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Oldsmobile Alero

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Comments

  • sharonwilsonsharonwilson Member Posts: 1
    i have had my '99 alero in the shop 4 times for the same chirping noise coming from engine when idling or driving without acceleration under 20 mph. it started at 20,000 - continues now @ 54,000. they have changed belts twice - no fix. this last time they put in a new carrier and front hub kit - said noise was coming from transmission. got car back and next day - same noise but louder. sound familiar to anyone? any ideas?
  • wilhfurtwwilhfurtw Member Posts: 25
    I was going to guess that your problem is in the belt pulley. But you mentioned a carrier, and I have no idea what that is. Usually if a belt does not cure the chirping, it is usually the belt pulley. Perhaps the mechanics did not correctly isolate the source of the noise. The noise could be coming from the alternator/accessory belt, if not the fan belt. Good luck.

    By the way. How in the world can a transmission make a whistling or chirping noise?
  • mfuller1mfuller1 Member Posts: 17
    I love these discussion threads. I'd just like to throw a few points into the mix.

    1. Buying a new car is most likely the third most expensive investment you will ever make (kids and a house being first and second).

    2. The choices we make require time and we need to set priorities on what results we are looking for from our choices.

    3. As far as the Alero goes, I have a 2000 GLS sedan. I may just be lucky since I haven't had the transmission gremlins, water leaks, brake problems, or any other problems that have shown up in this conference. But in reference to my points above, you have priorities to set when buying a car. True enough, if it's reliability you're after, buy a Japanese car. But, they are generally more costly for given equipment levels, and usually have generally generic styling. If you are looking for reliability plus a higher fun quotient, look towards a German vehicle. Like the Japanese, however, they can get expensive in a hurry, in both initial cost and to maintain.

    The Alero, I think, was the best balance between other competing cars. True, it doesn't have the rock-solid dependability of a Honda or Toyota, or the highly-polished edges of a BMW or Audi/VW, but GM cars are at the very least acceptable in these categories. I do like the styling much better than anything from Japan, but it's not quite as sexy as an A4 or a 3-series. You can't get a comparably-equipped Honda, Toyota, or Mitsu for the price of an Alero. At 20K, you can't get a six in a Toyota or a Honda. The Galant ES can be had with a V6 for around 20K, but it doesn't come with leather, 16" alloys, or traction control. For my money the Alero was the best balance of features I wanted for the price I was willing to pay. Sure, I wish it was bolted together like a drum-tight Honda and had the road-holding of a 325i, but I'm happy with what I have. You do get what you pay for. I just tried to set my priorities. I'll deal with the little niggles as they appear; when the rotors go bad I'll probably upgrade to aftermarket performance rotors. When problems arise, as they do in all new cars, especially new designs like the Alero, there are other solutions than running back to the dealer. Now, if your car is still under warranty, you should go to the dealer. But take a proactive stance and try to see the positives instead of dwelling on the negatives. I look at it this way: The Alero has some problems; I can fix them and improve the car beyond what it was originally. Feel free to check out owners comments at www.alero.org (yeah, that's a plug).
    Seems that we all similar priorities when we bought our Alero's.
    I'm not in any way suggesting that anyone else is ignorant or needs my advice (who the heck am I to say?) but I think we all focus on the negative outcomes of the choices we make far too much. Thanks for reading and letting me rant.
  • rich310rich310 Member Posts: 34
    My 2000 GL@ is appraoching 2900 miles. When do you recommend the first servicing. I normally do it at 3000 miles but everythign I've read talks about 7500 between oil changes. Any recommendations????

    I fully agree with mfuller1's assessment about how Alero stacks up against the competition. Car has a couple of nuisances but I'm much better pleased tahn I thought i would be.

    A friend of mine bought a Saturn LS at the same time I ppurchasaed my ALero. His car is a larger, and has a bit of a European feel when driving but he's been palgued with small problems liek door handles falling off, a leaky sun roof and a weird feel to the leather seats. He tried to talk me into the Saturn but now I'm happier withj my choice.
  • hengheng Member Posts: 411
    I like to do the 1st oil change at about 2000 miles. Its about when the engine is freeing up (breaking in). That's when you expect the most wear product in the oil. In fact one of my new cars has a magnetic oil plug and it had metal slivers on the 1st oil change!

    After that its about every 4000-5000 miles for me. My driving situation is mostly light suburban so your driving and oil change intervals may differ. I tried to go with the GM oil monitor which indicated to change oil at ~5800 miles but it was too sludgy for me. So I went back to my tried and true 4000 miles or so.

