# 1996 Pontiac Sunfire is ideling rough

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-pontiac-sunfire-is-ideling-rough/29207>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [April 15, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-pontiac-sunfire-is-ideling-rough/29207 "2009-04-15T23:53:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Andy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@Andy40](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Andy40)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-pontiac-sunfire-is-ideling-rough/29207/1 "2009-04-15T23:53:58Z")

</div>

I tried to start my car. After it turned over a couple of times I let off the key.  
  
 Then, I started it and now it has a miss while ideling and at low RPM’s. The car was low on gas at this time. Is it possible that an injector is clogged or the timing belt may have slip a little?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2009, 11:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-pontiac-sunfire-is-ideling-rough/29207/2 "2009-04-15T23:56:57Z")

</div>

Fill up the gas tank and then see how it runs. If it runs with no problems, you might looking at a weak fuel pump.

Tester

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Andy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@Andy40](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Andy40)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-pontiac-sunfire-is-ideling-rough/29207/3 "2009-04-17T03:05:30Z")

</div>

I filled the car up but still has the miss. Any other ideas?  
Thank you for any advice you may have…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-pontiac-sunfire-is-ideling-rough/29207/4 "2009-04-17T03:21:19Z")

</div>

First, would be fresh, new, spark plugs. If still missing,change the spark plug wires.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Andy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@Andy40](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Andy40)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 10:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-pontiac-sunfire-is-ideling-rough/29207/5 "2009-04-17T22:43:21Z")

</div>

The car doesn’t have plug wires-it’s an overhead cam. However, I did change plugs and all fliters. Also, put in some good injector cleaner-still has a bad miss at ideling and at low speeds. More ideas welcome!!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-pontiac-sunfire-is-ideling-rough/29207/6 "2009-04-17T23:11:53Z")

</div>

The 2.2L engine has spark plug wires. The 2.4L engine has coil-on-plug.  
More information welcome! What are the trouble codes? The check engine light did come on, didn’t it? Get the codes, and we may be able to help you further.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Andy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@Andy40](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Andy40)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-pontiac-sunfire-is-ideling-rough/29207/7 "2009-04-18T22:19:24Z")

</div>

The sais it was the MAF. However in cleaing the MAF I found a vacuum line off. Thanks for all of your replies…