# 1997 Pontiac Sunfire wont run **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** pontiac, sunfire\ **Created:** [August 31, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-pontiac-sunfire-wont-run/18921 "2008-08-31T17:18:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DjayMorris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@DjayMorris](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DjayMorris)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-pontiac-sunfire-wont-run/18921/1 "2008-08-31T17:18:23Z")
I bought it off my friend and he told me it stopped running after he filled the tank up with gas so his mechanic said it was the fuel pump i bought it off him bought the fuel pump and installed it and it still wont run… ---
**Author:** ![bloody\_knuckles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@bloody\_knuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bloody_knuckles)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-pontiac-sunfire-wont-run/18921/2 "2008-08-31T17:21:32Z")
Does it turn over? If so does it cough and sputter or just crank over and over without trying to start? Have you checked for spark? All gasoline engines need three things to work. 1-fuel, 2-spark, 3-air. Assuming the engine is getting air and that you have assured that it is getting fuel then all that is left is spark. I would pull a plug wire and check for spark (carefully). ---
**Author:** ![DjayMorris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@DjayMorris](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DjayMorris)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-pontiac-sunfire-wont-run/18921/3 "2008-08-31T17:30:34Z")
Itll start for a couple sec and then die ---
**Author:** ![DjayMorris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@DjayMorris](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DjayMorris)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-pontiac-sunfire-wont-run/18921/4 "2008-08-31T18:07:17Z")
…Would really love to get thi thing running today…