    I've owned many cars most of which I've kept past 100,000 miles with no engine problems so I stick to my routine.
  • aleroangeraleroanger Member Posts: 3
    I have a 2000 top of the line alero---leather, moon roof, spoiler, the whole 9. It has 6000 miles on it and I have had it to the dealer 3 times just for the breaks. The first time they replaced the rotors, the second time it was the power booster and the thid time they say there's nothing wrong. Additionally I have already had the driver side window fixed twice and the gear shaft button replaced since it sprung off one day. I purchased the car in May--downpayment no trade in. I am now having a problem with starting the car- it runs extremely loud and ticks but only for a few minutes. The dealer cannot locate a problem. Anyway does anyone know what I can do? I would be willing to trade it in and buy something else but the dealer is not interested in doing this. Also, PA lemon law requires that the same thing be repaired by the dealer 3 times and that it break a fourth! With breaks being the problem I am not comfortable waiting for them to go again- the power booster was enough of a scare. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks
  • wilhfurtwwilhfurtw Member Posts: 25
    Contact the GM/Oldsmobile zone manager or the district manager in your area. Be assertive and press on your case. Even if your case does not exactly meet the lemon law requirements, GM may act to help you to make sure you are satisfied as a customer. In fact, in an Los Angeles Times article about lemon laws, it was reported that manufacturers bought back problem vehicles from customers under the guise of customer satisfaction, when in fact those cars should have been labeled as lemons.
  • coalcrackercoalcracker Member Posts: 53
    For you mileage conscious people here is the latest with my 2000 Alero, V-6(9,000+ miles). In 20 to 34 degree weather, conservative suburbia driving yields an MPG of about 18-19 MPG.
  • james113james113 Member Posts: 2
    I am a new member and have not read all the fine print as it would make me late for thanksgiving dinner. My question is- would it be smart to pay $2000. more for a v-6 over the 4 cyl available in the Special Edition GL 4? The difference in price is primarily due to the options reduction on the GL4 of approx. $1500. I can buy either the GLS or GL4 at Dealer Invoice. Both rebates apply to either car. I can also buy the Honda Accord with similar equipment for $5000. more than the GLS. I guess I would like to hear from people who have had experience with the 4 cyl with respect to overall performance and expected longevity. I usually keep my cars for more than 5 years.
  • etharmonetharmon Member Posts: 399
    Go for the V6. The four is okay, but the V6 will make the Alero much more fun to drive. And it costs little more at the pump than the four does. Also, I think the V6 will be more durable over the long haul.
  • rich310rich310 Member Posts: 34
    I faced the same question when I purchased my Alero GL3 in August. I selected the 6 cyl. It had a lot more noticeable power, was quieter and as was mentioned in this message board, the 6 cyl has a long successful history with GM. While GM has had big quality problems with the 4 cyl. I'm happy iwth myt choice. The cost difference was about $600. However, all 6 cyls came with a "features option pkg" at about $1000 while you could find some 4 cyl without this package. The only item I wanted in teh pkg was remote entry whcih i could have added later on. So it was really a $1600 cost for the 6 cyl.
  • hounddog3hounddog3 Member Posts: 15
    james113::::::The 4 cyl. 150 HP quad 4 surely has the bugs worked out by now as it has been revised and improved many times. My 2000 GL with the 4 has averaged 26.5 mpg mostly city driving, but conservative driving not rush hour type. My wife has a 2000 Intrigue with the 3.5 215 HP 230 lbft torque awesome engine The Intrigue runs 22.5 mpg in the same driving conditions. This is not reformulated fuel being used but plain regular.

    I obviously like both cars. If you like smooth, quite, and performance you may want to consider the Intrigue. So far there have not been any engine problems reported with this new hi-tec engine. The engine has been rated as a top 10 by Wards automotive two years in a row.

    Both cars have substantial performance and mashing the gas can make for short life of the front tires with the traction control switched off.

    Just opinions as you asked for.
  • james113james113 Member Posts: 2
    Thanks very much for the responses regarding my dilema as to which engine to choose. Unfortunately the Intrigue is not towable with all four wheels on the ground which limits my choices to Malibu,GrandAm or Alero. My best trade value is restricted to the Alero and/or Malibu. While the Alero is a little more money, I think for styling and safety reasons it is worth every penny. If I go ahead with the purchase, it will have a V-6! Thanks again for confirming what I suspected would be the more logical choice notwithstanding the impact on my bank account.
  • fdchieffdchief Member Posts: 10
    First let me say I have really enjoyed reading the reviews regarding the Alero. I wished I would have found this site before my car purchase, I can see where it could be very beneficial. In June of this year I purchased my very first new car. A 2000 Silver Alero GLS Coupe with sun roof, leather, low profile tires, automatic transmission, etc. I LOVE IT! I have worked hard all my life and my last child at home is 14 years old and I wanted a useful as well as fun car to drive. But, I have experienced the following saga of events and if there is ANYONE out there who can guide and direct me I will be grateful for your assistance.

    As stated I bought my car June 14, 2000. A demo model with 6,000 miles. (I thought the bugs would be worked out.) On or about June 28, 2000 I was back at the dealership, water leaks in the floor boards. Not just little leaks, but, standing water! The dealership said they fixed the problem, but not so, I have been back in there 3 more times since with the next to the last one to get the new skirts put on that I read about earlier, and guess what, it leaked again, worse. Took it back to the dealer and they said, they took the door panels off, soaked it all day, rechecked the skirts again, seals, etc. and you guessed it, no leaks while it was there. I am nervous, because my husband is a severe allergist with the #1 allergy being to mold and mildew. I questioned the service department about the carpet and padding. I was told that it would not mold, it's a new type and told not to worry about rust in the body. Easy for them to say, when it gets wet, then dries, new brown stains appear. I was further told that out of all the skirts replaced mine was the only one known to have to come back it worked in all the others.

