1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WON'T DISENGAGE, CAR IS DEAD. (WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IS TRIGGERED, THE FUEL PUMP IS SHUT OFF) IT MAY HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BY USING A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL KEY. FOLLOWING MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS (TURN ON IIGNITION FOR 10 MIN, TURN OFF AND TURN ON AGAIN) DOESN'T WORK. AN INTERN…
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1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WON'T DISENGAGE, CAR IS DEAD. (WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IS TRIGGERED, THE FUEL PUMP IS SHUT OFF) IT MAY HAVE BEEN TRIGGERED BY USING A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL KEY. FOLLOWING MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS (TURN ON IIGNITION FOR 10 MIN, TURN OFF AND TURN ON AGAIN) DOESN'T WORK. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT THERE ARE 1000S OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SUNFIRE AND OTHER GM CARS. I WOULD LIKE GM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND REPAIR THE FAULTY SYSTEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10407734
2,500 miles · Apr 6, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline
WITHIN THE LAST 10,000 MILES FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. EVERY 2500 TO 3000 MILES THE PUMP WILL MALFUNCTION. CONTACTED THE DEALER. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10117536
Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline
I'VE BEEN HAVING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT. LAST MONTH I HAD A FUEL INJECTOR AND WATER HOSE GO BAD AND NEED REPLACED. THE SUCTION HOSE PUMP FOR THE AC WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE PAST 3 WEEKS. IN THE SAME TIME PERIOD, THE COMPRESSOR STARTED LEAKING. I'VE HAD 2 DIFFERENT COMPRESSORS P…
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I'VE BEEN HAVING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT. LAST MONTH I HAD A FUEL INJECTOR AND WATER HOSE GO BAD AND NEED REPLACED. THE SUCTION HOSE PUMP FOR THE AC WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE PAST 3 WEEKS. IN THE SAME TIME PERIOD, THE COMPRESSOR STARTED LEAKING. I'VE HAD 2 DIFFERENT COMPRESSORS PUT IN, AND BOTH HAVE LEAKED STILL. THE 3RD COMPRESSOR IS BEING INSTALLED TODAY, SO WE'LL SEE WHETHER IT LEAKS TOO. A COMPRESSOR SHOULD REALLY LAST LONGER THAN 5 YEARS, AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE 3 COMPRESSORS IN A WEEK TRYING TO FIND ONE THAT DOESN'T LEAK. THERE'S ALSO A CRACK IN THE WELDING THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED OR IT WILL START LEAKING. ONE OF THE FAN PARTS WENT BAD, SO NOW LEVEL 1 ON THE FAN ADJUSTMENT DOESN'T WORK. THIS SEEMS LIKE ALOT OF PROBLEMS IN A SHORT TIMEFRAME, ESPECIALLY WITH 3 PROBLEMS BEING FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING. I'VE CONTACTED THE PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY CONTACTED A DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THAT PROBLEMS SHOULD BE EXPECTED AFTER 5 YEARS. GUESS I THOUGHT THEY WOULD BUILD A BETTER CAR. SO FAR, I'M OUT $1900 AND HAVEN'T HAD THE FAN OR THE WELDING CRACK FIXED YET. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT COULD BE OFFERED. *AK
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
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