Sorry if this should be in the Newbie forum, but I figured I'd get more luck with it here, even if it might be considered a pretty basic question.
I went to the store yesterday, and when I started my car (2000 Sunfire, 2200 OHV w/ manual transmission) it stalled right away. I let it sit for about 10 seconds, started again, and it ran fine until I backed up out of the parking stall. It stalled again, so I got some help pushing it back to the stall, went for a 20 minute walk, then it started fine and got me home.
Now today a similar thing happened, except this time I noticed when it stalled that both the Service Light (not the Check Engine Light, but the wrench symbol) and the anti-theft light came on steady, even after I got the car to start and drive it back into my driveway (it stalled right across the road). When I got it back to my house, none of the dash lights would light up, even when I put the key to the On position or tried to start it.
Does this sound like it could be my fuel pump going, or is the issue more likely related to the anti-theft? The previous owner did say that the wires leading to the ignition in the steering column have come loose before, although that hasn't happened to me in my year of owning the car. If that was the case, would the engine still crank even if the anti-theft was triggered? It's never stopped cranking, only acting like it's not getting any fuel. And would the wires coming loose while the car was running cause the fuel flow to be cut off?
Unfortunately, I just had my wisdom teeth out a couple days ago and am not really in the condition yet to start taking stuff apart, so I'm basically just looking for advice as to where to start when I'm feeling better. Thanks a bunch!
If it's had issues with some of the electrical I would check that first.. I would imagine if it's tripping lights, due to a faulty connection, specifically the security light, there is a possibility that it could be tricking the car into 'thinking' there is an actual problem. For example, when your security is set off and the alarm is going off - the fuel pump will not kick on, to help prevent the vehicle from being stolen.
When you put your key in the 'accessory on' position, can you hear the fuel pump kick on?
If the connection is going in and out it could explain why it runs periodically.
I could be way off, idk, im not familiar with electrical systems, in fact, I hate them. lol. good luck.
That sounds like a ground issue - there's a ground wire off of your transmission that feeds the cluster grounds.
Weebel wrote:Im to smart to go to strip clubs.
UPDATE:
Fixed it. Turns out it was the anti-theft being tripped. There was a wiring connector right under the ignition with three very small wires, all of which were lose in the connector. I tightened them up and haven't had a problem since.
That's the passlock wires, that would absolutely do it. However, when you said it was started, running, then when you moved it stalled sounded funny. You can disconnect the passlock wires once the car is running and it'll stay running.
Weebel wrote:Im to smart to go to strip clubs.
Lanman31337 - Cavfire wrote:That's the passlock wires, that would absolutely do it. However, when you said it was started, running, then when you moved it stalled sounded funny. You can disconnect the passlock wires once the car is running and it'll stay running.
I've been able to recreate this a couple of times to make sure. When I disconnect the passlock wires, the car will start, but will only run for 1-2 seconds before dying. I'm pretty sure that's what happened at the store before.
The wires into the connector keep coming loose though. I know the passlock system relies on resistance, but are those wires and connectors part of that resistance reading? In otherwords, could I safely remove the connector entirely and splice the individual wires together instead?
I was able to fix the problem by cutting the wires on each end of the problem connector and wiring them directly together. Thanks for the link, though; I'll keep that in mind if I ever have problems again and need to permanently disable the passlock.bc drive smart
