Hi evryone,
I am new to this site, I have had my 2000 sunfire gt for almost 4 years now, and it has been an excellent car so far, however lately i have been having some issues with it and was hopping you guys can guide me.

Pontiac sunfire GT 2000
km: 192000

problem: the car's idling is too high it usually stays at around 1500RPM, i have notices that when i turn my steering wheel all the way to the right or the left it goes back no normal (900-1000 RPM), the check engine light is on, i asked a frined that works at Canadian Tire and he advised me that the possible caus is the O2 sensor, i want a second opinion.


Thank you in advance.

could be idle sensor do have any car stores like autozone or napa etc. if so ask if the do free check engine test see what tripped the light


[IMG]http://www.jbody.org/members/image/whyte01cavy/[IMG]

Hi I have checked the engine light and my friend told me that it was defective O2 sensor.

now the car is idling at about 2000 specially when braking and or shifting gears the RPMs go high, i dont know what it could be, i took the IAC sensor out and tried to clean it. but the problem persist. i have read that it could also be the TP sensor.

does anyone have any idea or have had the same problem.


Thank you.... your help is really apprecieated.

It may be your TPS. Thorttle Position Sensor. It is on the driver's side of the throttle body. Mine went bad one time and I checked everything else and finally figured out that the TPS was the problem.

There may be an O2 sensor code because of the air/fuel mixture being off a bit.



Peace Out!!!

Thank you Enrique...

Do you have some instructions as to how to replace it (something like step by step) it would really help.
and also any ideas as to how much am I looking at to buy a new TPS.

Thank you!!!

Assuming your engine is completely stock:

Unplug the IAT sensor on the air intake S-tube. Remove the air intake S-tube. Loosen the hose clap on each end and pull it off.

Remove the intake box thats in the front of the engine by removing the two 10mm nuts on the engine and loosening the hose clamp thats on the throttle body. You'll have to stick the screwdriver through the hole on the front of that same intake box.

Now the throttle body is exposed and you will see the TPS on your right hand side. Just unplug the wiring and unscrew the TPS. I believe they are Torx bit screws. I dont recall what side though. Remove the TPS and installation will be the reverse of removal. Don't forget to plug the IAT sensor in again.



Peace Out!!!

Thanks again Enrique... I will try to do it this weekend and keep up updated.
any word on how much the TP sensor is?

Once again thanks for the help...

JC

if you have a 00 sunfire 2.4 dohc, at my local autozone its 31.99. i live in pensacola fl. have you checked to see if your throttle cable is sticking? good luck


SMILE!! YOUR ON CAMERA

Oh sorry. It's usually around $30 depending on where you buy it. Here's a link to the TPS on Autozone.com.

TPS



Peace Out!!!

Thanks guys..

I have cheked the throtle cabel ans it si not sticking.

any ideas as to why when i turn my steering wheel all the way to the right or the left it goes back no normal (900-1000 RPM)

I haven been able to determinae teh correlation between the throtle and the steering wheel.

Sunfire2000GT wrote:Thanks guys..

I have cheked the throtle cabel ans it si not sticking.

any ideas as to why when i turn my steering wheel all the way to the right or the left it goes back no normal (900-1000 RPM)

I haven been able to determinae teh correlation between the throtle and the steering wheel.

When turning the steering wheel a slight drag is put on the engine because of the power steering pump (it begins pumping fluid). I would say the problem is more likely related to a sensor for the power steering because of that (the engine revs slightly when you turn the wheel normally, if the sensor is broken, the engine would be constantly trying to counteract the nonexistent drag). I might be wrong, I haven't ever looked into the power steering system, but it would be something to check either way.


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That is a good way to look at it.. i will be checking it out.

but would that cause the high idle when the steering wheel is not being turned?

Thanks.

Sunfire2000GT wrote:That is a good way to look at it.. i will be checking it out.

but would that cause the high idle when the steering wheel is not being turned?

Thanks.

Yes, if the sensor is saying that the pump is active the computer would rev the engine to compensate.


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I am pretty sure there is no sensor for the power steering. If that were the case, every time you made a turn your engine would rev up a bit and make your car speed up a bit. The only thing that controls the revs is the gas pedal. When I turn my wheel all the way to the right or left, my rpms go down a bit too. This is normal because the power steering pump is run off of the intake camshaft and the pump puts extra stress on it and therefore slows down the engine a bit.

The TPS monitors the throttle valve position. The valve basically controls how much air goes into the engine. If the valve opens, then more air goes into the engine and the TPS tells the computer to add more fuel. Since the TPS is broken, it is thinking that the throttle body valve is open, when in fact it is not, and the computer is allowing more fuel into the engine. Now you have a little bit of air and a lot of fuel and not all of the fuel is being burned. The exhaust then has a bit of unburned fuel and that is how you are getting the O2 sensor code. The code is just telling you that there is something wrong, not necessarily that it is broken.