    Next problem right after I purchased the car in June my husband and I kept telling service that the front end was pulling and not braking just as we thought it should, and were told everything was okay, it was probably that the wheels just needed balancing, this was done, and still had the problem. Well, just a couple a months ago, I had to go in again with the third problem, the drivers window motor and regulator failed and had to be replaced questioned the tech about the front end problem was told at this time, some models have had a bulletin regarding warped brake rotors. Yes, you guessed it, mine had to be replaced. But, read on.

    After this work was complete, I kept hearing a slight roaring sound when I back up at times, and braking at slow speeds in traffic. The tech advised me that when a car sits over night or for a few days the rotors "set up a little rust which is common". He further stated that the roaring sound was the pads cleaning the rust off every day. Can anyone advise if he is feeding me a line? I have never heard of such a thing.

    Next, they have had to replace two of my fuel injectors. Is this a common problem so soon? Although I saw a dramatic increase in my gas milege and performance. I had also complained it did not get the milege stated on the sticker.

    Well they finally found out now what was wrong with the front end pulling, it is a strut of which they ordered and are to call when this comes in hopefully next week.

    I know my request is long and seems like I am picking on this car, but I truly love it! I would like nothing more but, to keep it. I now have 15,000 miles on this car. But, I can not afford to keep driving 45 miles one way to the dealership, on a regular basis not to mention I am getting a little nervous wondering what will happen next. My husband and I met with the dealership General Manager and I showed him the documentation of my concerns, and even drove some other Oldsmobile products, but not the same. Please help. What would you do and or is there anyone else with all these problems? As this is my first car, will these bugs work out or have I got the proverbial lemon I have heard about.

    Thanks in advance for your time and efforts,

    Cathy
  • hengheng Member Posts: 411
    There is nothing technical I can offer that would ease your concerns. But at what mileage was the last problem discovered? If you have added significant mileage since the last problem (like 5000 miles), I would tend to say you have debugged the car. Good luck.
  • darkworlderdarkworlder Member Posts: 14
    Yes, it's unfortunate that they didn't fix these problems the first time. I have also had a couple problems with my car. Broken steering rack cover caused during shipping, faulty coolant pressure cap, and changed rotors and pads twice. Needless to say, I'm on a first name basis with my service rep there. But, through all this, they're service has been excellent and I still love the car.

    With all your troubles, you might want to call the GM customer service line and see if they can arrange some compensation for all your trouble. I do believe that somewhere on here someone had some decent compensation for a lemon that they got. On the back of the GM magazine it has the number of 1-800-GM-DRIVE. Not sure if that's just for Canada, but it's worth a try.

    Just wondering, what made the techs change your fuel injectors? How much mileage were you getting? My mileage doesn't seem to be as consistent as I think it should be.

    In any case, hopefully all your problems are resolved. Happy driving =).
  • fdchieffdchief Member Posts: 10
    In response to the what made them check the milage situation. They did not check the milege problem just because I complained. I had to take the car in for the rotor bulletin replacement, plus I had noted, the Service Engine Soon light would keep coming on, then later going off. The tech advised he would check it out at the time of rotor replacement. I was also having trouble with the Low Tire Pressure light coming on and all being okay, thus would have to go in and reset this too. While in the shop for all this at 14,000 miles he said, it was about time for the 15,000 mile recommended dealer maint. of which I chose to do and it was during all this they found out that I had two injectors down. #2 and #6. They replaced these and I have finally reached 21 mpg and alot more power, not to mention smoother running. Before the replacement between 15 mpg and 17 mpg.

    Thanks for your interest, and Happy Driving to you also.
  • aridellaridell Member Posts: 5
    Im currently getting 12.8lit/100km on my 2.4
    5-speed and was wondering if that sounds right?
    19.5 MPG , imperial gallons. I usually drive the around 2000-3300 rpm city driving.
  • aridellaridell Member Posts: 5
    18.5MPG not imperial gallons
  • 98monte_ls98monte_ls Member Posts: 117
    I'm sorry to hear about all your Alero troubles. Post #223 mentioned someone who had got decent compensation for a lemon...well, it was my mom.

    She had a '99 GL coupe where the "traction-off" light and "service engine" light kept coming on. They did offer to replace the car with very little out-of-pocket cost, so even if your state doesn't have a "lemon law" you can still call the B.B.B.'s "auto-line" where they will work on your behalf.

    Now, my mom has a 2001 coupe. Well, at 700 miles, the passenger floor was all wet. She also had that problem with her '99 but it was fixed the first time. I think this problem is common to most Alero coupes unfortunately. She's taking the car in next week to see about it. She only has a little over 1,000 miles now and no other problems.

