2000 Pontiac Sunfire

Possibly the fuel pump...

Just had one die on 96 Sunfire, Same symptoms. Drop the gas tank and bite the bullet. Great fun to have it happen at a light or while crossing a major highway.

Chuck Reti Detroit MI

or that crappy 8 mile area in that movie...LOL sorry, GW

How difficult is it to drop the gas tank?

Not too hard but if I'm not mistaken there is an access panel that can be removed so the tank doesn't have to be dropped to deal with the fuel pump and/or sending unit on that model. If you don't want to invest in a service manual go to your local library and check one out. Easier to look up the how-to than to skin knuckles figuring it out.

Thank you so much for all the help, but I have one more quick question... When I first turn the key to the on position I can hear the fuel pump start up, it runs for a couple of seconds and then shuts off. Is this normal of a bad pump?

Ok guys. You're not going to believe this. At first this seemed like a clogged fuel filter, so I replaced the fuel filter. After that the car wouldn't even start, where as before it would start and die.

I feared a bad fuel pump as everyone hear thought as well. Although I could hear the fuel pump come on when the key was put in the on position. I then began to do some searching on the internet and I found a posting from a guy who said that he had the exact same problem and found that when you got air in the fuel line you had to put at least 7-8 gallons of gas in the tank for the pump to start working again. I didn't think this could be right but after working on this problem so late I figured it was worth a shot. Well, after I got the gas up over half a tank, it started and runs great. Very strange. Is there a sensor that requires a minimum amount of fuel to be in the tank when air has entered the system?

Again, thank you guys for all of your advice. I really appreciate it.

No. That's normal for any pump. It pressurizes the system then stops, and waits for you to start the engine. That is totally normal. GW

No. The only reasons a pump would only work when the tank is half full are that, the gauge is wrong (which you ruled out by physically pouring in 8 gallons) or there is a problem with the pump, like a hole has developed in the in-tank tubing part of the pump assembly. GW

I think there is... should be under the trunk carpeting, its pretty obvious.

Not sure 100% though, the fuel pump in my sunfire lasted longer in it then I did.