I am pretty confident that your issue is the TPS. Once you get that replaced your engine will idle normally and the O2 sensor code will go away since your air/fuel mixture will be normal.



Peace Out!!!

Great Help Enrique... I will replace my TP... and keep u guys updated on my progress and results.

I was also reading about seafoming my car.. i am not really sure if it works or if is really good for the engine.. i have read some posts heare that talk about the process, but not in much detail.. I am not a mechanic.. but with help and maybe some instructions (diagrams, pictures), i can get things done no problem.

Can any one tell me where is the best place to pour the Seafoam is as i have read that the Break booster line is the best.. but I am not sure where it is located.

Once again my car has 190 kms
Sunfire 2000 2.4 (GT)
Manual Transimssion.

Thank in advance.

JC

brake booster line is the best idea. look to your power booster (large black round thing on your firewall, has the master cyl. on it.) there will be a rubber vacuum line near the bottom of it, its pretty big, like 1/2 to 5/8 inches. SLOWLY pour about half the can through that line while the engine's running. after its poured, shut the car off for like 15 minutes. now, here's the important part, BE OUTSIDE WHERE LARGE CLOUDS OF SMOKE wont attract attention. start the car and keep it running. pour the rest in your gas tank, and boom, you're done.



JBO Stickers! Get yours today!

i have to agree with enrique about the not having a sensor as far as controlling engine revs pertaining to the power steering pump. some time the revs will go up when pressing the brake at an idel due to vaccum, but thats about it. ive never used the sea foam, i know on older carb. cars, people pour it right in the carb. ill stick to lucas but thats just me, have had good results in the past. if the sea foam causes that much smoke, i cant see how that could be good for the engine as well as exhaust system ie: sensors and cat. also seems like it would cause some build up as well. but like i said, i have had any experience with sea foam so its just my opinion. who knows, could be the miracle addative. lucas fuel addative gives me alot better gas mileage, and i put the transmission addative in my wifes sport trac and could definately tell a difference. lucas made a beleiver outta me. if the sea foam works great, let me know. good luck


SMILE!! YOUR ON CAMERA

Sea foam is actually pretty similar to the stuff we used to use at valvoline. The smoke is carbon deposits (and if you've gone more than 100k miles, expect a lot). We've never had any issues with gumming up the O2 sensor (although it will flag it as faulty, thats because you are running kerosene through your engine).


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I've used a similar product from Chemtool (I think) and it's worked great for me. The first time i used it there was A LOT of smoke. It definitely helped smooth the engine. It didn't vibrate as much anymore.



Peace Out!!!

Sorry Guys,

Just wanted to update you, I havent really had time to work on my car as i was away for 2 weeks, i will get to it in the next couple pf weeks and upated you on the results.

I know it really helps to have ad update on teh outcome as some other members may have the same problem.

Cheers.

TPS or idle air control motor/valve...just had both replaced under warrenty. The DEALERSHIP couldnt figure out which one it was so they did both problem went away...lol My guess is a combination of both.

OK gouys, i have an update, i replace the IAC and the TP sensor,unfortunately the problem didnt go away.

Does anyone have any more ideas.. I am running out of options..

Thank you in advance.

J

the IAC is a valve, not a sensor...

and the reason for the lower RPMS with the powersteering engaged is because when you max out the powersteering, it is pulling a drawl on the engine (since its powered by the intake camshaft (before anyone argues, he has the LD9 2.4)) ... so when you max it out, its using the most resources and the RPMs lower. Imagine if you had "Super Hands" and could grab the crank shaft while its spinning and hold it... at first it would slow down because of the extra work it would need to turn, then it would stop... just like your RPMS drop from PS work.

so TPS and IAC are no go... and one of your two 02 sensors are mis-reading.

Now does it idle high all the time... or just on start up... My engine starts idling at about 1500 and drops to 800 - 1000 as it warms up

Thank you Itsa Meeeh - Speedline Z.

when i first start the car, the RPMS go to about 1500 and then move down to around 1000 -1100, and stay there.

the problem is that when I start driving the car the RPMS go to 2000 when idling. this is whats happening, when I am coming to a stop or have the clutch in the RPMS jump to about 2000-2200, as I am slowing down the RPMS start going down as well but very slowly, and then go donw rapidly as soon as my speed hits 10 K/h or less, once i have come to a full stop the RPMs stay at 1500-1600 even with the car already warmed up.

if i off and on the car the problem seems to disappear, but it starts again as soon as i start driving.

Does th O2 sensor control the air/fule mixture, could the high idle be caused by a faulty O2 sensor?

thank you in advance for your inputs.

J

all the O2 sensor does is measure the air/fuel mixture before and after the catalytic converter.

Could it be possible that you have a vaccum leak anywhere?