    I'm thinking of buying a GL2 coupe w/V6, sport suspension. How do you like the ride of the 16" wheels? Feel free to email me and I'll keep you posted on my mom's Alero.
  • fdchieffdchief Member Posts: 10
    Thanks for your response. Sorry to hear your mom is still having troubles, I know from experience that can be very nerve racking. You never know what is going to happen next, and waiting for the hatchet to fall. Did you read in my inital comments, in reference to the carpets potential for mold and mildew, and also the potential for underneath the car to rust due to holding water for extended periods of time. The service rep advised me this would be no problem because of some new carpet they have in the Aleros. But, I am concerned, because of my husbands health conditions. (Please read my initial posting #221) and give me your thoughts.

    In response to your question regarding the ride with the 16" wheels. At first it seemed tighter than the regular if that helps. But, I Love the ride it is really a fun car to drive. Handles great in curves, reminds me of a little sports car.

    I would love to keep in touch reference the Aleros. Is there some way I get your email address from this site?

    Thanks again,
    Cathy
  • darkworlderdarkworlder Member Posts: 14
    A lot of the people here are also on a newsgroup where we share updates/questions more frequently. You can find it under www.egroups.com and sign up for the Alero group. Also, you can check out and/or register your car under www.alero.org. You can find out how to modify your car and any tech updates that appear. It's definately worth taking a peek at.
  • fdchieffdchief Member Posts: 10
    Thanks for the info I will sign up on both sites.
  • rene2rene2 Member Posts: 3
    I have a '99 GLS sedan and I also had the water problem. The water would leak onto the front passenger side floor and into the passenger side fuse box. It was a bad seal around the windshield. Once fixed, I haven't had any problems with it.
    Now I am dealing with dim headlights when I turn on the read defroster. Someone told me that my alternator is going out. Any ideas?
  • fdchieffdchief Member Posts: 10
    Thanks for your response on the water leaks that you experienced with your Alero. They have checked my windshield and said all was fine in that area. We just had several days of heavy rains and I am proud to announce they may have finally did it, fixed that problem. I called them this morning to check on the status of my strut for the front end and when they asked about the water leaks, I was pleased to give them that info. Although I was sure to tell them my car sat parked and I did not have a reason to drive in it, because I have had leaks when parked and others when driving, if that makes any sense. I also told them of all the information of which I have obtained from this site and the others recommended by the nice folks on this site. Some of which was drill bigger drain holes, of which the service tech advised me today they have already done that on my car. Today was the first I heard about it when I mentioned it. Never the less I made notes in my Franklin for future reference and continued on listening. To your problem. You may want to go back and read some of the postings on this site because I remember reading the Aleros had some type of alternator problem and may be covered under one of the bulletins. If not it may have been covered under someones warrenty. My husband said, it could also be a short or improper ground somewhere in the electrical. Hope that info helps good luck and keep in touch.
    Cathy
  • wilhfurtwwilhfurtw Member Posts: 25
    Hello. I am the college student that was complaining about the 2001 Alero I bought. Many of you have been telling me to get over my dissatisfaction with the car. I was planning to do just that. But a miracle happened. It seems the dealer could not find a bank to finance my car, because I was unemployed. So after using the car for almost four weeks and 1700 miles on the odometer, I had to return the car to the dealer. I no longer have the Alero. And I am glad.

    It has been a pleasure talking about cars with you folks.
  • etharmonetharmon Member Posts: 399
    But do you have a car to drive now?? Good luck buying that BMW without a job. J/K
  • wilhfurtwwilhfurtw Member Posts: 25
    Obviously the bimmer or the Audi will have to wait until I get out of school. Until then, I think a 1993 Honda Accord will suit me just fine.
  • fdchieffdchief Member Posts: 10
    Well update reference my Alero senario. I received a call from the folks at Oldsmobile, yesterday. My mother took the message and called me at work with the 800 number and CO# to return their call. They said, they were calling reference my recent complaints of my Oldsmobile product and wanted to know more about my concerns. I gave them the whole spill about the leaks, brakes, window, front-end rattle, and the straw that broke the camels back, getting the car back from the dealer with the carpet still wet 3 days later. She was real nice and appeared to be rather knowledgeable with her comments. Put me on hold called the dealership on my behalf, (of which I talked to dealership afterwards and they confirmed) in an honest attempt for customer satisfaction. I told the woman the same things I have said, here, I love my car, I am just frightened of the problems that lerk ahead. She has everything documented and read off the file history she previously had, plus the notes from my file, and told me if everyone would get in touch with them as I had solving the problems, and linking them to common defects etc. would be easier. I told her the only person who I complained to were service manager, general manager of the dealership, who both have appeared to be quite helpful and courteous and then filled out the survey mailed to me, honestly but not hostily. She said, they welcome any and all comments and are eager to help, just call the 800 # every Oldsmobile owner has in their book for results. The dealer now has my strut in stock and we are scheduling a time for it to be fixed, plus they are to clean, disinfect, or replace my carpet. Plus they were advised a few more things to check regarding the leaks. I told this kind person that I would be posting my experience on this site, and she was pleased. So until the next ball bounces or something new happens, I will be on this site reading the updates and not posting them. Thanks again to everyone for your kind words of wisdom.
    Cathy
  • etharmonetharmon Member Posts: 399
    Glad to hear that Olds was able to help you get your problems resolved. I've never had to take mine that far, but I've always found the dealer has been able to fix any problems I have in a timely and courteous manner.
  • bpc8bpc8 Member Posts: 1
    I'm from Buffalo and I think it's time to put some snow tires on my 2000 Alero GLS. I'm thinking of getting Bridgestone Blizzak WS-15's, but I'm not sure if I should get 2 or 4. Any advice from fellow Alero drivers out there would be appreciated.
  • 98monte_ls98monte_ls Member Posts: 117
    An update on my moms' 2001 Alero Coupe. Water leak on the passenger side. They kept it for 3 days and said the inner door panel's water deflector needed to be re-sealed - that the water was coming in from the door panel.

