Oldsmobile Alero

wpedro

Dear Alero owners,
I am very ALEGRO with my car indeed. A Minor problem, tachometer indicates +/- 10 km on the conservative side, any suggestions?
please reply to : walterc@wanadoo.nl (the Netherlands)
Many thanks.

elkcreeker

If anyone out there knows how to replace the stock stereo on our Alero let us know, please. We'll have to remove the dash front to get to the stereo's mounting bolts. Thanks for all your help.

bejbe

Hi. I'm from Poland and I have Chevy Alero 99' 2,4 16V. I have problem because my car has an accident and now is broken. I'm searching parts. If anyone have bumper, hood, lamps, fender and airbags, please call me... But now is one BIGGER problem because my Alero doesn't start. Engine starting but 2 second later is over. What can be a problem?? What's broken. Maybe after accident is any anti shock or sth else security problem. is no lights inside.. any lamps work... keyless pilot doesn't work. whats problem. PLEASE HELP ME. REGARDS FROM EUROPE

journeygirl

I just bought a 99 Alero GL Coupe w/ a 2.4L engine. I will be replacing tires soon and am trying to find the closest to the original tires since I doubt the tires on that are on it now are the originals. I know the size and speed rating, but not the brand and model. The tires on it now are Firestone Affinity LH30 93H M+S. I knew it would need new rear tires before i test drove it which is why I wasn't concerned about the road noise. I was thinking that getting the original brand and model of tire when i'm ready to have it done would help it ride quieter. If anyone knows, I'd aprreciate your input.

mikey00

I wouldn't suspect the Firestone Affinity LH30 as a major contributor to your road noise. They aren't rated at the top for road noise and comfort but they still come out ok. I replaced my original P215/60 R15 (BF Goodrich, I think) with Michelin Harmony tires, which I have been very pleased with. First find out the proper size for your car. Alero had a few different options. Then decide which type of tires you need. For example if you live where it snows get at least all season tires. Do your research at tirerack.com. You can get ratings for wear, noise, performance etc. for many individual tires. These ratings are based on many owners driving many miles not just one man's opinion as I am giving you here.

r6biker

Up until about 6 months ago my 03 V6 Alero coupe was working fine. one morning after raining all night I walk outside to discover the trunk popped and the floorboard flooded. Ever sense then, the remote trunk release doesn’t work and every time it rains, the keyless entry doesn’t work and the car will not start (engine does not turn over or even engage the solenoid) If I let it sit and "dry out", it runs fine. Covering the drivers side fuse box with a bag has almost fixed the problem until a few days ago when I drove home in a heavy rain. It died when I was still driving it! At first I thought I ran out of gas because I was very low. But because it was so sudden I don’t think so. Now the keyless entry works but the car will not turn over no matter how long it sits. There is hasn’t been any visible water in the floorboard sense the first occurrence.
I guess all I can do is try and find a used fuse box from a yard and hope it will get it going for another year or so sense I can’t afford a window seal.
(Anyone know how to remove and replace said box?)

ken38

Anyone who has knowledge of this problems and solution please reply:

Alero 2001 AC not cooling.

The compressor is engaging and disengaging normally when I work the controls as the engine runs.

The discharge line from the compressor is hot enough so it appears that the compressor is pumping well.

The suction line going into the evaporator behind the dash at the firewall outside is cool as I think it should be. The return line is close to freezing. Condensate drips and falls to the ground.

I did not put a set on gauges to check the pressures.

Would there be some controls that are not working so the air is not blowing cold into the cabin?

Send me an email REPLY to:

tansane@bellsouth.net.

I lost my password and cannot get in normally. I will have to check into this later.

Meanwhile my wife is going crazy by not having AC in her car! I have to lend her my truck while I fix this problem.

Thanks for your help [anyone]

Ken 38
END
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t_r818

Hi All!!!
Has anyone had the above issue- i checked the bulbs and they are ok, i also checked the fuses and they are not burned either. I wanted to get feedback prior to taking the car into the dealer-also the service vehicle soon light comes on intermittantly.

