Alero Problems
 

Hello, I'm new to the forum, and I'm having some problems with my 2000 Alero GL (or GLS, I don't know) V6.

My dad purchased this Alero about a month ago, it's a very nice car, handles well, and has a lot of torque. But on the other hand it has some defects of it's own too.

When my dad drives the car and he floors the pedal (WOT) the engine fails to surpass 4000 RPM it just bounces like a rev limiter. The engine bounces around 3800-3900 RPM's. But yet the speed increases smoothly.

Yesterday I started up the Alero and let it idle for about 30 minutes, I let the engine warm up before I do some revving. Now when I press on the accelerator there's a "click" noise and then the engine RPM drops down to about 500 and then it goes up to whatever RPM I push the accelerator to. Also in Park I floored the accelerator and let the RPM's drop to idle, and when it drops to idle instead of just it staying at 750 RPM's it just fluctuates between 800-1000 and then goes back to idle (750) afterwords.

Also while revving up the engine, I decided to rev it up very slowly to see what happens and around 2000-3000 RPM's there's a heavy vibration coming from the engine, especially around 2200 RPM's.

Second to last, is that the minor problems that I have with my Alero currently is that I have an leaky exhaust manifold just at the back of the engine. And a squeaky belt.

Lastly, the common problems with the Alero that happened to mines, which is the wheels bearings (both of them!), hazard switch (got it off a 99 Alero, so I wouldn't have any trouble with it again). The exhaust is smoking white a little bit (I'm a bit scared to drive it).

sounds to me like you need a mechanic diagnostic... or get another car you may have a freak one.. i have a 99 gls v6 coupe and its great on gas revs fine and very comfortable cruising ... maybe its a fluke.. i had to put work into it when i bought it but you may be over your head haha

i would start with a new throttle positioning sensor.

Which means you are burning some antifreeze. Probably the intake manifold gasket.

for the rest its likely some kind of sensor, like said try a TPS first.

Lol, well for $500 I didn't expect it to be any better.


Ok thanks, I will look into it, and start at that first.


Would it be just the LIMG or the head gasket or both? And should I do a radiator flush and change the coolant?

Oh and BTW, there IS a CEL coming on my dash.

first things first then, check the code.

Ok then, I'll pick up one of those scanners and scan it and see how it goes.

And thanks everyone for the info!

GoldPackage

I'd just like to add that when I'm driving and I press the accelerator very lightly the car would just jerk forward like if I pressed the accelerator hard.

Secondly, how do I know if my car is a GL Trim or a GLS Trim?

And, how do you explain the heavy vibration from the engine at 2000-3000 RPM's. (engine mounts maybe?)

Similar problem here: http://www.2carpros.com/forum/1999-o...-vt191473.html

You have a Gold Package Alero ? (Gold Emblems). GLS has leather seats, alloy rims and sunroof if I remember correctly.

We should have a Alero meet for GTA people ;) :D

my car did that when my o2 was out

well then in that case good deal.. even if you have to do an intake gasket it will be money well spent...

Yes I have the Gold Package, it goes really good with the Dark Red colour. And nah, I don't have leather seats, chrome rims or a sunroof. So it's a GL. But, I saw a GLS in Toronto about a week ago. It had chrome rims, leather seats, but I wasn't that tall to see if it has a sunroof or not lol.

I think my Alero has the sport suspension package, because my car looks lowered. But it doesn't have a spoiler. :( But I went to a scrapyard and took a spoiler off a Purple 99 Alero. I felt sorry for that Purple Alero because the head gasket blew and it was just sitting there.

Oh and another thing, on the drivers side door the tire size says P225/50R16, but on my actual tires it says P205/50R16. The tires is a Goodyear Eagle LS(-A?)

Yeah we should, I'll get pictures of my Alero up soon. ;)


I would just like to add, that the owner who had the Alero before, I don't think that they know a lot about cars, because to the looks of the maintenance the car was VERY poorly maintained. They just drove the car and never bothered to repair anything. When I changed the oil the oil was an RED colour :eek:, and the air filter was black with dust and it had bugs in it. Luckly my Alero got a home where it would be taken care of. ;)

I hope that red oil wasn't the transmission fluid lol...I've seen people drain the tranny before an add more oil...Thus having an empty transmission and double the engine oil...Always a fun time

I hope very not lol. Oh wow I would like to see the persons face when they realized that they screwed up.

Just ONE more problem with my Alero before I piss someone off LOL. My fog lights don't work, the switch works because when I press the switch on the green light illuminates, but both lights don't work. What are the possibilities of both bulbs not working at the same time? Or the wires being disconnected?

You sure its not the bulbs themselves? Ive had them do that. And one time I had one fall out so I just couldnt see it :p

FOr the fogs it's either the bulbs like alerogls said, or the fuse. Or something more complicated.
As for the tire size, the sticker is the manufacturer's suggested tire size (in this case 225/60/16). It's very common for used tire shops to change the tire size - which works just fine. In this case you got 205/50/16. Those GoodYears are actually pretty good tires.

It's not the fuse, because I checked the fuse with an tester and the fuse works, so it's most likely the bulbs.

So, if I decide to change the tires, do you recommend the 225's or the 205's? Because I went to a Goodyear tire shop and 4 Goodyear Eagle LS 225's cost around $800 with installation and balancing.