    So, it was easy to fix. Now I wish It would rain!
  • skibry1skibry1 Member Posts: 174
    Hey aridell you don't live in the U S of A do you?
    I was told that the getrag tranny from Italy had
    some problems and would not be avaible here in west
    central Illinois till ought-one.Have you seen many
    in your area?
  • louie_jlouie_j Member Posts: 11
    I have a 2000 GL3 coupe. Almost a year old and 14K miles on it. After a heavy wind, hard rain storm last week I noticed the driver's floor was wet. The car was parked during the storm, so I'm assuming the leakage was due to the wind driven, nearly horizontal rain. Other than that, it's water tight.
    Bought front brake rotors and pads from NAPAonline. It's worth the $100 and a Saturday afternoon than to lose the car for a day and hope the dealer does it right. I've read posts of the shutter re-occuring even after the dealer replaced the rotors.
    Has anybody noticed flickering headlights? It's hardly noticable. More like the blink of an eye. Trying to figure out if it's a battery load thing (like the electric fan going on), or if it's the auto-on circuit. I hardly ever have to actually turn on the headlights myself.
  • fdchieffdchief Member Posts: 10
    Yes, I have noticed the flicker in the headlights also, just as you described, "like a blink of an eye". Don't have any idea the cause. I thought it was just the wear and tear of my dirt roads. I have to travel 2 miles each way of dirt road daily to and from my house. Have it on the list for my dealership to check next Tuesday when I take mine back for repairs. Will let you know if they find out anything. Reference your leaks, if its under warrenty, might ought to say something now! From experience it could get worse. Read the notes on this site. It never hurts to start the documentation process, you never know when and if you might need it. Take Care
    Cathy
  • paul116paul116 Member Posts: 15
    I have been a frequent contributor to the Ford Focus Sedans section of Town Hall, and am now in the market for another car after only one year. Having owned a 1998 Malibu LS, I thought that no other car could top that Chevy in poor reliability until I owned the Focus. Well, after a very impressive test drive of a Sunfire GT yesterday, it struck me that the base Alero has the same engine and tranny as the Sunfire GT. Since I prefer beige interiors and exteriors, and the Alero is a little more stylish, I am now giving the Alero a hard look. And for only $655 more, I can get the 3.4 Liter V-6 engine. I was also impressed when I test drove an Alero GX several weeks ago, but figured that it would be out of my price range by the time I had it equipped the way I like it. Now with generous rebates, the Alero GL1 with the 3.4 Liter V-6 is a very attractive car. Thanks to GM BuyPower's web site, I have also found three Alero's equipped and colored exactly the way I want, all within a 100 mile radius of my home.

    So I read every single posting on this forum, in preparation for some more educated questions for the rest of you. The horror stories from many of you now make my Focus seem like a Lexus in reliability, but I feel compelled to ask these questions before making a final decision.

    1) The brake rotors. My Malibu had the same problem. I was told that when alloy wheels are not properly torqued, the rotor can deform. When high speeds are achieved and the rotor heats up, and a puddle of water is hit, a permanent deformation occurs. Being an engineer, this makes perfect sense. So my big question is, are the Alero owners having rotor problems the same ones that also have alloy wheels, such as GLS owners? Do any of you GX owners also have warped rotor problems, as you do not have alloy wheels? I have yet to hear this complaint from a GX owner. If the problem is related to alloy wheels, then I will make sure that my GL1 does not have the Feature Package or GL2 upgrade (2001 model), both which have alloy wheels.

    2) Water leaks. This appears to plague mostly coupes. I planned on buying a sedan anyway. However, leaking windshields that drain into the fuse box certainly can affect the coupe or the sedan. How many of you have had water leak problems on your sedan? If so, did drilling bigger drain holes stop the problem?

    3) Does your CD player frequently skip? Very bad bumps are excluded from this question. I have heard horror stories on this one as well, and do not plan on getting the 200-watt 8-speaker upgrade, which is similar to Pontiac's Monsoon stereo.

