Service Engine Soon / Trac Off
mhlandry
09-22-2004, 03:02 PM
Okay, here's my long and sad tale of my Alero...
About six months ago I started having problems. The service engine soon light would come on every now and then, the trac off light would come on every time I started the vehicle up for the first time in a day (it would then go off after ~30 seconds), and it would ride 'bumpy'. The condition eventually deterioriated until the service engine soon light would stay on permanently. And on two different occasions the car would not start on me. Both times I let it sit for ~5-10 minutes and it started fine the next time I tried. So I brought it to a mechanic. The error code was #3 spark plug misfired. Turns out that my #3 engine coil was burnt. The mechanic replaces the engine coil housing, plugs, and boots.
About three or four days later the same symptoms start happening. Bring it back to the mechanic, same error code, same remedy. Within a week the problem occurs again. Bring it back to the same mechanic (somewhat of a family friend, so I know the guy isn't trying to bs me), he can't figure out what's causing the coil to burn out. He tried changing the module but that does no good. He recommends to take it to a dealership in the hopes that they've seen this problem before.
So I take it to the dealership. As you might imagine, they see the same error code and perform the same work. Change the coil housing, boots and plugs. Also as you might imagine, the same problem occurs again fairly soon. In addition, my security light is coming on while I'm driving now.
But since the first time we brought it to the dealer, my dad found what looked to be a ground wire hanging on the frame of the car. We bring the wire to the dealer and after a week they say its a ground fault wire for the engine coil housing and they replace that. They also fix the issue with the security light - the replaced my PassLock cylinder.
Then, about two weeks later I get the original symptoms again. Bring it back to the dealer. This time the error code indicates the problem is with the #3 fuel injector. That gets replaced.
Last week, we fled Hurricane Ivan. Guess what happens? As we are trying to leave to come home, my car will not start. The battery is fine, starter is fine. It won't crank. We're some 300 miles from my house, what the hell do we do now? We get it towed to a garage and their mechanic quickly diagnoses the problem - bad fuel pump. That gets replaces.
Now yesterday, my service engine soon light comes on again. Also, as happened before, my trac off light comes on briefly when I start the car for the first time that day. It also seemed to take a little longer to crank than usual, but maybe that's me being paranoid.
I'm going to try to check the error code soon, but outside of that does anyone have any ideas why I'm having all these problems? In the past 6 months, I've brought this pos into 3 different mechanics on seven different occasions. Obviously there's something wrong more than what the error codes are saying, but nobody seems to want to troubleshoot the actual problem. Ideas? Suggestions?
- Matt
About six months ago I started having problems. The service engine soon light would come on every now and then, the trac off light would come on every time I started the vehicle up for the first time in a day (it would then go off after ~30 seconds), and it would ride 'bumpy'. The condition eventually deterioriated until the service engine soon light would stay on permanently. And on two different occasions the car would not start on me. Both times I let it sit for ~5-10 minutes and it started fine the next time I tried. So I brought it to a mechanic. The error code was #3 spark plug misfired. Turns out that my #3 engine coil was burnt. The mechanic replaces the engine coil housing, plugs, and boots.
About three or four days later the same symptoms start happening. Bring it back to the mechanic, same error code, same remedy. Within a week the problem occurs again. Bring it back to the same mechanic (somewhat of a family friend, so I know the guy isn't trying to bs me), he can't figure out what's causing the coil to burn out. He tried changing the module but that does no good. He recommends to take it to a dealership in the hopes that they've seen this problem before.
So I take it to the dealership. As you might imagine, they see the same error code and perform the same work. Change the coil housing, boots and plugs. Also as you might imagine, the same problem occurs again fairly soon. In addition, my security light is coming on while I'm driving now.
But since the first time we brought it to the dealer, my dad found what looked to be a ground wire hanging on the frame of the car. We bring the wire to the dealer and after a week they say its a ground fault wire for the engine coil housing and they replace that. They also fix the issue with the security light - the replaced my PassLock cylinder.
Then, about two weeks later I get the original symptoms again. Bring it back to the dealer. This time the error code indicates the problem is with the #3 fuel injector. That gets replaced.
Last week, we fled Hurricane Ivan. Guess what happens? As we are trying to leave to come home, my car will not start. The battery is fine, starter is fine. It won't crank. We're some 300 miles from my house, what the hell do we do now? We get it towed to a garage and their mechanic quickly diagnoses the problem - bad fuel pump. That gets replaces.
Now yesterday, my service engine soon light comes on again. Also, as happened before, my trac off light comes on briefly when I start the car for the first time that day. It also seemed to take a little longer to crank than usual, but maybe that's me being paranoid.
I'm going to try to check the error code soon, but outside of that does anyone have any ideas why I'm having all these problems? In the past 6 months, I've brought this pos into 3 different mechanics on seven different occasions. Obviously there's something wrong more than what the error codes are saying, but nobody seems to want to troubleshoot the actual problem. Ideas? Suggestions?
- Matt
mhlandry
09-22-2004, 08:09 PM
The erreor code for this most recent problem is 0301. However, I don't know what that means because we can't seem to find our Haynes manual. Anyone got any ideas?
