Pontiac Repair: 1996 Pontiac Sunfire 2.2L, rubber mallet, pontiac sunfire

Question
Okay, So, my car won't start. It'll turn over and we just recently replaced the battery so it isn't the battery.

I tried putting fuel directly into the carberator and it cranked and stayed cranked for maybe 10 seconds and then putted back out.

I'm suspecting that it is something wrong with the fuel pump or the fuel lines, since bypassing them got it to work for a bit, but I want to make sure before I go out and make a lot of big purchases. I'm 19, so money isn't an easy thing to come by...

Any help will be more than I've gotten so far. Thank you.

Again, It's a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire with a 2.2 L engine.

Answer
Hi Nick:

when this starts and stalls out does the security lamp come on and start to flash? if so there is an issue with the factory theft system. More then likley a bad ignition lock cylinder housing. if no security lamp on flashing then I would look at a fuel pump issue have someone turn the key on while you listen for the pump to run back by the filler. If you do not hear the pump run tap on the bottom of the gas tank in the center with a rubber mallet while someone cranks the car over the jaring of the tank sometimes will get the pump off a dead spot and that start to pump again. Good luck :)