95 Sunfire Randomly Dies at stops

95PONTIACSF

MEMBER
1995 ALL OTHER MAKES ALL OTHER MODELS

95 Sunfire, 78,000 mi: Randomly dies at stops. Engine will sputter briefly & die. It will start up immediately after but then dies when put in drive. If you let it sit for awhile it may decide to go. Sometimes if you start it up after it dies & put it in neutral then roll it forward & put in drive it will then go. Even now though that does not seem to work anymore. There is no real pattern to the timing of when this will occur. The ONLY pattern is me pushing it out of a busy intersection at very inopportune places & times. Even had a mechanic run a diagnostic & they could find nothing. ARGG!

3 Replies

SUNFLOWER

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I have the same problem with my 95. Decided to buy a newer. 2001 and it does it too. Let me know if you find out whats wrong with it please

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Friday, June 2nd, 2006 AT 10:08 AM

PONTIACDAN

MEMBER
13 POSTS

Just a shot in the dark. Check the torque converter lockup solenoid. Had similar symptoms with my Cutlass Calais. Stall when come to a stop. Etc. I don't quite know what you mean by sputter, but the engine does shake and struggle to live when the transmission stalls it. The solenoid typically disengages when the ignition is turned off and on again but may not if it is badly seized. If you select neutral before stopping it may also get the solenoid to disengage, and if your rolling when you re-engage drive, your drive train may have enough RPM to avoid stalling the engine.
I disconnected it and had no further problems. Course didn't have O/D anymore either.