2002 Pontiac Sunfire Logo
Michelle Trapp Posted on Dec 10, 2008
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02 pontiac sunfire won't crank at random times

My 02 pontiac sunfire won't crank at random times. it can be cold, hot or warm outside, doesn't matter. Random times: in the morning before i go to work sometimes, in the middle of the day when i'm leaving the store to crank up my car it won't crank sometimes, at night it won't crank sometimes... just RANDOM times any time in the day... but after I try cranking it for a while (anywhere between 2 minutes to 1 hour), it'll eventually crank. Thought it was the battery so I got a new one, and it still has the problem. Got it checked out, and they say it's not my battery, not my starter, and not my alternator. Could it be a fuel filter or pump? or maybe the ignition inside & under the steering wheel? What do you think?

  • shell1205 Feb 20, 2009

    every so often, my car won't start... i can hear the fuel pump working, but nothing happens when i turn the key. tow truck driver got in and started it... said it was the neutral safety switch, and if i press the brake down as hard as possible, then turn the key, it should start. sometimes this works, sometimes it takes 30 minutes of doing this to get it to start. Does it need to be replaced? how much does this cost normally? or is there another issue?

  • Todd Newsome Nov 19, 2013

    I have same problem with 2000 cavalier, at first it was totally dead changed the starter and worked for a little while and was dead found a recall added relay above the radiator changed that and good again. only now once in a while i get a no crank , fuel pump comes on and dash lights but thats it starter does not engage . wait ahhile and it starts fine. wait is sometimes 15 minutes to 3 hours. I can start the car by jumping the solenoid. I'll leaning toward the ignition switch getting ready to try that next.

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  • Posted on Feb 11, 2010
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Hi, I had the same problem with my girlfriend's 97' sunfire, it wouldn't start so I jumped the starter terminals which I think screwed it up even more (causing the theftlock light to come on). It turns out this is a common problem that can be solved by hooking up a GM Tech2 scanner, going under "body" codes, and following the instructions for bypassing the PASS LOCK SOLENOID. Hope you find this helpful, Byron

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I have the same problem with my 97 sunfire sometimes it starts fine sometimes it doesint even want to try to crank i cant figure it out onlything that works is leaveing it alone for a while 3-4 hours and it will fire idk why!

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It could be the ignition switch, it also could be the cable that goes from you battery to your starter, next time this happens check for voltage where the battery cable goes to the starter should show 12.5 volts there, if you have that there check the ground to the starter to make sure that is there also, if thats all good and still wont crank i would say ignition switch for sure. good luck =) let me know if you find anything else out with it be more than happy to look deeper into situation.

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