2000 Pontiac Sunfire SE from North America - Comments

Hey There.

I am an owner of a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire. Lately I have been having problems starting my car. It happened for the 4th time this past Sunday. I called AAA and the tow truck driver decided to work on my car a bit before he hooked it up to the truck. Thank God he did. He asked me to put my car in drive and then he started to push my car back a forth a bit. He then asked me to put my car in park and try to start it. It started right up. I was impressed. He said there is probably a linkage problem that's stopping my car from going completely into park. It was also raining Sunday and the other three times my car wouldn't start. He said something electrical may be getting wet causing the linkage indicator to strip making the car think it's not completely in park. On one hand I'm glad the computer is aware there may be a problem, but on the other hand, every time it rains I'm nervous that my car won't start.

Anyway, afterwards I was driving home and noticed my odometer light was out. I have no idea what has happened there, but am doing some research on line to find out. I can guarantee that I will not be buying another Pontiac "anything" once I'm done with this car. I'm used to driving Hondas and Hondas it's going to be from now on.

Has anyone had any trouble with your odometer light going out? My shift console is out as well. Anyone have any idea what may be the problem? THANKS!

I own a 2000 Sun fire 2 door. I have 90,000Kms. I washed my car last week (not under my hood). Now when I use my left signal, my wipers go on and my headlights don't work, but my high beam light on my dash board stays on. I took it into an auto body and they changed all the bulbs, but they said that the module control box needed to be replaced and the wiring harnest. They are quoting me $1500. Isn't there a recall for this? I called my dealership and they said there isn't one. Can anyone give me any advice on what I should do. Please email me.

Kcrankypants@hotmail.com.

My 2001 Pontiac Sunfire has also recently had daytime running light problems. Both running lights don't work; both low beams work; one high beam works, but the other light shuts off completely when the high beams are on. I tried replacing the headlamp, which didn't fix the problem. I can't even get the DRL relay fuse out to check it. Honestly, I'm not a fan of daytime running lights, but having one headlamp turn off completely when using high beams is becoming a problem. I wish this were something I could fix myself instead of having to get my car serviced.

Double your pleasure, double your fun...

I have both a 2003 and a 2005 Sunfire 2 door, 5 speed. The 2003 has had 4 problems with the headlights; the first 3 were corrected under warranty (corroded wires in the front wiring harness), but this last time, both low beam headlamps and the DRLs have gone out, with a simultaneous display of the "Service" warning indicator. I suspect the wiring harness will be at fault, yet again.

I am going to the dealership, which has generally been very good, armed with the information this site has provided. I am also very mechanical myself, and have checked through the car for the obvious problems such as poor contacts, faulty relays, etc. I am going to suggest they look to the wiring harness first; I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the problem is a faulty ground.

We have also had the problems that many have had with the rear brake lamps and running lights going out. The problem is that the surface contact between the contact within the socket and the bulb itself is so ridiculously small, that electrical arcing is almost certain to occur. Arcing eats away at the surface contact between the two surfaces, and before long, there is insufficient contact between the bulb and the circuit. GM has issued a recall for this; they typically either clean up the contact (works for a while), or they replace the socket and bulb (works for a while). Addition of an electrical "gel" into the socket, to minimize arcing, also helps. However, what I did, works best; I increased the contact surface area between bulb and socket. Yes, indeed, soldering is a wonderful thing.

Still, the car is a lovely little fun vehicle to drive.

Double your fun (continued)

I was right; the wiring harness was at fault once again. Three wires were broken within the harness, one just inches back from a previous repair. The mechanic at a Guelph Ontario Canada dealership confirmed what I suspected, indicating he has made "40 or more similar repairs" in the last year, and scoffed at GM's refusal to believe there is a flaw here, and issue a recall. Of course, it's all about money; don't they realize the damage they are doing to their reputation, and to future GM sales? Of course, I will be in contact with GM about this recurring problem. I am one tenacious sob, for sure.

