Hey Guys, sup?

[((the_king))]

Sup guys.. well to get started..
I'm 17.. my dad just gave me his car.. Alero Oldsmobile 2000 :P.
It's kinda messed up i guess eh, the following show up;
Trac Off
Change Oil
Service Engine
No clue really.. I'm not that into cars but I'm here to actually learn about what i can do with my Alero. The Alero is also missing a hub cap and the window isnt broke but its taped up, i really have no clue what's the problem but I'll ask my dad what it is. I plan to customize this alero but first I need to get started knowing the basics and stuff, thats why im here(i really dont know anything).
Btw.. the names Jay.
:P

[Vtolds]

Well the Service engine could have to do with the fact it needs a oil change and the trac off usually means you need new fron hubs. Welcome to the life of an Alero owner.

[Redog]

YoSup!

Change oil light is something you can reset. and the SES light, go to Autozone and get it scaned for free ;) Trac off light. Are your Anti-Lock and Brake llights on too? If so, Wheel hub

[[ion] C2]

So this is your father's Olds..

Welcome.

[((the_king))]

Hey Vtolds, thanks for the help .. not too sound newbish or anything but
Pepboys or autozone (redog thxs) can fix that right?
Redog, I'm not even sure if my anti-lock or brake lights are on..
isnt that a bad thing so im thinking no:P I'll let my dad fix it up..
just wanted to do it on my own heh here's some pictures of the car
btw.. im missing two hub caps >_<!
Btw, Redog.. your car's sweet man :), how much you sepnd on that baby?

[((the_king))]

C2;356852']So this is your father's Olds..

Welcome.

yeah , pretty much it :P.
Thanks for the welcome

[[ion] C2]

that thing looks rough. those front wheels/tires don't look like they were made for the Alero

[((the_king))]

oh really? eh .. thats not the only problem.
the alero shakes when im on a stoplight.. literally like gonna die out or something.
Also.. the left turn signal works when it wants too >_<

[[ion] C2]

hazard switch is wired up too closely to the turn signals, it's a recall. but only on certain VINs. mine has the issue (as does pretty much EVERY alero) but they wouldn't fix mine.

shaking.. you have a SES light.. get that checked

[((the_king))]

Alright, Ion i will.
Pretty much, I needa go to autozone for all this.
Also, you said something about the tires, is there something wrong with them?
Hey Ion, I'm looking to actually rebuild this alero into a nice looking car, mind helping me?

[[ion] C2]

it just looks like from the pictures (what i can see) that the front tires/wheels are big, not the same size overall compared to the rear

You need to:
1. Clear the change oil light.
Turn the car off. Open the fuse panel on the driver's side with the door open. Turn the key to ON but do not start the car. Hold the red RESET button in the fuse panel until it chimes and the light goes off. I think that's how you turn off the change oil light..

2. Just push the hazard button if your turn signals don't work, you'll get them working in a push or two.

3. SES light, needs to be scanned with a code reader which AutoZone will do for free. Check out what the code means, let us know before you buy anything.

4. Figure out what's up with the window.

5. Buy some aftermarket wheels. :)

[((the_king))]

Thank you very much for the help man!
Tommerow right afterschool, I'll go do all that then get back to you but ah, the aftermarket wheels? :P? Any kind of wheels in particular?, Junk yard or so? What about hub caps, how would i find them ,autozone aswell?
BTW just saw your profile pics, sweet fucking engine dude.
:/ daym.

[[ion] C2]

You might be able to pick up a set of nice real Alero wheels, like, the stock wheels, not the steelies with hubcaps, at a junkyard. Don't bother getting new hubcaps, just wait and get some real wheels.

And thanks. :p Working on it.

[Nate's Alero]

Welcome....i was pretty muchin the same boat as you with all the lights and crap on when i bought the car from my gramps!git rid of those wheels though!


And oh yea! welcome!

[((the_king))]

haha thanks :D!
what kinda wheels should i look for? any specific ones..?
btw im also from IL :P

[Daytona]

Welcome aboard!

[natedawg9640]

your model alero came with thoise black steel whells and hub caps... if ur gonna buy wheels at a junkyard... you be best off looking for an alero that has a decent set of stock rims but a better trip package... so they are actually spoked rims... not crappy steelies... they'll be a direct replacement... otherwise look on tirerack or sites like that with tire/rim packages... but that'll be more expensive.

also about the oil light... i think you have to hit the reset button once (or twice) until the "change oil" light starts flashing... then when it's flashing... you hold it down untill the car chimes....

and let us know if it's the "service ENGINE soon" or "service vehicle soon"... there's a difference... if the SVS is on... and the trac light... they it'll be bearings... if it's SVS... then scan it.

[bizarre179]

Welcome!

I would suggest just taking off your hubcaps all together. If you are already missing some, it will look better if it all matches. This is what I would do...
http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/5/web/2981000-2981999/2981709_19_full.jpg
I was throwing random stuff in the fire one night, and noticed i was missing one cap. So i threw the rest of them into the fire. But then i found the missing one in my trunk. It sucked.

[bigdaddyD]

I cant beleive nobodys said the 2 things yet that i see on every other new post, Clear your Corners and come to ASS '08(thats if it will make it, dont brake down on the highway tryin to make it there). Oh and welcome

[[ion] C2]

^I figured he was pretty far away and young and unlikely to come anyway, lol.

[bigdaddyD]

ya, but it never hurts to try.

[((the_king))]

Hey Folks! I'm going tommerow to get this car checked up and revamped and fixed :P. My dad also said that, the front tires need to be in the back actually, i mightaswell take off the hubcaps because they dont even match :P. After that, I plan to make this car look nice, possible paint job to black, i love the color black and maybe some nice rims but ah i need help, where should i start first? Should i take it step by step, I dont want a car that races, i just want a nice looking car. My dad actually offered me a Nissan Maxima 08 but I refused and took the alero because i've seen some nice modifications on it and its not a bad car at all when you actually hook it up :p.

[TFDesigns]

Welcome

[((the_king))]

Hello :D

[billytheman1188]

welcome to aleromod! :-)

[AJules]

welcome man

looks like you got a fixer-upper

If I was you I'd just use broken things/things that need to be fixed as an excuse to replace them with upgrades/mods

and the first thing I'd do would be getting all new (or used) rims.

and also, I'd suggest looking for people selling or parting out with their cars on here and grandamgt.com, good deals are pretty common when people are trying to get rid of stuff.

[Trickyslick]

Welcome and have fun bringing it back...

[CharleyO99Alero]

***

Welcome to the forums. :)

With the oil light on, it might be a good idea to give it an oil change unless your dad did that recently. Otherwise, change that oil and the filter.


***

[((the_king))]

I recently got a oil change, now the light's off :). I also changed my AIR FILTER, EWW! previous air filter was damn nasty!
Now.. where shall i start with the car?
I took off all hub caps because it looked weird with only two.

[Onewing91]

Okay- welcome to the forums! I now don't feel so alone being only 17! lol, but anyhow-
Get some rims or at least (for now) some matching hubs
Then- Clear the corners.. there is a GREAT tutorial on how to do it on this site, its easy to do even if you know nothing about the car... trust me...
Those little appearance mods will help make the car look nice, and (with the corners) a bit custom.
Then, maybe start on the interior, add accent lighting, get that new paint job if you want, but Alero's look sweet in that silver color too.

Bottom line is- get it running sweet- then make it your own! just my $.02