Thank you in advance for any feedback!!!!! :confuse:

aleroguy06

Hi im Mark from Buffalo NY, IN THE U.S. i have some alero parts from my 2000 alero om parting out. such as airbags $450 for the set including the module and clockspring, they are grey in color. i have a drivers side fender $175, driver side headlamp $125, contact mark @ markdh06@yahoo.com....thanks

galaxiebeing

I own 2 Aleros. Both 3.4l sedans. 1999 and 2004. Bought both used 1 year old and the savings was unbelievable on both vehicles. The '99 leaks somewhere around the front windshield. No one can find out, yet, where it is coming from. The '04 does not leak. Both are GREAT cars and run like racers, but the '99 has quicker throttle response and higher torque. It's nickname is Seabisquit (BMWs hate it). No probs so far with either Alero. '99 has 120,000m. '04 has 36000+m. I think they are great cars and would not hesitate to buy another well-cared-for Alero. Only wish Olds had made two-door convertible Aleros.

galaxiebeing

Mods I did to my '04 Alero (all years it's practically the same car) are fiber hood scoop, tinted windows (sides and back-only got stopped by cops once but no ticket-good thing I don't live in CA), Eibach lowering springs, 18" American racing wheels (Model name: Coil), racing front seats, a K&N air filter, LED turn signal and stop light bulbs and turn-signal indicators mounted on the door mirrors. Painted the calipers red using a red caliper paint kit from AutoZone and put in MSD 8mm plug wires (also red, which look really cool when the hood is up). Also, my Beaner Buddies put on an IMCO performance muffler and it DOES NOT sound like a rice rocket. Sounds like it's got a 426 in it. Chicks really love it. I get lots of compliments all the time because I use my car to sell CATV so I meet lots of people every day. Guys like it, too, even ones with actual real racers like 600 hp Cobras. (Haven't beaten one of them, yet.) The car really looks good. Claying the body twice has made it sparkle (I recommend the Japanese brand claying kits). The vehicle is now Brilliant White. Probably the one most effective mod I did was lowering it, so, I would recommend doing that FIRST. Then you can let your imagination roll to other projects. Can't find aftermarket taillights for the car, though. I would like to change out to clear but nobody seems to make 'em. Probably because people who don't know about Aleros think they're not racers. BMWs in my town know now. And it upsets them when they find out how much of a racer it is.

galaxiebeing

Mine came with 4 Goodyear Noisemaker Suspension Destroyer Extremely Overpriced Model tires (I believe that's the technical name for them). I switched to Sumitomo tires and love em. Quiet and road gripping. Your tire dealer should be able to order them for you. The ones I put on are Sumitomo Srixon 4; ratings are: Treadwear 400 Temperature A Traction A. Great tires.

killianbug

I am having a problem w/ my '01 GL2 (2.4L Quad4). It is idling a little high ~1,500RPM. Anyone else had this problem before? I replaced the Idle Air Control Valve, but that did not fix the problem.

Thanks for any help!!!!!
-Greg

asdfagfhafd

i just recently recieved my 2002 alero, 4 door car, from my older brother. i used to think it was a very nice car ,until i started to drive it. i noticed that everything is falling apart. first it's the cd player, it just spits back my cd's and it will never play them. second, my car wouldn't start after i got out of church. i even left it under a tree, so we had to tow it to a mechanic, who couldn't even figure out what was wrong with it. it just started magically the next day. so we had to pay the towing fee which makes me mad. and since that day my car sounds like it's barely even starting. third, my door's handles are hard to open, and the handles feel like they're about to fall off. fourth, my button on the gear shifter fell off after i pushed it in, the button is supposed to be made to be pushed in. HOW COULD IT JUST FALL OFF LIKE THAT? that button costed $30. fifth, my dash is cracking, part of the dash that covers the airbag has peeled up. i recently took it to a mechanic, which they said would take $1500 to fix, which is too much money for me.

WHO THINKS THEY SHOULD RECALL SOME OF THESE ALEROS?

cswestbrook

I am having serious trouble and my mechanic has had little luck. I noticed you followed the above procedure, but didn't install a remote starter. Do you just use the key like normal? I was about ready to buy a bypass kit that plugs into the OBD11, but I didn't know if I could then use the key or if I had to install a remote start system. Any words of wisdom to share?

Exasperated,
Cdub :confuse:

gophergrad

I just brought my 2001 Alero in for the same issue. There is a constant grinding/scraping sound at low speeds. I was just told that it is a sticking caliper. Had you heard that from anyone else?

jagir03

Hi, on my 2001 Alero with 50,000 miles I found oily sludge in the coolant overflow bottle, to my knowledge nobody has mixed green anti-freeze with Dexcool that the car comes with I just need to know if I should just ignore this or flush the cooling system, will this do any harm to engine if left like this. At this time there are no other problems with the car. Thanks for any help.

mikey00

I am assumming you have a 6 cyl which has a known problem with the intake manifold gasket failing. Do a search on this forum and also try to google it for a lot more info.

burdawg

Since your at about 5 years on Dexcool you should flush and replace it anyway. It should be pressure checked for leaks at the same time.