I am trying a solution of my own. The wires in the harness are ridiculously thin, and break down easily. I suspect vigorous flexing of the wires may cause their failure. Today, I tried to immobilize them where they hang attached to the front frame, under the black plastic cover under the hood. I strapped them to the frame with plastic zips, and ran several beads of silicone along the contact points between the harness and the frame. I also immobilized the connector to the relay (I think) just right of centre as you look down from the front of the car. Time will tell whether I am on to something here or not.

Anybody done this before?

Just wondering if anyone out there had tried to fix their clutch for a 2000 sunfire and how much it would cost them. my first time getting mine fixed and I need a good average on my price. Ouch these things are too expensive.

I own a 2002 sunfire and have yet to have any problems until now. I was in the process of installing a new cd player and my heat went out on me. I have no idea what the problem could be. I am fixing it up to be a tuner. I changed the blower motor relay and that did nothing. If anyone has any ideas, please E-mail me at shaun_sunfire2002@yahoo.com Thanks a million.

I have a 2000 GT model and the problems that people are reporting about the headlights is due to a part inside the switch - pull back selector on the left side of the steering wheel. There's a small plastic piece that melts for whatever reason...I've rebuilt mine 3 times now and am going to buy a new switch lever assembly if it goes again. Maybe it's melting because there's too much current flowing through the low beams - my high beams are fine though.

Someone mentioned the fuel problems about the car randomly stalling/not starting... the fuel pump will go on these cars - or at least has on mine so I should only speak from personal experience on this one. I have been able to hit the gas tank and get it going again, but I know that this is only delaying the inevitable for this car... about $500 (CDN) in labour alone. I think I'll waste a weekend and save the $$.

I have a 2002 Sunfire with the same blower problems everyone else is having. Fan speed setting 1 stopped working once under warranty, was fixed, and recently stopped working again. I suggest a recall on this issue as well. Now I'm getting the service light with the picture of the wrench when nothing mechanically appears to be wrong. The car has 94k on it and the engine seems to be doing alright, but I'm worried that the electric problems I've had are just the beginning of the vehicle's demise.

I also own a 2000 Sunfire and lately the turn signals decide when they are going to work. When I turn on the Left signal my windshield wipers go none stop and when I turn on the Right they go up once. They won't shut off if I have my headlights on. Sometimes the dash flashes when I try my turn signals, too. Also.. I never knew I had back speakers until I read this.. I am kinda thinking I might now.

My car only has about 50k Miles on it yet I have already had to replace the front brakes 2x and the back 1x. I have had to replace wiring for the dash lights staying on as well. I have had to replace other things that I cannot think of the name right now, but it ran about $600. (Front passenger wheel- made the car shake uncontrollably if I was driving over 50 mph...)

If anyone has any quick or cheap fixes to the turn signal problem can you please email me at jmorris@usd.edu. I am in college and I cannot afford this car with all of it's repairs anymore!!

I also own a 2000 Sunfire and lately the turn signals decide when they are going to work. When I turn on the Left signal my windshield wipers go none stop and when I turn on the Right they go up once. They won't shut off if I have my headlights on. Sometimes the dash flashes when I try my turn signals, too. Also.. I never knew I had back speakers until I read this.. I am kinda thinking I might now.

My car only has about 50k Miles on it yet I have already had to replace the front brakes 2x and the back 1x. I have had to replace wiring for the dash lights staying on as well. I have had to replace the cv joint 2x as well among other things. I have had my windshield washer fluid looked at twice and repaired yet it still does not work.

If anyone has any quick or cheap fixes to the turn signal problem can you please email me at jmorris@usd.edu. I am in college and I cannot afford this car with all of it's repairs anymore!!

