22nd May 2009, 16:09

Holy wah! After reading all this, I had to post. I bought my 2000 'Fire in Feb. 2000 with 4 miles on it. To date, it has 115,000 on it and the only problem I've had was the fan switch, about 3 years ago. That's it. Sunroof works fine, stereo works fine, uses NO oil between changes, and I average 25 mpg city and 31 freeway. It needs struts, and I did replace the battery 3 years ago. What a great little car.

9th Nov 2009, 03:18

OK, so... we are all in the same boat!! 98 Sunfire. A/C is fully charged, but no cold air since I bought this used 3 yrs ago.

Also the brake fluid had to be cleaned as I had no brakes and the pedal went to the floor. Also had to replace the rotors.

Changed the tires and 2 of the stems broke on each wheel, had to get those replaced. I found out that that was a recall.

Then the car started leaking water from the water pump, which then caused a blown head gasket. Also the gasket around the oil well was leaking oil and had to be replaced. I found that the trunk had started to leak sometimes, leaving about 4 inches of water in the trunk. Oh and the paint is coming off from the all over the car. Yes I know it is an old car, 135000 on it now, but it is good on gas ha-ha :) My plan is to fix it up and keep it.

11th Dec 2009, 12:09

2001 Pontiac Sunfire

I have had issues with the starter. The cord connecting the started to the battery would come loose and the car would not start. My dad replaced the starter and has tightened the cord way too many times. One time he was tightening it and the solenoid snapped and had to be replaced.

I've had the fan motor go out.

I had some electrical issues where while driving; all the lights would flash on and all the gauges would go down to zero, and then just as quickly would go back to normal. Let me tell you, when that happens while driving down the freeway, it freaks you out! I had to have the ignition switch replaced and that seems to have fixed that issue.

I had the back taillight go out and just replacing the bulb did not work. Had to have the entire lamp replaced.

Now I have a P0420 error code and the engine coolant light will flash on the flash off, but the check engine light will stay on.

I've also had to replace the brakes several times, and the trunk latch broke so for the past 3 years to get to the trunk I have to take out the car seats and pull the back seat down. It's not worth it, we just stack the groceries in the front seat and around my kids in the backseat.

It seems like every few months there is another issue. I got the car in 2004 with 3500 miles on it.

When things are working right, the car drives great. 5 speed that shifts smoothly, but when something goes out, it seems as if something else follows shortly thereafter. Once a year there is a major issue.

11th Dec 2009, 19:07

Sunfires and Cavaliers are cheaply built economy cars. I own one and can tell you if the car is well maintained, which mine was, then you shouldn't have too much trouble unless you got a rare lemon.

27th Dec 2009, 08:19

Hi everyone.

I drive a 2000 Sunfire GTX (it's an SE with a body kit) as my winter car.

Last march I started having the DRL / low beam issue on both headlamps, seeing that I was about to store the car anyway I left it alone... till now.

It blows me away for this many people to have the same issue and have GM do nothing about it.

Either way, I'm heading out to look at the wiring harness and pull out the headlamp assembly.

I'll post back if I have any luck locating the root of the problem... if not I'm going to lower my highbeams and drive like that the rest of the winter.

It is nice to know I'm not alone.. I guess.

12th Jan 2010, 10:24

All I can honestly say is WOW!!

I own a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire 2.2L automatic 4 door with no power anything. I purchased the car in 2003 as a new car that had only been used for a rental car when someone's car was in the shop. I believe it had about 2300 miles on it.

I did have the recall with the ignition switch that could catch fire, and the dealer I purchased it from did replace that.

I have had the car for 7 years now, and really haven't had any problems with it other than the brakes going bad quickly, and the back brakes stick when you come to a stop, and then when you go to take off, it takes them a second to let go.

I haven't had any issues with the electrical problems or lights that everyone else has mentioned.

We have been pretty good with the upkeep of changing the oil and those things.

My ABS light, check engine light and trac off light has been on for awhile, and we guessed it was just the ABS sensor going bad with the brakes wearing so fast. When you start the car, they don't come right on until you either back up and then go forward, or if you go forward and then after about a mile they will come on.

I just recently ran into the problem this past summer with the AC/heater fan not working on 1 & 2 setting, but after reading all the comments, my husband will be able to replace that!

My issue now is my husband was driving it the other day in our lovely Ohio snowy weather, and was going up the hill and the tires starting spinning, and he gave it a little bit of gas and it just shut off. It would crank over some, but not start. He coasted back down the hill to our driveway and started looking at things. When he finally got the oil cap off, it looked as if water had got into the oil and the cap was frozen on, and water was on the dip stick. Here to find out the oil was very low! So he ran to Walmart and bought some cheap oil to see if he put oil in it, if it would start up, thinking it might have just been a sensor not letting it start. Still no luck.

We ended up hauling it to his grandfathers up the road from us, and they looked at it and disconnected the battery for a couple minutes, and then reconnected it, and VOILA! It started right up. They shut it off and on a couple times and let it run for a little bit and then off and on again.. we were amazed and thought whoo!! Must have just been a sensor for the low oil. We went ahead and drained the cheap oil out and did an oil change and oil filter change and filled up the antifreeze. Drove the car home no problems!

Yesterday my husband drove to work out of town, and about half way there car shut off again. He tried disconnecting the battery again, but that didn't work this time. He checked the oil and there is no water in it and oil is still full.

On his way to work this morning with our other car, he purchased a new battery since I have never replaced the battery since I have owned it, and thought maybe the battery was weak (something I had read in an earlier post), but that didn't work either. Soooo wondering if anyone else has any idea of what could be making the car just shut off as you are driving down the highway and then not start. Please email us tearnold03@yahoo.com

Hopefully we will get this figured out, and I will come back and repost in case someone else has this problem.. at least I did get the other thing that's wrong that we can fix!