dlc2

I have two 2001 Aleros. My daughters has 34,000 miles on it and has some of the minor annoying problems. Brake job at 20,000 miles, and a front hub replaced at around 30,000. So far that's it. Her boyfriends car was bought used and now has 49,000 miles on it. I had it into the Pontiac dealer for an oil change, and was told the lower gasket was leaking a small amount of oil. The technician wiped some oil off the outside of the engine. He said with colder weather, it may start to leak more. He didn't say anything about the coolant leaking into the oil, so I'm assuming it's just an external leak. What do you think? Could it also be leaking coolant into the engine, or is this just an external thing? Thanks for your help.

burdawg

Is it a coolant leak, or an oil leak?

dlc2

According to the Pontiac tech, it's an oil leak on the outside of the engine. I have been checking oil on both cars waiting for the dreaded milk-shake appearance, but so far have been lucky. The tech didn't say anything about manifold gaskets, just a small external oil leak.

canadaduo

Boy, was I happy to hear I wasn't the only one who has had nothing but trouble with their alero. My husband and I own a 2001 alero that currently has 35000 miles on it. Bought it right off the lot thinking a new car would give us no headaches, ya right. Lets see, We had a faulty seatbelt light, broken gearshift, the side mirror fell off, we're on our third battery, we replaced the alternator, we found out the car has an electrical problem, have had many dashboard lights come on for no reason, and now our mechanic informs us we have a leaky rear valve cover since we have an oil leak. He told us it would cost almost 1800$ to fix. Why would I want to put another 1800$ into a car that would probably only sell for maybe $6000. Does anyone know if this sounds right, or are we getting ripped off.

dlc2

Well, to answer my own question: I was back to the Pontiac dealer for an oil change of the Gran Prix, and asked him about the oil leak on the Alero. He said, yes, it could leak antifreeze into the oil. Price to have both the upper and lower gasket replaced is around $540 from the dealer.
Price sounds about what I've been hearing from others, and this place is about the only dealer I trust. He said it may last quiet a while without needing a new gasket, but at this point, why take a chance? Looks like a full day the technician to replace.

burdawg

Are you talking about the intake manifold gaskets on a 3.4L engine? That's a well known and documented issue with this engine, and it's not alone, many iron blocks with aluminum heads and manifolds share the same problem.
If it's not leaking now, I wouldn't worry about it. Most never do.

burdawg

"now our mechanic informs us we have a leaky rear valve cover since we have an oil leak". If it's truly just an oil leak from the rear valve cover, $1800 is ridiculous. Did they tell you why it would be so much?
Maybe someone else can chime in here, is there some reason you can't change the rear valve cover gasket without doing a bunch of other work? I looked on my 04 Grand Am, and I can't see any reason why you wouldn't be able to do it, but access is tight.

canadaduo

The mechanic we talked to was very vague and didn't answer any of our questions. It was a dealership we took the car to and we won't be taking it back there. I called my friends husband who is a mechanic in Canada and he said 1800$ was ridiculous. We are in the process of talking to neighbors and friends about referring us to a small, honest garage where we can find out what's really going on......Anyone interested in buying an alero should think again.

boodrow

Want to be able to turn on/off headlights myself and shutoff the DRL's. I think cutting the auto headlight control wire should disable that so only the manual would work shoud fix the headlights and any insight on making the DRL's go away would be appreciated.

dcnws1

Sounds to me like you're just asking for problems. And this car has enough of those already! Why mess with the head lights, it's a safety device and just one less thing to have to turn on and off.

mikey00

The headlights are one of the few areas of this car without any problems, but sounds like you are about to change that. I have 2 other cars with auto on headlights (Toyota and Lexus) and I like the way the Alero works best.

boodrow

Found my own solution. DRL's are gone by pulling one relay in the underhood fuse box. The auto headlights should go away if I disconnect the sensor hidden on the drivers side of the defrost vent. Getting to it will require pulling the instrument panel. May not be worth the effort.

evol

I have been putting this off forever but winter is here and I don't have defrost. Not a good thing. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to walk me through replacing the blower motor in a 1999 Olds Alero.

