Pontiac Repair: 2004 sunfire. hard to start, lots of clicking, pontiac sunfire, stop signs

Question
QUESTION: I have a 2004 pontiac sunfire that I bought in February. Never had any problems with it until recently. Every now and then, more often here in the last few days, it has been hard to start. It turns over but won't start. As I turn the key back off I get a lot of clicking noises from the dash and even the headlights and dash lights, flash on. Sometimes after I turn off the key and try again it starts right up and runs perfect. Other times it takes several tries to get it to start. I believe that it actually stalled on my daughter once or twice at stop signs also. I have not had this problem with it. Please help.

ANSWER: Hi Stephanie:

I think you have a couple of issues here as for the lights and a clicking noise I would say you have an issue with the day time running lights and that is the relay for the lights clicking. As for the stalling When it stalles does it sputter buck and or lack power before it dies. or is it just like someone turned off the key? if it sputtters etc before it dies I would look at a fuel pump problem..

Good luck :0


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: When I am driving down the road and it stalls it is like someone just shut off the key. When it stalls while trying to start it, it sputters. I have had it buck a couple of times while driving down the road but it hasn't stalled when that happened. Several people have told me that it sounds like an O2 sensor going bad. I also noticed that the Theft System light is on when it doesn't want to start. When that happens I give it a lot of gas and it catches and stays running. I am taking it on Monday to have a diagnostic test done on it. Hopefully that will tell me what is wrong.

Answer
An O2 sensor is not going to cause this issue. I would still lean towards a fuel pump issue when was the gast time the fuel filter was replaced? untill you see what codes are stored in this car it' pretty much a crap shoot to say what the issue is. If there are codes stored it will point in a direction to where the issue may be.