I have a 2000 sunfire with 98k miles on it, last night it wouldnt start. It turns over and tires to start but nothing. At first I thought it was the fuel pump because thats what happened before I changed it, so i ran home and got some start fluid. Sprayed it into the intake then tried to start and nothing, so then i decided to call a tow truck after trying to start it for an hour. The tow truck gets there in 1 hour and what do you know as soon as the tow truck gets there it starts. I drove it home took the key out and guess what doesnt start again, i waited a few then it starts. Now here is the stange part I get on the highway and all my gauges started going up and down and the car wouldnt accelerate anymore so i pulled over waited a few and then it starts...I was thinking it was the ignition coil put now it seems like its some sorta electrical problem. ANy ideas?
Fill in your registry so we know what kind of car you have without asking. What engine is it 2200 or 2.4?
check the battery. try hooking up a working battery and see if everything is ok.
Well I tried jump starting it, I also tested the batter with a multimeter and got 12.4
Did you try your alternator?
hmm you think it could be the alternator? I will have to get one of those testers that plugs into my cigerette lighter. But the battery seems to be charging fine so I dont think it is but you never know
I think you may have a bad/intermittent connection!
The battery is at 12.4, I don't think the alternator is at fault as your battery would be at a lower voltage and your charge light on the dash should be ON.
It started when the tow truck arrived - but not at home!
[all my gauges started going up and down and the car wouldnt accelerate anymore so i pulled over waited a few and then it starts]
I would disconnect both terminals of the battery and clean the battery terminals, the cable connections to them, the ground/earth points on the chassis etc (The non battery end of the Negative cable) and ensure the "Large" Alternator cable is not loose at the connection.
Reconnect everything and test.
Optional extra-If you can connect the multimeter set to volts across the battery terminals and monitor it as you start you should see, Ignition ON -12.4 approx-no lower than 9 volts as you crank and then 13-14.8 volts as the engine is running
Please post back the results
Alont
the anti theft system may be engaging this is possible? see the theft light come on?
