i'm buying another Alero. What to look for ?
 

I'm looking for a replacement Alero for my Alero that got rear ended a few weeks ago.
I never had to go though the dreaded head gasket failure on mine.
Now its my biggest worry buying used.
Is there any signs i could be looking for around or under the engine.

I have a code reader and know some bad ones from 9y of owning my first Alero.

Thanks for any input
Nick.

I bought one used and one new. The used seemed to be a good unit, put new tires, brakes, rotors, fuel filter all fluids cleaned it inside and out and ready for me to end my lease. And then my buddys daughters car went down and she wanted it so I obliged! Only had it for 6 months, tops 04 GLS sedan with everything including XM. Ironically that car was rearended a year later.

I guess look for rust and damage! Look for a clean straight car with some good records and if you have a carfax in Canada?

I bought mine from an elderly couple.

The new one is my avatar, which has been with me for over 13 years with 8,600 miles. Only things that are not the original is the fluids.

Pat

Like I said on FB, look at the front and back of the engine to see if the LIMG or HG are leaking externally. Check for what looks like coolant blow out of the overflow tube on the coolant bottle, which would point to combustion gasses being pushed into the coolant system (I drove my Alero like this for 6 months, including a trip from Philadelphia to Lansing (700 miles one way))

Also check the oil for mixing of coolant and oil (very bad thing)

They are really the only MAJOR issues I can think of. Everything else comes down to care (tires, rubber lines and hoses, suspension, etc)

Thanks guys,
I am going to drive around Saturday and check out 3 Alero's
Fingers crossed....

Found a great running 2001 230km for $1300. Few scrapes on the passenger side and a black mirror in stead of colour matched as on the drivers side. Car Proof said 1 owner since new then traded into dealership six months ago. Only one claim right side back in 2006.
not in love with the light driftwood paint but hopefully it will grow on me.

Congrats on finding another one! I'm sure you could find another color matched mirror on eBay or something. That's where I found mine when I needed one. You should post up some pics when you get a chance.

Also Vancouver is only a few hours north of me lol. I have plans to hit it up at some point cause I've never been and want to check it out.

Or the junkyards. eBay likes to be overpriced for no reason sometimes.

^ Yeah, this is true they can be sometimes. It really just all depends cause other times you can get some really great deals.

Go somewhere with lots of curves, listen for bearing noises, Check turn signals, Check that the rear defrost works, Check that the coolant doesn't look all old and nasty, check the oil, check the air filter.
(to give an indication that it was looked after)
Tires, bring someone with you, have them gently rock the steering wheel, just enough to take the play out, about 1/2" back and forth, and look at the front end. Check all your lights,

Say do you have the car still, can you send/sell me the bracket that holds the hazard warning switch in, and the switch itself, and I also need the center A/C vent, (got inpatient and broke it)
I know they could all ship on a Padded Flat rate Envelope, for about $7.00
I would be grateful!

For real, I get lots of Good deals On e bay.
don't sell there any more though.
I thought I pressed a bunch of multi quotes,
but anyways, Yea, My local "pic and Pull in pretty reasonable.
I bet they'd sell the mirror for about 10 0r 15.00 dollars.
But I would mask the area off good and just paint it.

^ Yeah, I've gotten some really good deals on stuff too. Including car parts. I haven't sold anything on there though. Also glad to hear that you found the parts you needed at a reasonable price. That's always a plus.

Thanks, Don't know you read my other thread(s) but they charge a dollar to get in, and I got the vent for $5.00, and the switch and bracket for $5.00, Lost my new MM semi deep, and found about $2.00 looking for the socket...........LOL

You're welcome and I did. Like I said that's not bad at all for what you needed and you even got the $1 they charged to get in plus an extra dollar back lol. That's always a plus.

I Know........lol......That was funny.
You know where the change was?
When I lost my 7 MM socket, I was taking the screws out of the instrument cluster, I wanted some extra screws for my car.
And the socket fell. (Finally found it UNDER THE SEAT..........LOL)
So I was banging on the panel above the brake pedal, and heard rattling, Thought it might be the socket, and a few quarters came out, banged some more, heard more noise, bang again, more change, I was laughing. Said this things like a slot machine...... lol
I feel like going back some day, and just looking for change.(not really, but there was another Alero right next to this one, I should have checked that panel.....LOL) :cool:
Don't really understand how the change got where it was though??

^ Yeah lol and that is an odd place for change to be hiding. My only guess is it might've fell out of that little cubby on the left side of the dashboard by the door panel and where the fog light switch/dimmer switch is located. Then it just rested inside that panel til you found it lol.

Yeah, I think that is a change compartment.

^ Yeah, I know that's what a lot of people used it for. Including myself sometimes lol. It's not really big enough to hold much else.