- Matt
- Matt
JTrujillo86
09-22-2004, 08:47 PM
Holy cow pal...I feel sorry for you.
Anyway, you should try a new dealer. Hopefully they didn't charge you to do the ground wire thing for the coil since they should have found that when they did the original work.
I'm not sure what is causing all of these problems. How many miles do you have on it? What engine do you have?
BTW, the trac off light is most likely due to a bad wheel speed sensor...they're common issues on the Alero.
Jeremy
Anyway, you should try a new dealer. Hopefully they didn't charge you to do the ground wire thing for the coil since they should have found that when they did the original work.
I'm not sure what is causing all of these problems. How many miles do you have on it? What engine do you have?
BTW, the trac off light is most likely due to a bad wheel speed sensor...they're common issues on the Alero.
Jeremy
mhlandry
09-22-2004, 09:39 PM
Holy cow pal...I feel sorry for you.
Anyway, you should try a new dealer. Hopefully they didn't charge you to do the ground wire thing for the coil since they should have found that when they did the original work.
I'm not sure what is causing all of these problems. How many miles do you have on it? What engine do you have?
BTW, the trac off light is most likely due to a bad wheel speed sensor...they're common issues on the Alero.
Jeremy
They didnt charge me for the ground fault wire, but they've charged me plenty for the rest of it.
Ive found the manual and the error code is a #1 cylinder misfire. (As opposed to the #3 I was having before.
58k miles. 2.4l l4 engine.
The only reason I mentioned the trac off light was because it seemed to happen in conjunction with my misfire problem. It doesn't make sense to me why that would happen, but all I know is what I see my car doing.
Oh, btw, its hard to find a dealer that will work on oldsmobiles now. Actually, one of my friend's dad owns his own garage and he recommented for me to take it to this dealer...
- Matt
Anyway, you should try a new dealer. Hopefully they didn't charge you to do the ground wire thing for the coil since they should have found that when they did the original work.
I'm not sure what is causing all of these problems. How many miles do you have on it? What engine do you have?
BTW, the trac off light is most likely due to a bad wheel speed sensor...they're common issues on the Alero.
Jeremy
They didnt charge me for the ground fault wire, but they've charged me plenty for the rest of it.
Ive found the manual and the error code is a #1 cylinder misfire. (As opposed to the #3 I was having before.
58k miles. 2.4l l4 engine.
The only reason I mentioned the trac off light was because it seemed to happen in conjunction with my misfire problem. It doesn't make sense to me why that would happen, but all I know is what I see my car doing.
Oh, btw, its hard to find a dealer that will work on oldsmobiles now. Actually, one of my friend's dad owns his own garage and he recommented for me to take it to this dealer...
- Matt
JTrujillo86
09-24-2004, 09:28 PM
All GM Goodwrench dealers are required to work on your Oldsmobile. If you find one that refuses, then call GM and report them. As for independent shops, that would surprise me. The Alero is the same as a Malibu or Grand Am. Where do you live again?
Do you have the manual or the auto? I'm asking this because if you have the manual and you have the ETS, the way the ETS works is by delaying the spark going to the cylinders. In the automatic tranny however, the transaxle upshifts to slow the RPM's of the engine. You may have a funky problem working...
Jeremy
Do you have the manual or the auto? I'm asking this because if you have the manual and you have the ETS, the way the ETS works is by delaying the spark going to the cylinders. In the automatic tranny however, the transaxle upshifts to slow the RPM's of the engine. You may have a funky problem working...
Jeremy
JTrujillo86
09-24-2004, 09:30 PM
Sorry...let me explain that last post a little more clearly:
In the manual version of the Aleros, the ETS system delays the spark timing in order to slow the engine, which in turns slows the wheel speed. If you have the manual, then there may be some sort of funky problem with the ETS and the spark issue you're having. If you have the auto then I wouldn't know where to direct you further. Sorry.
Jeremy
In the manual version of the Aleros, the ETS system delays the spark timing in order to slow the engine, which in turns slows the wheel speed. If you have the manual, then there may be some sort of funky problem with the ETS and the spark issue you're having. If you have the auto then I wouldn't know where to direct you further. Sorry.
Jeremy
mhlandry
09-25-2004, 03:47 PM
Its an automatic transmission.
I live around New Orleans.
I think Im just going to drive it till it dies completely and then maybe someone will realize there is a problem.
- Matt
I live around New Orleans.
I think Im just going to drive it till it dies completely and then maybe someone will realize there is a problem.
- Matt
JTrujillo86
09-25-2004, 07:41 PM
Nice thought. That's what it seems needs to happen for the Stealership to realize any issue.
Jeremy
Jeremy
sp3edr4cer
10-14-2004, 01:38 PM
after you take a car to the same dealer ship for the same problem 3 times or more visit a laywer to have to take up as a limon
mhlandry
10-27-2004, 04:04 PM
My trac off light came on again today and stayed on the whole time I was driving (~25 minutes). Last time it did this the fuel pump went shortly after. I honestly do not know what to do.
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