My 97 Sunfire 2.2 (manual, 180k miles) starts fine, but immediately stalls out.

This issue has been getting worse over the past two months- at first, it would stall one or two times before starting up and running, but now, it keeps stalling for up to five minutes and 15-20 + starting attempts.

I have no trouble getting the car started, but something is turning it off after a second or two. I can usually get one rev of the motor in before it stalls out. It seemed that letting it sit for a while between starting attempts (after flooding the fuel line) helped to get it running on the next try, but that isn't working any more. If the car does get running (on the tenth try…) then the car will run smoothly- no hesitation or stalls, solid RPMs. The car will also immediately start up and run if it has been running for a while, and was stopped for only a short time (like for getting gas).

I tried to have the codes read at AutoZone, but of course, that time, it started right up, and threw no codes. i did replace the fuel pressure regulator, and used a fuel line cleaner, but it didn't help; I've done nothing else yet. I don't want to start replacing parts and sensors without a good idea about the problem.

So, any good ideas?

What is the theft light doing during all of this?

I looked for the Theft light last night. All the dash lights came on while i was trying to start the car, and after it stalled, if I switched the key all the way to the on position, i could see the Theft light very dimly glowing (but not flickering). I left the key in the On position for about 15 minutes, and then came back to the car- the Theft light was flickering on and off, but mostly remaining off. Then, I tried to start the car, and it stayed running!.

I did kind of a repeat this morning. I tried to start it about 4-5 times, and then left the key in the full-on position for about 15 minutes. The Theft light wasn't showing at all when i tried to start the car , and it started up and kept running..

At noon today, I stared it by first turning the key into the On position, letting the fuel pump run, letting it sit a little, for about 30 seconds, and it started and kept running, on the 1st try.

I was planning to drop it off for a GM Tech to look at over the weekend, unless there are any simple things i should try first myself?

How worn is your key? If it's really bad, get a GM dealer to cut a new one based on your VIN number.

Thanks- I was wondering if that might be the issue - I'll give it a try.

FYI - My latest update -

I have been getting along OK for the past month or so, just by (a) trying to start my 97 Sunfire a couple times, although it will always stall out. Then (b) I wait about five minutes with the key in the On position (so the chime will sound if I open the car door). Almost always, the car will then start on the 1st or 2nd try, after the five-minute wait. This has worked well enough to lull me into a false sense of security, and to not pursue replacing the PassLock key cylinder, which the dealer and a mechanic have both told me is the problem.

Well, this morning, it took two full five-minute waiting periods to start, and I we were really in a rush, to the point that my wife started insisting that we buy a new car before the end of the month. That's when it hit me-

The key needs to remain in the On position for a length of time for the car to start. Why not just let the key sit in the ignition indefinitely? I can just tape the key over with electrical tape, and lock the doors for security. After two tests of this method over lunch, it seems to be working. This should hold me at least for a few more months (I hope) when I will have the whole PassLock thing bypassed.

Crime must be really low in your area..? My car would be gone ten minutes into my lunch break.

Go to the wrecker and get a replacement ignition cylinder then... way cheaper than a dealer.

Quote:

My car would be gone ten minutes into my lunch break.

Yes, but you have a fine looking car- My 97 Sunfire is more like the kind where, if a thief busts a window to break in, he just pretty much totalled the car. ...and then again, why go after my Sunfire, when there is probably a perfectly good Dodge to be had a few spaces down?

Additional Data:

Leaving the key in the On position overnight might (will) drain your battery enough to prohibit a clean start in the morning.

I confirmed this fact today.

So, in Rube-Goldberg fashion, my fix now includes garaging the car at night and hooking up a trickle charger to keep the battery juiced.

Start the car, snip the yellow wire in the passlock bundle, then shut the car off. If it is your lock cylinder, your car will start up again and again. If it's your cluster or PCM, your car will not start.

Weebel wrote:Im to smart to go to strip clubs.

LanMan- I forgot to thank you for that advice. I did exactly as you said:

1. - Get the car started,
2. - then, snip the yellow wire coming off the Passlock wire connector,
3. - then, shut the car off.

It has started fine ever since. This is a far superior solution to the standard advice found on the web that involves connecting the yellow wire to a black wire with a specific resistor. Kudos to LanMan!