Andy
08-28-2004, 01:48 PM
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I am new to Aleromod.com and would appreciate the members assistance with a starting problem on a 1999 Alero 3.4 V6 with 63.000 miles. I recently helped my daughter purchase this car last week from a small car dealer in Indiana. We really like the car and with about 170 horses it has great acceleration on the highways.
Almost immediately after bringing the car home we noticed a problem with starting. The problem does not occur every time you start the car. When she turns the key it won't start unless she depresses or taps the accelerator. She might have to repeat the process a couple of times. I noticed the RPM needle jumping up and down and finally after a few seconds the motor smooths out. It runs just great after that.
I had the car serviced, lube, oil, filter, etc. and took it to a local car parts store where they did a computer check. The computer check indicated that an o2 sensor was defective (front bank). The next day I took it to a local garage. The mechanic said that it wasn't a defective o2 sensor but it needed a new mass air flow. This decision was reached not by what the computer told the mechanic in real time but what the history mode of the computer said, according the mechanic. The cost of the repair was about $168.
The next day my daughter drives the car to Cleveland and back putting on another 500 or 600 miles in 4 days. On the 4th day after the "repair" the starting problem begins again. I took the car back to garage and the car starts perfectly for them and the computer is telling them that nothing is wrong with the car. I plan to take back to garage and let them keep it a couple of days in hopes that it will act up when they have it on the computer.
Last night I began I Web search for some possible answers. I was surprised to learn about the number of complaints about the Alero particularly with starting problems, brakes, manifold covers, coolant leaks, and power windows, to name a few.
I am really at lost here. I am obviously not a mechanic. I don't know if it's a fuel, gas, or electrical problem. I read last night about a young woman who sounded like she has a similiar problem, luckily her boyfriend was a garage tech who discovered that the problem was a bad ground to the ECM computer.
I am not in a financial position to start replacing parts at a couple hundred dollars a pop. I read where the main computer could cost more than $500 to replace.
Any ideas to where to look for the problem would be appreciated. Also any repair places in South Central Ohio would also be appreciated. I need to get connected with people who know and love this car. We both like the car. She wants to save her money for "upgrades". I told her we might not even keep the car. It might make sense to cut our losses and sale it and go ahead and look for a Honda or Toyota. I'd rather buy American made if possible.
It appears that members really love this car. At this point I like it but I won't let nickel and dime me.
Thank you.
I am new to Aleromod.com and would appreciate the members assistance with a starting problem on a 1999 Alero 3.4 V6 with 63.000 miles. I recently helped my daughter purchase this car last week from a small car dealer in Indiana. We really like the car and with about 170 horses it has great acceleration on the highways.
Almost immediately after bringing the car home we noticed a problem with starting. The problem does not occur every time you start the car. When she turns the key it won't start unless she depresses or taps the accelerator. She might have to repeat the process a couple of times. I noticed the RPM needle jumping up and down and finally after a few seconds the motor smooths out. It runs just great after that.
I had the car serviced, lube, oil, filter, etc. and took it to a local car parts store where they did a computer check. The computer check indicated that an o2 sensor was defective (front bank). The next day I took it to a local garage. The mechanic said that it wasn't a defective o2 sensor but it needed a new mass air flow. This decision was reached not by what the computer told the mechanic in real time but what the history mode of the computer said, according the mechanic. The cost of the repair was about $168.
The next day my daughter drives the car to Cleveland and back putting on another 500 or 600 miles in 4 days. On the 4th day after the "repair" the starting problem begins again. I took the car back to garage and the car starts perfectly for them and the computer is telling them that nothing is wrong with the car. I plan to take back to garage and let them keep it a couple of days in hopes that it will act up when they have it on the computer.
Last night I began I Web search for some possible answers. I was surprised to learn about the number of complaints about the Alero particularly with starting problems, brakes, manifold covers, coolant leaks, and power windows, to name a few.
I am really at lost here. I am obviously not a mechanic. I don't know if it's a fuel, gas, or electrical problem. I read last night about a young woman who sounded like she has a similiar problem, luckily her boyfriend was a garage tech who discovered that the problem was a bad ground to the ECM computer.
I am not in a financial position to start replacing parts at a couple hundred dollars a pop. I read where the main computer could cost more than $500 to replace.
Any ideas to where to look for the problem would be appreciated. Also any repair places in South Central Ohio would also be appreciated. I need to get connected with people who know and love this car. We both like the car. She wants to save her money for "upgrades". I told her we might not even keep the car. It might make sense to cut our losses and sale it and go ahead and look for a Honda or Toyota. I'd rather buy American made if possible.
It appears that members really love this car. At this point I like it but I won't let nickel and dime me.
Thank you.