New member

[TO90Alero]

Just wanted to say Hi and ask a few simple questions...

I picked up a 99 Alero Coupe, 2.4 engine with about 200 k-kms on it. It's very clean inside and out and even the engine bay. The engine was swapped out at 160,000 kms with a still a very new looking engine. I know that Gm's have gasket issues how is this engine for that? There seems to be a few rust point's at the hood seam and a seal down low below each door pillar.

Generally what are these cars like ; (fairly reliable, will i be happy?) Is there something that goes wrong on most every car that i should keep a watch on to prevent?

Lastly, on my Acura forum i have been posting on for several years they have an on line shop manual posted for each model run as a sticky topic. (for example my particular car had the same features/components for four years). Is there anything like that on this forum? That is really handy to have available.

Thanks to everyone who replies....

[Iflylow]

I'm not sure about the 2.4, mine has the 3.4, but generally they seem to be reliable.
Common problem areas are the wheel hubs going bad, which sets off the ABS, Trac Off and sometimes Brake lights. The wiring harness to the hubs can also get pinched/cut, especially on the front wheels.
The electric windows on early Aleros have a problem with the regulator unit (basically the part that connects the window to the cable). They tend to break, either dropping the window down into the door, or preventing you from rolling it up. It's a fairly cheap fix (under $200). There is really nothing you can do to prevent this problem.
The Passlock security system is another problem area. The keys and ignition cylinders wear, and eventually Passlock decides someone is trying to steal the car, and cuts off the fuel injectors. One way to delay this problem is to keep your least worn key and never use it. Make copies from it, and use those. The more worn your key is, the more likely Passlock will think the car is being stolen. There is a permanent solution to this problem, but I think it's been covered in this forum already, so try a search when it happens to you. If you can't find it, send me a PM and I'll email it to you.
I hope you are happy with your Alero, I've enjoyed mine!

[razial22]

the most common problem i've seen with the aleros is the hub assemblies ($120 part at advance auto, or auto zone) which you can fix your yourself in about an hour of less. with the 2.4l you shouldn't have many problems if any at all since that was 1 of gm's flagship engine for a VERY long time. i perosnally have owned 2 cars with the 2.4 and NEVER had an engine problem for almost 200k on each car.1 other thing i would suggest is to replace the stock radio asap.you may also have some problems with the lower intake manifold. IF it was a stock part if it has been replaced you should be ok. alot of ppl i know includeing my self had some issues with early on. other then that not much else SHOULD come up. and u have come to the right place to look for info about and help trouble shooting a problem.

oh and welcome to the forums.

raz

[TO90Alero]

Thanks for all the info. I will check into those things. Nice to here the 2,4 is reliable. I was hoping it wasn't going to be like the early sunfire/cavalier engines which had a lot of head gasket failures.

I just searched the posts for a fix for the turn signal clicking for no reason after a turn is made and even sometimes for no reason.

I found a couple of conflicting ideas on how to fix that, anyone know the most likely repair for this. It can't see it being all that difficult. The noise seems to be just behind the hazard button, is that a sticking relay?

[Iflylow]

The turn signal clicker is in the hazard light switch. Easy, cheap replacement job.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by TO90Alero

I found a couple of conflicting ideas on how to fix that, anyone know the most likely repair for this. It can't see it being all that difficult. The noise seems to be just behind the hazard button, is that a sticking relay?

Welcome to AF and our Alero forum.

99% of the time the noise you hear is not caused by the allegedly defective hazard relay although you do hear the hazard relay clicking. It is caused by the Multifunction Switch (MFS) at the steering column.

You can remove the MFS, clean it out with electrical contact cleaner and re-lube with dielectric silicone grease. I just did my Alero a few months ago and it works like a champ now. The hazard relay fix was done per the GM TSB and did not cure the noisy random clicking sound but the MFS fix did.

[TO90Alero]

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Welcome to AF and our Alero forum.

99% of the time the noise you hear is not caused by the allegedly defective hazard relay although you do hear the hazard relay clicking. It is caused by the Multifunction Switch (MFS) at the steering column.

You can remove the MFS, clean it out with electrical contact cleaner and re-lube with dielectric silicone grease. I just did my Alero a few months ago and it works like a champ now. The hazard relay fix was done per the GM TSB and did not cure the noisy random clicking sound but the MFS fix did.

Once again a thank you to everyone for replying. Im kind of lucky because a close friend of mine works at GM. A pontiac dealer that just converted to a chevy dealership.

We tried to find a car going to "car Heaven" in the dealership to steal the combination switch out of but no luck. I'll give your idea a shot here.

My friend also showed me the simple trick to get around the passcode problem if the security system shuts the injectors off. He tried to show me a bunch of things (too many - so i forgot most of them, I'm more of an Acura/Honda or old school GM person) so I have to ask him again and write it down.

So far it runs o.k. but has a little annoying pull in the steering. I got the car 4 new tires this week, and noticed there is a new strut/spring on one side so maybe the previous owner had some issue. I'll have to get the steering aligned one day.

Nice people here on this forum, I'd like to start a movement to have people nice as they are on forums when they are behind the wheels of their cars. I had so many people do silly things in their cars in front of me today. There has been some really bad accidents in this area this summer caused by people that are rushing or being selfish (usually that's a combo). I saw one the other night, I couldn't even tell what kind of a car it was, there were so many pieces of it scattered between a divided highway.