1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE OIL FILTER HAD A HOLE IN IT WHICH CAUSED THE OIL LEAK. THE MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

MY BROTHER OWNS A 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WITH ONLY 47,000 MILES ON IT AND THE ENGINE SEIZED (NEEDING ENGINE REPLACED ESTIMATED COST $3,500). I UNDERSTAND THE CAR IS ABOUT 6 YEARS OLD BUT THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MINIMAL MILES. GM DEALERSHIP DID A DIAGNOSIS COSTING US $289 AND CONCLUDED PER THE INVOICE: PERFORM TEAR DOWN ON ENGINE - REMOVE VALVE COVER AND FOUND VALVE SPRING ON #2 CYLINDER BROKEN - REMOVE CYLINDER HEAD AND FOUND HEAD OF VALVE HAD GONE THROUGH TOP OF PISTON AND SCORED CYLINDER WALL. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED US COST OF THE FOLLOWING: $3,250 FOR A BRAND NEW ONE WITH A 3 YEAR/75,000 MILE WARRANTY OR $1,400 FOR A USED ENGINE WITH 88,000 MILES ON IT (NO WARRANTY) OR $1,600 FOR A USED ENGINE WITH 62,000 MILES ON IT (NO WARRANTY). NOW, I SCRATCH MY HEAD AND WONDER HOW GM JUSTIFIES US PAYING ALMOST $1,500 OF A...

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER ,AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK *MR

THE VEHICLES ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE AUTO THEFT SYSTEM LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHICH PREVENTED THE CONSUMER FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. *NLM PH

A TICKING SOUND IN THE FRONT WHERE THE TIMING CHAIN COVER IS.I HAVE CHANGED THE CHAIN-SPROCKETS-TENSIONER- 3 TIMES-THE FIRST WHEN THE TENSIONER BROKE.I WILL GIVE YOU THE LAST TIME I CHANGED IT.*JB

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT ONLY 70000 MILES, GARAGE OPINION IS THAT IT IS DUE TO FAULTY COMPONENTS AND COOLANTS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN ISSUE. GM CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE EXACT SAME MAKE AND MODEL FOR 1996 IN A SPECIAL POLICY.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CONTINUES TO TURN ON, AND INSIDE CAB THERE IS A SMELL LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING. ALSO, AN INTERNAL COOLANT LEAK. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE COMPLAINED OF THUMPING AND CLANKING NOISES.. CAR STARTED TO STALL UNDER 1X RPM... ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, POSSIBLE SOLUTION WAS CRANKSHAFT. THEN THEY SAID IT WAS POSSIBLY A BUSHING. I NOTICED IN YOUR FILES SOMEONE ELSE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY SUCH PROBLEMS ON A CAR THAT IS PAMPERED AND LOW MILES. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CAR ACCIDENT???*AK

HEAD GASKET HAS EXTERNAL WATER LEAK AT DRIVER SIDE, FRONT AREA. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *AK

ENGINE THREW A ROD.TALKED TO OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.EVEN ON MULTIPLE ENGINES. *AK

ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKET FAILED TWICE IN TWO MONTHS. NLM

THE INTAKE VALVE SPRING IN THE 3RD CYLINDER SNAPPED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

THIS CAR HAS BEEN MORE TROUBLE THAN IT IS WORTH. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE ALREADY AND NEED TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN ALREADY. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT I HAVE ANOTHER CRAKED HEAD GASKET, I REPLACED ONE TWO YEARS AGO JUST AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. I'M VERY FRUSTRATED! *AK

LEASED 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE NEW IN DECEMBER 1996. HAVE HAD CONSISTENT LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT/OVERHEATING (EVEN IN -40C WEATHER), STRONG STENCH OF COOLANT IN CAR, CAUSING HEADACHES AND NAUSEA, SINCE CAR WAS FIRST PURCHASED. REPEATED VISITS TO DEALER FAILED TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR. NOW DEALER SAYS HEAD GASKETS ARE DEFECTIVE. MAY NOT BE COVERED BY GM WARRANTY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STOP FOR NO REASON. THERE WOULD BE NO WARNING. ENGINE WOULD NOT START UP RIGHT AWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 40-50 MPH ENGINE OIL FILTER FELL OFF WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSS OIL PRESSURE AND ENIGNE SHUTTING DOWN. *AK

CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING AND TURNING CORNERS DUE TO FAILED TRANSMISSION MOUNTS.