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About Todd Puccio
Expertise
General auto repair,electical issues,driveability issues,anti-lock brakes,SIR systems,HVAC,engine performance,Gm spacific. I have worked at my current dealseship since the 1990 model year anything much older than that I have limited exposure to. I do not have very much transmission experience so those question you may want to ask of another expert. When you send me a question let me know the exact make/model/engine and year for the car or suv you have it makes it easier to answer the questions that way.

Experience
Experience in the area:I have been employed by the same Gm dealer for 18 years and and a ASE master technician. I work at a Pontiac and GMC truck store. Served a a lead technician when dealership was on a team system. I just recently moved to a Buick,Hummer,Saab Store when my franschise was purchased by this dealership. Organazations: ASE master techncian Education/Credentials:High school diploma,2 year vocational school degree 2 year college degree. Associates degree in applied scineces (auto technology)Awards and Honors: GMC master techncian

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Pontiac Repair - Sunfire stalls while driving

Expert: Todd Puccio - 10/26/2009

Question
QUESTION: My car is a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire, 4 dr, 4 cyl, 2.4 L ecotech engine. It stalled the other day after starting it, it ran for about 5 seconds then stalled. It took about 6 tries to get it restarted and that was after pressing on the gas alot. After it did start it smelled strongly of gas. Took it to GM service, they replaced spark plugs, fuel filter, air filter, and did transmission service, also ran diagnostic and checked fuel pump and said they could not find anything else wrong. Second day after bringing home stalled while driving while turning a corner. Took about 5 tries to get it restarted. After stopping and shutting off engine then restarted fine. Seems to have no pattern to stalling, happens when stopped or driving. The battery is less than a year old, radio and etc still work when it stalls. When trying to restart it does try to turn over just is not successful.

ANSWER: Hi Amanda:

This is a bit of an odd one. For the most part this is a pretty solid engine package in that car and we do not see amny stalling issues at all with them. before it quit running aor once yougot it back running was there an service engine soon lamp that has come on? that would be a place to start looking.. when this quit running each time was there about the same amount of gas in the tank? I'm thinking possably a fuel pump issue here. was this the first time the filter was replaced? If so it may bave been plugged solid and stredd the fuel pump out to the point where it' cutting out from time to time.. Whan need to be doe is wheo ever is fixing it has to drive it and hope it quits on them so they can find out what is missing here as to why it quits running.. second though would be an ignition system issue like a ignition module or crank shaft peosition sensor. But agin with out it quiting on someone it's just a guess as to what the issue is. Good luck :)

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the advice, I did google the general issue, and most things did come back as a fuel pump issue. I am wondering if that is it and maybe they just missed something. There were never any check engine lights or any other warning lights that came on the dash at any time. Both times the stalling happened there was a bit over half a tank of gas in the car, other than these two times there has never been a problem like this before. The second time when I finally got it started I had tried a few times and the final time I had to turn the key and hold it for several seconds, maybe 7 to 10 seconds while the engine repeatedly tried to start, then it finally turned over and started. The service technician said that they could not get the car to stall or fail to start properly, of course when you take a car in it won't do the problem for them, isn't that always the way. Would you mind to explain to me what the crank shaft position sensor does and how that would cause it to stall? I'm not that knowledgeable about cars but would like to know what to ask when I take it in for service.
thanks

Answer
The crank sensor controls the ignition system and if this sensor cuts out th car will quit running because there will be no spark and the engine computer doesn't know the engine is running so it will shut down the fuel delivery as well. I still think you have a pump issue but would like someone to verify it before they guess at a pump and that not be it. when this quit running did it start to loose power spit and sputter then die or was it just like someone tuned off the ignition switch? If it spit sputtered and lacked power that is a sure sign of a fuel pump.

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