    4) Gas mileage. This question appears to have been answered by previous postings, but I will ask it anyway. Does the larger 3.4 Liter V-6 engine really get better highway fuel economy than the smaller 2.4 Liter 4-cylinder engine? The answer appears to be a definitive "yes", as the larger engine was apparently designed with fuel economy over more power in mind. If one were to plot engine size vs. torque and horsepower, the 3.4 Liter engine clearly drops below the straight line connecting all GM engines between 2.2 and 3.8 liters (Northstar 3.5 excluded). This also tells me that one gets great fuel economy for commuting, but only slightly more power. If this is so, then the 3.4 Liter V-6 is my choice for sure. Any opinions, anyone?

    The only reason that I am still considering the Alero after reading the horror stories is that I consider it to be a superbly styled car that handles and accelerates well, and is also a much better value than the more uncomfortable Japanese cars. If the Alero gets ruled out, then the ugly 2001 Honda Civic EX sedan would be my next choice, which is smaller and priced the same as my would-be Alero with rebate. The Civic seats also feel like a straight jacket. Waiting another year until I can afford a Toyota Solara SE is also another option, with the Nissan Sentra SE being my final option. Given my choices, one cannot blame me for wanting to buy an Alero and avoid it's main problems in the first place (alloy wheels and leaky coupes). I may wind up renting an Alero sedan and testing it with the garden hose while it plays my least favorite music CD. This is certainly cheaper than getting stuck with another lemon like the Focus. My new year's wish will be for Ford, GM, and Chrysler to all start building better quality cars! We deserve it!

    Any feedback will greatly be appreciated.
  • 98monte_ls98monte_ls Member Posts: 117
    The only two cars I was considering was a Camaro
    and an Olds Alero, and I was leaning more toward
    the Olds after talking with my insurance agent.

    Camaro insurance is much higher. You see, I live
    in Alabama where it is cheap anyway to insure a
    car, but the Camaro would be a full $25 more per
    month, the Alero only $3 more per month, and keep
    in mind I have no accidents and a 11-year perfect
    record.

    But another thing: resale value. I checked with
    NADA and compared a 1999 Camaro V6 with a 1999
    Alero V6, same equipment. I wanted to compare a 4
    year old car but they only starting making Olds
    Alero in '99. It lists that Camaro's value
    (average retail) as $18,000 and the Alero as
    $14,500. Can this be real? Do used Camaro's
    really keep more value than other cars?
  • spectre3spectre3 Member Posts: 67
    well, i can tell you dealers were only giving 11k for 99 ga's(to other dealers) with super low miles this last june..

    99 alero's and ga's seem to be a dime a dozen in indiana, at least.
  • hengheng Member Posts: 411
    I and another Alero owner posted here that we got the brake shudder after moderate braking from 70+ mph. Not from going through puddles with alloy wheels. If you are running on the highway and haven't touched the brakes for miles. How do the wheels heat up?

    I have a 99 sedan and haven't had any water leaks.
  • paul116paul116 Member Posts: 15
    Thanks for the response on my question. I try to be brief in my explanations (believe it or not), so I need a little more clarification on our type of highway driving. It is more like driving 85 mph along with the crowd, and then some idiot hit's his brakes in the left lane when he sees a police car, then we all hit our brakes, quite often coming to a dead standstill. These are harsh driving conditions indeed, especially when frequent rains are added to the picture. Worse yet, a bright sunny day and then a standing puddle of water leftover from yesterday's rains. And no, I am not exaggerating, as we live below sea level.

    So, does your Alero have alloy wheels? Thanks for the thumbs up on your sedan not leaking. Just an hour ago, I was looking at a 2001 Midnight Blue GL1 sedan with neutral cloth interior, a 3.4 Liter V-6, and the Feature Package with the really nice looking alloy wheels. If I have to get the less attractive steel wheels and hubcaps to avoid brake rotor problems, I will, but I would much prefer the alloy wheels. Steel or alloy, which will it be?
  • darkworlderdarkworlder Member Posts: 14
    I have about 28K kms on my car now and have had my rotors changed twice (under warranty). According to my service rep. I got a faulty set of the redesigned rotors, I'm currently 15K on the new set and going strong, no sign of warping yet. I do have the 15" wheels, so they do happen on those also.

    Water leaks haven't been a problem at all with my sedan. I've found that the car is sealed too well as the windows fog up very quickly with recirculating air.

    The CD/tape player has been virtually flawless. Other than it ejecting the CD for no reason when I first start the car, there have been no problems.

    If you're driving in the city, the 4 cyl. is definatly more fuel efficient. My 6 cyl. is horrible in city traffic. With 80% highway driving, I get about 450kms on a tank of gas. But, I find it to be a good investment as it's more fun to drive and also much quieter than the 4 cyl. especially highway driving. It's virtually non-existant compared to the wind noise.

    The only other problems I've had with my car are a broken shield on my steering rack (damage from hook in shipping) and a faulty pressure cap for the cooling system. Very minor compared to the other stories that I've heard. Overall, I totally LOVE this car and am thinking of buying one for my father.

