1998 Pontiac Sunfire

ERICKSON_SETH

MEMBER
1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE

1998 Pontiac Sunfire Engine Size unknown Front Wheel Drive Automatic 133 miles

my 1998 sunfire has just started to have a buzz in the steering council. It will turn over 2-3 times and not start. I will then try it again and it will go, is this something electrical, I do here a buzzing sound when it turns over and won't start, I move the colum and then it will

1 Reply

JSKELLY4693

MEMBER
22 POSTS

I listed a few things to do below, but what I want to know is does the "Buzz" noise only happen when the steering wheel is in a certain spot?
Does it make the noise when the key is turned to the "Start" position (when the motor is turning over)? Or does it make the "Buzz" noise when it is in the run position, too?

If it makes it in the start position, it might be the ignition, a wire might be shorting out, cause the circuit to ground. A loose wire, or a bad ignition might be to blame.

Next time it starts to "buzz", stop trying to start it, pull the upper and lower steering column covers off, and try starting it again.

If you can hear the "Buzz", try to localize it with the covers off. There's a pretty good amount of electrical stuff in the column, and it almost sounds like somethings shorting out.

To take off the steering column plastic covers, you will need a long Phillips screwdriver, and a flat head screw driver
Top Cover
Under the lower plastic cover (ignition key), there should be three holes under there. Either 2 up front and on in back, or vise-versa. Loosen all three screws, and pull the top cover up (you may have to pull a little hard, or use a flat head screwdriver to pop the plastic, but be careful, you don't want to scratch it up).

Lower Cover
This one actually takes more grunt than anything. Some models have a black ring around the ignition, some don't. Check around the ignition key to see if there is a ring, If there is, use your flat head screwdriver and pop it off (just put it under the ring, and turn the screwdriver, it should pop right off).
Then, you will have to grab the cover on the right top, pull towards you, and pull it over the ignition. I know, it sounds like you're gonna break it, but you won't. It's pretty tough plastic.
Once it's over the ignition, it should just fall off.

Once you have the column exposed, try to get the "Buzz" again. If you can find what is making the noise, then replace it.
If you can't, sorry to say, but you will have to take it into the dealership.