Hello, I also own a 1998 Pontiac Sunfire. When I first bought the car.. brand new..started with 23 miles on it, within the first 6000 miles I had to have the engine replaced...yes, the entire engine was pulled and a new one put in. I also had to have a new transmission put in it at the same time. I had a claim with the Better Business Bureau and I did qualify for the "lemon law" but since a similar sunfire--same year and mileage could not be located, I settled for the bumper to bumper extended warranty---everything was covered until the car was paid for (5yrs). This was great at the time.. had the dealership come to my house, pick up the car, leave me a loaner and fix whatever needed fixed... such as spark plugs, spark plug wires (yeah--I was surprised too, since these are general maintenance issues) --but they did it! Maybe they just didn't want me to raise more trouble...

The car now has 140,000 miles on it and I think generally it has been a pretty good car.. after the new engine and transmission at 6000 miles... I really haven't had too many problems... or at least I didn't think so... But, of course we are having a problem.. as of last week, I have no driving lights, indicator on dash flickers constantly when car is in drive, and I have only one headlight on driver's side on high beam. I do have regular (Dim) headlights when I turn them on and all other lights in the car and all other indicator lights work fine. (Other than my radio backlight... that has been out for a couple of years). I also haven't had back speakers working in the car for years, and no fan on the 1 position. I just thought those were small issues on my car, didn't know so many people were having the same issues.

I will say, that although I didn't work on GM parts, I worked for an automotive electrical company which made multifunction (headlamp) switches in the Quality department for eight years. I have been told it is my switch, but from my past experience, I don't see how this is possible. The switch is not designed to have two different signals going to different headlamps, frankly, this technology would not be cost efficient. Therefore, if it were the switch, both of my high beams would be out, not just one.

I no longer work in automotive electronics, frankly it is a bad business, simply because of problems like we are all having with Pontiac!

My husband is a mechanic and he has tried the change the bulb, change the relay, test the fuses, test the wiring---which he did in the rain, and found the "pink wire" to be dead---I wasn't out there, cause it was raining, but I believe I will have him put in a new "pink wire"--I know what he is going to say, he is a mechanic, and I am a woman, what do I know about cars! If I'm wrong and it doesn't fix it.. more bragging rights for him--better than pulling the column to change out the switch and that not be the issue...right?

9 yr sunfire owner--in Illinois.

I am the very unproud owner of a 2002 Cavalier. I am also having the dreaded DRl problem as mentioned in many previous posts. After having the car repaired twice at my local GM dealer and being told by the technician that the wiring was literally rotting. I decided to leave a comment regarding my concern with the safety of this recurring problem. Then what do you know the next day they call me and reassure me that the problem will be looked into. A week goes by then I get another phone call where sorry your car has no warranty on it, but we can schedule a diagnosis session at your cost at your local GM dealer and then we will reassess your situation. In other words give us more money and we might help you "no Guaranty". lol

My next step is to report with transportation Canada as this is a serious issue. My wife was already stranded on the side of the highway at night cause the headlights failed. I urge everyone with this same problem to also report with transportation Canada.

Shaine.

I am the owner of a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire and I recently had a problem of the high beams not working, I simply cut the wires on the back of the headlight and wired them to a switch purchased at the auto parts store, no problems since, and nothing else is wrong.

I own a 2000 pontiac sunfire, there are a lot of issues with this car that I have noticed. I was one of the first ones to have their sending unit go (this was where the gas gauge was not reading properly). GM replaced it once under warranty, but it went again.GM wouldnt replace it for the second time even though they knew that it was a problem so I just kept putting the additive in the gas tank and it seemed to solve the problem. Also I had the problem with the DRL lights not working. That was due to the wiring harness behind the front bumper (very expensive repair). I was lucky I knew someone that worked at GM who claimed it under warranty, even though I had over 100000 kms. I also had the blower resistor and the blower motor go. And just recently my car stalled on the highway (Traction control light and the battery light came on) and the car had no power, but it only did that once and started to work fine after i started the car a few time so I don't really know what the problem is. And now my coolant low light is coming on and off, but there is enough coolant in the car. Has anyone had these problems, with these idiot lights coming on and off?