    Good luck with your choice. Happy driving!
  • grbeckgrbeck Member Posts: 2,358
    paul116: I was told that alloy wheels make rotor warpage LESS likely. The alloy wheels are supposed to improve cooling, thus making it less likely the rotors will warp. Rotor warpage is actually very common among today's cars, at least the lower priced ones. I've read similar complaints from Honda and Ford owners. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember reading that the root of this problem is in the manufacturing process. To save money, the rotor supplier doesn't allow the rotor to cool properly during the casting process, making the metal more susceptible to warpage during regular use.

    98 monte: I wonder if the higher resale value of the Camaros is because of lower production and younger buyers who can't afford a new one eagerly seeking out used ones. GM seems reluctant to cut back on production of its bread-and-butter sedans and coupes, using incentives to prop up sales. This hurts resale values. With the Camaro (and Firebird), GM seems more willing to let production fall instead of offering high incentives.
  • yurakmyurakm Member Posts: 1,345
    1. Olds Alero / Pontiac GA are build on the same platform as Malibu. They share a lot of parts - and the warping rotor problem. The problem does not depend on wheel, be it steel or alloy. Fortunately, GM changed something with the rotors at last (design or manufacturing process - do not know), and now there is a lot less complaints.

    2. I rented Pontiac GA, with 3.4l engine, while my Malibu was in body shop. GA is the same car as Alero.

    Did not notice substantial difference in gas mileage comparing with 3.1l Malibu. The 3.4l engine is only a bit more powerful, than 3.1l, but have a way more torque across the full rpm range. Fun to drive both in city and on highways. The car cruises at 70mph at mere 1800 rpm, this is almost idle. Of course, it does not drink much gas. But the power is always here for passing etc.

    On the other hand, I did not compare the gas consumption with 4-cilinder. Test-drove Malibu with the 2.4l engine in 1998, when they were available, and consider it unadequate: too weak acceleration.
  • yurakmyurakm Member Posts: 1,345
    The rotors can warp after thermal stress (going hot through puddle), or because the lugs were overtoqued, or without any serious reason - just bad rotors. But, once they became warped, they stay warped, in dry weather or wet one.
  • etharmonetharmon Member Posts: 399
    If you were impressed with the Sunfire, you will love the Alero. The Alero and Grand Am are light years ahead of the J-body Cavalier and Sunfire. The four might not seem as responsive in the Alero as in the Sunfire because the Alero is a heavier car. Personally, I'd get the V6. It is not much more and the mileage difference between the two is small. I think in the long run the V6 will hold up better. Excluding Saturn fours, GM four cylinders are not the world's best engines. My brother has a 99 Alero GL V6 coupe and has been very pleased with it. No water leaks to date. I drove it not long ago and did notice his rotors seemed to be a bit warped and I think this has been a problem on early Aleros. Alloy wheels should have little to do with this and I would certainly get the alloy wheels on an Alero as they look sharp. And some of it could also be attributed to his driving habits as he likes to "hit" the brakes hard at the last second when he comes to a stop sign or red light. I've never heard him complain that the cd player skips. 2001 Aleros also have a slightly different radio than previous models did. I would certainly pick it over a Sentra or a Civic and given the difference between the Alero and a Solara V6, I'd pick the Alero over that as well. Good luck with your decision. Despite the fact that the Alero shares the same basic chassis with the Malubu, don't rule it out. Alot was done to stiffen the chassis and improve the suspension in the two years between the Malibu's debut and the Alero's. I don't even think the two are built at the same plant.
  • hengheng Member Posts: 411
    I understand thermal stresses very well. I also understand residual stresses that are left from improper casting (per grbeck) that result in warpage. This is usually handled after casting with a heat treat cycle.

    There was also a rumor that the bad rotors were a thin design and the good ones are a thick design. That makes sense since a thin rotor neither has the heat capacity or the heat transfer path to handle the heat.

    What I didn't perceive until your (Paul116) followup message was that you were braking from high speeds. As I said, that is what caused my rotor warpage without the help of puddles. It was immediate and noticeable on the 1st braking cycle from over 70 mph. And because it was immediate, it has nothing to do with alloy wheels.

    The wheels were properly torqued because I did them myself.

    Paul116 - You from the big NO? That's the only place below sea level (I know of) that gets wet.
  • paul116paul116 Member Posts: 15
    Yes, heng, I am from the Big Easy (aka N'Awlins).
    Horrible driving conditions there!

    Well, the more I read the responses on why rotors warp, the more I realize that you guys know more than the mechanic who told me about improper torquing of alloy wheels being the cause of warping. His explanation may be true, and still makes sense, but cost cutting measures at the factory makes even more sense, whereby adequate cooling time is not allowed. In other words, these rotors were doomed from the start, no matter what type of wheels one adds to the car. Knowing this, it really pays to treat these cars gently when braking, but our bad drivers will not allow such treatment.

