all, they are always going to charge you more. But more importantly, you are not getting a very impartial opinion, even if you're not buying the car from them. What do you think they are going to say? "These Pontiacs are trash after 50K miles; don't buy it." I'm sure you never even met the actual person who looked the car over. The guy in the Polo shirt at the desk with clean hands told you "its fine; these are great cars" then sent you to another office where a lady took your 70 bucks.
Find more of a "mom & pop" type shop for a pre-purchase diagnostic. Even if they're less than honest, at least they are less motivated to "tow the line."
It is absolutely ridiculous to blame an entire car manufacturer for your misfortunes. Pontiac makes good vehicles, and I have never heard of "internal locking" in my life. I would have to think that you either got duped by the dealer's mechanics or you made this up entirely. In either case it is very inconsiderate and inaccurate to judge an entire company by a few negative technicalities occurring on a single vehicle.
Hello.
I have a Sunfire 97 that runs very well with no problems as long as it's visiting the mechanic every other week and having new parts in it every month. I highly recommend Sunfires, especially the 2.4 ones because their parts are unique and can only be ordered from a Pontiac Dealer and you have a lot of fun with that car because most of the time you are having cool conversations with the Tow Truck driver while he is towing your car.
Thank you.
I'm happy to hear how everyone is enjoying their cars, first off, Internally locking? Sounds like the engine seized to me. You know what can help fix that? Checking the oil in the engine. Sorry it never occured to anyone out there. But oh well, I've had my Sunfire for about 8 months now, no problems whatsoever as long as you maintain it just like any other car. So have fun all, and let me keep reading these reviews. p.s My oldest vehicle so far was a 23 yr old chevy C10 truck, so yeah, GM is a good company and at least the parts won't cost you 400 dollars for an alternator.
I own a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire. It has 365,000 miles on it. Never put a great deal of money in it, currently still have it and had it since two years ago. It has been a great car, only basics have been fixed, like new brake pads, and change of oils. It runs like new and it has many miles and is 8 years old. I wouldn't blame the maker or the type of car. You just got a bad egg, that the owners before never checked up on it and fixed, that's all.
I will never own another Sunfire. I have had 3 sets of new rotars (2 this year) and one ground down. Two sets of drums this year. Nothing but trouble with this car or my mechanic. Not sure which. (Won't use them again after this week.) $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE FOR THIS CAR!!!
I have a 1999 Pontiac sunfire. I had a few problems, but nothing major. I think that your sunfire was just a lemon and everything happened, but don't blame Pontiac, every manufacturer has lemons it's just a matter of if you get a good one or not.
I have a 1996 GT Sunfire and there is 170.000 miles up, its the best car I have driven in a long time. I live in Donegal, Ireland and if anyone out there could help, I am looking for the softwear for the diagnostics and also a parts supplier, I have a 1979 6.6 T-Roof Trans-am which I have for 11years and I think Pontiacs are just great cars.
The 2.4L "Quad Four" Pontiac Sunfires are fun to drive, and have plenty of torque, but there are lemons out there with any vehicle. I think I understand what the initial poster meant when they said that the engine is "internally sealed" - it's not ceased, but rather GM's ploy to get you to take the car to the dealership for maintenance. When you get into replacing engine internals, it becomes increasingly difficult because all of the mounting screws/bolts have triangular heads on them - making them almost impossible to work on in your driveway at home, or at a local mechanic's shop. Be very wary before buying a sunfire of this vintage with the 2.4L quad four - have it looked over before buying!!
I am the owner of a hand-me-down 98 Sunfire the previouse owner had driven it into a motor cycle pushing the fender and body in about 6 inches on the passenger side front corner. After doing so they continued to let it sit for a year and a half without starting. After putting fresh gas in on top of 1/4 a tank of 18 month old gas it started right up. One week after I had to replace the A/C compressor ($30 at junk yard) and belt. So far this has been a great car. After 102k,aside from minor oils from the head gaskets and rear main seal that GM 2.2 has held up great. By the way have any of you looked under the hood of any cavaliers or even some Saturn's same motors for the most part so don't blame your poor vehicle maintenance and excessive abuse on just Sunfire's.
I have a 1996 Sunfire Quad-4 4-door and the thing runs like a champ. It currently has about 180k miles on it with no major repairs in its lifetime. It does not eat oil or wear the brake pads unevenly. It starts up in all manner of weather and is fantastic grabbing the road (mix of toyos and kellys).
I consider that well above average considering it has been in two accidents. I was t-boned downtown (say about 25-30mph) and the second was in a parking lot. I leave it in its spot - I came back and someone had hit me from the front hard enough to shove my car back about 6 inches and crunch in the hood.
I have a 1999 pontiac, sunfire gt 2.4L and was doing fine up until it hit 100 thousand kilometers. after that the alternator went, couple days later the 700 dollar one of a kind fuel pump went, then a week later the thing won't start... hit the key and the starter spins and just doesn't engaged the flywheel. check around and find that the starter is upward of 400 bucks well $468 at gm. take the starter in and the shaft is replaced and new bearings put in. the starter then re installed does the same thing. who knows it's currently being towed, yet again, to a "mom and pop" type mechanic. hopefully this one won't cost as much as the other parts for the diagnosis and repair lol. there goes 5 payments on a new import lol
cheers
don't forget to be nice to the tow truck driver he/she maybe your best friend soon..
I have a 1999 Pontiac Sunfire GT convertible that was purchased used and has nearly 118,000 miles on it. It has been a wonderful vehicle and has only required minor repairs until about 1 year ago at which time my brakes stopped working properly. When the brake is applied the vehicle will pull down in the back and the anti lock system goes crazy which causes the brakes to slips so the car does not stop properly. We have had the brakes looked at and adjusted by several garages and no one can seem to find the problem. If anyone has an answer to this problem please post it here. Thanks.
OK whoever wrote this little nugget is completely full of horse manure. There is no way in HELL that you were able to get a Pontiac Sunfire to 365,000 miles with only oil changes and light service work. These POS cars are not built that well. If you said you had a late 80's model Volvo 240 I MIGHT have believed you, but c'mon a Pontiac Sunfire making it to 365K is about as likely as pigs flying. Nice try GM worker.
You said:
I own a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire. It has 365,000 miles on it. Never put a great deal of money in it, currently still have it and had it since two years ago. It has been a great car, only basics have been fixed, like new break pad, and change of oils. It runs like new and it has many miles and is 8 years old. I wouldn't blame the maker or the type of car. You just got a bad egg, that the owners before never checked up on it and fixed, that's all.
I purchased my 99 Sunfire new, my husband was very disappointed with my choice of a "mickey mouse car". I am at 200,000 miles with regular oil changes, and a few parts such as alternator, fan motor, brake pads, and rotors, and now an a/c compressor. This was my first new car, and I haven't had to replace anything out of the ordinary, and I never had a used car make it to 200,000 miles. I love my sunfire, and now my husband is thankful for my mickey mouse gas mileage.
About the brakes, mine were doing the same thing - not stopping correctly, I was told my rotors were warped, but within specs when still under warranty, I changed all the rear brake stuff (rotors and pads) and haven't had the problem since.