Thanks for your help

ronald1

Make sure that the trouble is not just in the control switch. This is a common Alero problem.

ejr8fan

Anyone know where i can go to find the part number for the hazard switch for a 2002 Alero?

mikey00

Part #10359040. There was a recall and GM changed it for free on my 2000. You can get it for $14 at gmpartsdirect.com.
You may want to check this:
http://www.lemonauto.com/complaints/gm/olds_alero.htm

sumjus1

If someone could please reply back to me. I have a 2003 Alero that is having the exact same issue. Car is in the shop now, and so far they cant find anything wrong with it because its not throwing back any "codes". I am a single mother and cant afford for the car to die on me a 2nd time. I was so frazzled having to just sit there on the road and have people go around me and praying I wouldnt get hit, since I was at the end of a exit ramp off a major highway this last time when it happened. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP !!!!

dcnws1

If you are getting a fan that works on the highest setting, its not the switch, it's a relay. Cost is around $30 from GM and is easily replaced if you have the right socket.
It's located under the dash on the passenger side way up in the back. It's held in with two bolts that can be removed with a socket that has a "universal joint" connection to it.
By the way, this is not only an Alero problem, I have replaced them in two of my Pontiac Grand Prixs. With the right tools, this is a 30-45 minute job. Without the proper socket connection, it's a real sob.

bob137

Hi all! Hope someone can help me with the following. My power window on the driver's side is not working anymore and I want to remove the door cover to see what is wrong. For some reason it will not come off. Any tips anyone?

Thanks in advance!

mikey00

Anyone have any thoughts on this one? I went to start the Alero today, same as always, and the key won't turn. I have 2 original keys and tried them both. I then tried turning the wheel, wiggling the auto shift handle, put the keys in and out about 100 times, sprayed with WD40 but nothing changed. At this point I am assuming I need a new ignition switch. Does anyone have any idea how to remove it? I can't find a procedure anywhere.

dcnws1

It may be the lock cylinder on the steer column, but the shifter also is connected electrically to the system. I had the same problem on a Pontiac Grand Prix, and the dealer began asking if I had spilled anything into the shifter area. They tracked it down the the steering column. Don't know how common that problem is...it might be something other Alero owners have come across, but so far not with the two I have. I wouldn't be spraying anything into the locking cylinder, especially WD40. That stuff really collects dust and debris.

Dan

mikey00

Thanks for your thoughts on this one but it's not the lock cylinder on the steer column, 2000 Alero ignition is in the dash not the column. I talked to a few mechanics and 2 locksmiths and consensus seems to be a bent or stuck wafer in the lock cylinder. Both locksmiths said WD40 is good to try.
It looks like this is not a common problem for Alero or even Grand Am or Malibu. What is a common problem is the ignition switch failing for the passlock/security feature not the key. Dealer usually gets around $600 to replace. I can get a junkyard ignition w/keys for $35 or a new GM one w/keys for $85. The way to get to the switch is to remove the speedo/guage cluster, vent, radio. The Alero is still sitting in my garage while I decide what to do.

dcnws1

You're right, I totally forgot about the ignition being on the dash. I think I would go with the junkyard ignition if you are sure it will work. I have usually gone with only GM parts, but as the car gets older, I'm more inclined to check other parts as long as the difference in price is that great.

angelbabyface

I just had the same thing happen to me with my 01 ALERO. Were you able to find anything out about this problem and what I have to do fix it?

mikey00

I finally got my "ignition key won't turn" issue resolved and am posting the results so that it may help others who may have the same issue. I called a couple of the larger locksmith ads in the yellow pages who advertise they do all automotive ignitions. They all said $500 to $600 and could do it that day or next. What I did realize is that most of these ads with local numbers are actually national brokers who farm the work out to a local guy. I already knew the dealer would need to tow it in and get over $600 for the job from reading posts on Alero/GrandAm forums. I then went to my local locksmith who doesn't do automotive work. He gave me name of a local guy he uses for all auto work. This guy came to the house next day and was done in a little over an hour at a cost of $370. He also was able to key the new lock cylinder to use my existing keys, something the dealer can't do without a locksmith. It was a fairly complex job taking apart the console, a/c vent and removing the speedo/instrument cluster. It also required a few special tools for the lock cylinder.

lralex

I have a 2002 Alero that I took in to the dealer for a recall repair on my turn signal/flasher just for them to tell me that there's no current recall for my car. I check the VIN on their print and it was entered correctly. I also received the dealer code from Olds customer service. Anyone know how much this will cost if I have to end up just paying for these parts?

mikey00

The recall was only for 2000 and 2001. See post 2835 above for answers to the rest of your question.

comjetwithme

How can I disable the security system on my 99 Alero and keyless entry? Just remove a fuse? I am not a very good mecanic. I checked out purchasing a new keyless remote $71.00 for it and $95.00 to program it from dealership. Appreciate anyones help.

burdawg

Why do you need to disable it? Can't you just use the key, like you would be with it disabled anyway?

comjetwithme

my security system is on now and I can't turn it off unless I buy the keyless entry..... I have the batery cable off right now. I would rather just disable the security if it can be done on a factory installed the buy a new keyless remote

burdawg

When you say that the security system is on, do you mean the red "security" is being displayed in the gauge cluster?