    These forums whereby we all help spread the news is probably why the car manufacturers are finally doing something about these problems. Thanks to the internet, these problems can no longer be swept under the rug. You should see the look on the salesperson's faces when I ask probing questions about water leaking under the doors and rotors warping. Ask a Honda salesmen about the CD players eating CD's on the 2001 model Civics, and see what kind of response you will get! Hey, if it ain't perfect, then cut the price some more!

    The 2001 Alero GL1 Sedan 3.4 V-6 with alloy wheels is now at the top of my list! And the 2001 brochure has a misprint, as Midnight Blue does indeed have the Neutral interior as a choice on the GL models. The brochure only indicates Pewter being available for the interior color, which is not true. Too bad Ruby Red is only available with Pewter. The good choices of cars on the lots won't last nearly as long as the $1250 rebate until mid January. My dream car happens to be sitting only 10 miles away on my closest dealer's lot.

    Thanks again, everyone, especially those of you who took the chance on the first model year of 1999. Now two years later, most of the bugs on the Alero seem to have been ironed out. I took the plunge on the all new Focus and lost out big time. I tried to warn prospective buyers, but the cuteness factor is what sells. Never again will I buy a redesigned model year or any brand new design for any car. The Focus will soon join the likes of my 1993 Mazda MX-6 and 1998 Chevy Malibu LS, all being new designs that wound up being traded in as lemons.
  • 98monte_ls98monte_ls Member Posts: 117
    I know what you mean about the colors. My mom just got a 2001 GL in ruby (awesome color, isn't it) but it only comes with Pewter. I really wanted neutral on my interior when I buy one, and it looks very rich with ruby red.

    I guess they're saving the "rich-looking" color combos for the top level models. The new Green color coming out this winter will have the neutral cloth too.

    I have not seen a midnight blue with Neutral. have you actually seen one or just had a dealer tell you they can GET one for you?
  • rich310rich310 Member Posts: 34
    I keep reading and hearing that the quality on new cars is improving every year. Yet when I read the posts at Edmunds (for all cars) and other places, most of the messages are compalints about poor quality and problems. I guess that cars are complex and nothing is perfect. But I'll say that it irks me that GM has had problems with warped brakes for many years on many models and has not doen anything to really to solve the problem. My GL2 was produced late in the 2000 modle year. The service manager at my dealership feels that I have the newer rotors. I guess time will tell.
  • paul116paul116 Member Posts: 15
    Yes, I actually laid my hands on a Midnight Blue GL1 Alero with Neutral interior, V-6 engine, and Feature Package. I also saw another one listed a few miles away, exactly the same. This seems to be the color of the year for 2001, as the Accord Coupe, Civic Coupe, and Solara all are now available in this same color combination from the Alero.

    This reminds me of an interesting story about color choices. When the current style of Accord Coupe first debuted in 1998, I test drove one, loved it, and then refused to buy based upon the color combinations. Once the desired engine, transmission, body style and equipment are chosen, color is EVERYTHING. A bad color choice can ruin a wonderful car. Back then, I had three color choices for a beige interior for the Accord Coupe: yuppie green, feminine white, and speeding ticket red. The salesman did not believe me when I told him that the color choices is what caused them to lose the sale. If I am going to spend more than $20,000 on a new car, I at least want some good color choices. So they asked what I wanted. I thought for a few seconds and then told them either Midnight Blue or Santa Fe Red with the beige interior. Well, three years later, Honda's Eternal Blue is exactly like the Alero's Midnight Blue. My Sante Fe Red is now called Firepepper Red for the 2001 Accord Sedan, which is similar to the Ruby Red on the Alero. Both of these Alero colors are also in their second year.

    By the way, when looking at all the facts on any GM car (Saturn excluded) through Edmund's home page, insert a zip code under "View Dealer Inventory". This will link you to the GM Buy Power web page and show about 5-6 nearby dealers that are hyperlinked to the actual inventory on their lot. Once you view the color combinations and MSRP under the brief listings (4 per page), you then click on that particular car (two separate links), and the entire window sticker appears in printable form. In my case, the equipment I want totals $20365 on the MSRP, so I just look for that price in Midnight Blue with Neutral interior. This is FANTASTIC!!! No more waiting for the dealer to locate one for you, as you can now do it yourself. To expand your search, enter the zip codes of the extreme reaches of your first search in all subsequent searches. Eventually, you will have a handy list of zip codes within a 100-200 mile radius. For the Alero, you will probably find what you need within a 50-mile radius. For Sunfire GT, you need more than 200 miles in your search. I wish that all manufacturers would do this like GM Buy Power! So, if I were to find my dream car 100 miles away, I could choose to drive to that dealer to see the actual car and test drive it. This avoids the pitfalls of ordering a theoretical dream car that has never been seen and hoping it turns out to be exactly as imagined. Luckily, my vivid imagination has never let me down when blindly ordering a car, but GM Buy Power adds a powerful tool now available to the buyer. It is also good just to see if your dream car is to be found ANYWHERE. Luckily, what I want is not all that rare.
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