Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I have a 2003 Olds Alero 2.2 ecotech. I have had trouble with the security system and have had to reset it by turning the key on for 10min. I always works for me. Last week my car would not start, it turned over and wanted to fire, but just wouldn't go. I had the battery checked and replaced, still the same thing, then I changed the spark plugs thinking it was flooded, still no change! I read some comments here and checked the fuel regulator, it was good, there was fuel pressure in the rails. I finally took the fuel relay out and started the car to run fuel out, then reconnected the relay and the car fired right up! Thank you to everyone who posts on here, it gave me ideas of what to weed out to find the issue.
This is tbs10 not sure why but i couldn't sign in under that name- anyway I have an update with my alero stalling problem- it seems to be fixed! After changing the fuel regulator it still stalled, changed the battery, it still stalled, also changed the IAC valve. Finally Daniel said to change the ignition switch and that was it! Runs fine now and test drove for over an hour and no stalls, it was stalling between 20-25 minutes of drive time. Thank you so much for your input and I am so relieved to have this issue taken care of (knock on wood). In the last 6 months i have dumped parts in this car, and while I get great deals on parts (25-40% off) i was getting annoyed that the problem wasn't fixed. Things this car got the last 6 months:
battery
fuel filter
spark plugs
crankshaft position sensor
tires
fuel pump
idle air control valve
fuel regulator
air filter
brakes/rotors/calipers
front wheel hubs
shocks/struts
starter
tie rod ends
ignition module
ignition switch
With all this I am hoping it will last another 100,000 miles with all the new parts.
Thanks again!
tim618/tbs10 I got over 300,00 miles on my 2003 2.2L without half the stuff you replaced.
Still, I'm very lucky to get this far.
I am having some difficulties with my 04 Alero. I think is is the security system but doesn't sound exactly like anyone else's problems.
It is 2004 3.4 V6. The car starts fine cold and will drive for approximately 15-20 min and then while driving it shuts down. It will not restart for 30-50 min. No codes are thrown and the security light doesn't come on.
Any help is much appreciated thanks!
That doesn't sound like a security issue actually. Not every component in a car throws a code, especially fuel system components. What you'll have to do to solve this is have you or a technician jump right on the car while it is misbehaving, to determine the cause of the no-start when it occurs. This might include a spark tester, fuel pressure gauge, NOID light (for injector pulse) and VOM meter.
My Oldsmobile alero will stop working while I am driving it. This has happened to me twice now, even though it has at least half a tank of gas in it. Eventually, it will start back up, but I really don't want this to happen when I am on the way to work one day. When it stops, it usually takes 20+ minutes before it will start again. After this happens, the car will work fine for a couple of weeks, then it happens again. Also, some of the dashboard lights are always on, but the dealership told me that they couldn't turn them off but not to worry about it. Anyone else have a similar problem, and find a way to fix it?
Sounds like you need to go to a mechanic who knows what he's doing---scan the car for trouble codes or, better yet, take the car and see if he can make it happen so that he can better diagnose it.
" fuel trim bank one condition explanation.
the power train control module uses the oxygen sensor to calculate the air/fuel ratio of the engine. The computer has recognized a rich or lean condition on one engine bank only.
Probable cause
1 if bank one and two codes set together suspect fuel pressure or maf (mass air flow) sensor.
2 oxygen sensor defective.
3 ignition misfire repair
4 fuel injector problems"
i changed the oxygen sensors and nothing changed. I also changed the spark plugs and wires in case it was those causing the misfire. My car isn't equipt with a maf sensor so that rules out. And according to the forum in the past postings if you take the vacuum off the fuel pressure regulator and fuel comes out its shot and that's not the case. So if anyone can use this info o help me figure this out I would appreciate it. If need more info i will post what ever needed.
The best way to approach this is to look at Long Term Fuel Trim data with the proper scanner, in at least 3 scenarios---idle speed, 3000 RPM unloaded and 3000 rpm with a load. Then look at the freeze frame data to see which one of these fuel trim levels failed and under what conditions.
By the way, I think your car does have a MAF.
You might also look for intake manifold leaks or other vacuum leaks, as well as a plugged EGR valve or a plugged fuel filter.
If you can, buy or borrow a fuel pressure gauge to make sure fuel pressure is up to spec.
EGR is out of the picture this time, it doesn't have one.
A fuel filter issue will have a greater effect under higher engine loads when more fuel is required per second. Monitoring the fuel pressure is one way to see if this is occurring or not, a drop in fuel pressure under high demand points towards a fuel supply issue and a filter would be one of the potential suspects. To prove this without disassembly, measuring the fuel pump circuit current would reveal how hard the pump is working and also if the circuit has a connection issue or not which is still in play since testing that we are aware of hasn't ruled that out. Correct. That combined with scan data will allow for a decision point in the diagnostics. Potential causes not listed at this point include but are not limited to fuel quality/contamination/alcohol content, restricted injectors, sensor input issues, and PCM command circuit problems. The problem right now is that without really testing completely before any repairs were done, it cannot be determined if you are still dealing with the original problem, a subsequent unrelated problem, or if in fact this is a problem that was added on top of the original one. You have an outline right now for the fuel control code and a proper routine requires that one concentrate on whatever problem is repeatable and confirmed. Anything that is intermittent beyond that must be attended to in the future only if necessary.
I can't vouch for THIS FIX, but if it happens to you again, you might give it a read.
Sounds like a security system screw-up, but with limited info it's only a wild guess at this point.
Have you tried any extra ignition keys that came with the car?
Then I'd look for a corroded or broken ground cable from battery to engine, or battery to computer box, etc..
If your car uses an aluminum post on the computer box as a positive jump connection..., I'd try loosening that and wiggling the cables compressed under it to get a fresh metal connection. Some of those have been known to corrode. The power from the battery positive cable goes there and another flat connector takes power to the various fuses.
Remove the negative battery cable first before doing anything to avoid a short.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
In any event, even if you have fuel to the fuel rail, the injectors might not be opening (injector pulse).
Why don't you try some starting fluid in the air intake and see what happens?
I read a lot about security system. Great job, thank for posting it.
So, when I turn on the key the security stays on solid all the time (the security light was not blinking), I have waited around 15 or 20 minutes.
Anyone with similar experiences? Because of the coronavirus everything is closed (I mean mechanical garage, etc.) and I am totally frustrated with public transport (6 buses to work, round trip).
https://www.linux-distros.com/downloads/ALERO_1.JPG
https://www.linux-distros.com/downloads/ALERO_2.JPG