Aleo 2004 starting problems

[doedoe2]

Help, anyone. My daughter bought a 2004 aleo last month. She has only gotten to drive it 8 days since then. Several times it would not start. She would drive it to a store and come back out and it would not start. I had her take it to the GM dealer where I get my car worked on and when they had it towed there it started so their computer would not tell them what was wrong with it. They put a new starter on it but it is still doing it. We left it at the dealer for 3 weeks so they could keep trying to get it to do the same thing (not start) so they could hook up the computer to it and see if it would tell them but it started every time for them. When it does this, no lights on the dash or anything come on. We decided to go back and get it yesterday and drove it all around town and stopped about 10 different places and no problem. She comes out for Christmas today and when she leaves it quits on her while she is driving.......again no lights or anything comes on the dash. She just told me she found out she is pregnant (this was my Christmas present) first Grandchild...and I do not want her driving a car that is undependable like this. Quitting on her like that driving is very dangerous. I had it pulled to my house and it still will not start.........Does anyone know what we can do to fix this. I think the car dealership she bought it knew that this was wrong with it because they are being very evasive when I ask them questions. Any help anyone can give me will very appreciated. Thank you.

[GTP Dad]

There are a couple of issues that I would have them check. The first one is the crank position sensor. It can go bad at any time and it usually will not give you a check engine light and the dealer will insist that this couldn't possibly be the problem but trust me sudden stalling and no restart is usually the crank position sensor.

Another possibility is the security system but you said that there are no lights on. If the small red light is on then you will need to reset the passlock system. It will often disappear after about 20 minutes that is why it probably started when the dealer got the car. If it is the security system it can be reset by setting the parking brake and turning on the ignition for 10 minutes then turn the key off for 10 seconds. Do this three times and on the third time start the car. Make sure you use an OEM key and not a non-GM key.

I hope this gives you a place to start and welcome to AF!

[doedoe2]

Originally Posted by GTP Dad

There are a couple of issues that I would have them check. The first one is the crank position sensor. It can go bad at any time and it usually will not give you a check engine light and the dealer will insist that this couldn't possibly be the problem but trust me sudden stalling and no restart is usually the crank position sensor.

Another possibility is the security system but you said that there are no lights on. If the small red light is on then you will need to reset the passlock system. It will often disappear after about 20 minutes that is why it probably started when the dealer got the car. If it is the security system it can be reset by setting the parking brake and turning on the ignition for 10 minutes then turn the key off for 10 seconds. Do this three times and on the third time start the car. Make sure you use an OEM key and not a non-GM key.

I hope this gives you a place to start and welcome to AF!

Dear GTP Dad, thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I will try to reset it like you suggested today. There is one light under the radio that keeps blinking but if it is the security, would this have caused the car to stall also yesterday? Again thank you so much.

[doedoe2]

Originally Posted by doedoe2

Dear GTP Dad, thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I will try to reset it like you suggested today. There is one light under the radio that keeps blinking but if it is the security, would this have caused the car to stall also yesterday? Again thank you so much.

I tried to reset it and it did not work.. The light beside the radio volume button quit blinking while I was trying this method but now it is blinking again. Before the radio light and the car light when you opened the door would not come on along with all the other lights but now the light comes on when you open the door and the radio will come on but still no dash lights of any kind. I have a 2001 Alero and have not had very many problems with mine beyond normal wear and tear and I put 1,000 miles a week on mine. I just do not understand. Thanks again.

[GTP Dad]

If this is a small red light it is the security light and the system has shut the car down. It will cause a car to stall while driving if it comes on. If I were you I would take this car back where I got it and have them bypass the security system for you. I think that will solve the problem.

As for the lights coming on I have no idea what may cause the radio light to come on when you open the door other than a short. But the like I said if this is a little red light then the security system has activated and causing it not to start.

[doedoe2]

Just thought I would check in to update on my daughters car. The light that was blinking was a little red one beside the radio and the shop said it was the radio security light. The car was completely shut down with no other power except to the radio. They finally got a computer hooked up to it and it did not show anything and there was no power getting to the rest of the car. (Had to bring it to the house since the car would not start again) They suggested for us to try to work the wires connecting the main fuse box under the hood next to the drivers side when we got time. We did this but could not get anything to still come on and then we shook the entire fuse box and the car started and everything came back on. Took the car back to the shop and they are now going to take this part off and check all the connectors to the fuse box and replace any that are needed. Thought someone might want to know this was our problem and might be able to help others....Thanks for giving us someone to start.

[docswaim]

Originally Posted by GTP Dad

There are a couple of issues that I would have them check. The first one is the crank position sensor. It can go bad at any time and it usually will not give you a check engine light and the dealer will insist that this couldn't possibly be the problem but trust me sudden stalling and no restart is usually the crank position sensor.

Another possibility is the security system but you said that there are no lights on. If the small red light is on then you will need to reset the passlock system. It will often disappear after about 20 minutes that is why it probably started when the dealer got the car. If it is the security system it can be reset by setting the parking brake and turning on the ignition for 10 minutes then turn the key off for 10 seconds. Do this three times and on the third time start the car. Make sure you use an OEM key and not a non-GM key.

I hope this gives you a place to start and welcome to AF!

Neighbor:

I'm curious as to your information source.

Re: Do this three times and on the third time start the car.

You are answering as pertains to a 2004 Alero. Have they changed the procedure in the 2004 manual? In the 2001 owners manual, p. 1-20 (I think that is the correct page number--at any rate, a quick check of the index for the "security light" will confirm or correct it), I am told to leave the switch on for 10 minutes, til the light ceases to flash, and goes off. Then, to turn off the switch, and back on, and start it. The import is that only if the switch if on, will the procedure work. There it nothing about repeating it three times. Following this procedure has worked every time for me, without fail (likely, about 9 or 10 times).

Also, I was unaware of this:

Re: It will often disappear after about 20 minutes.

However, the total time frame is the same.

I posted earlier that the dealer warned me that one day this procedure will not any longer work--that the system will go completely bad.

Not challenging you...just trying to be accurate.

[raycorri]

Originally Posted by docswaim

Re: Do this three times and on the third time start the car.

You are answering as pertains to a 2004 Alero. Have they changed the procedure in the 2004 manual?
I posted earlier that the dealer warned me that one day this procedure will not any longer work--that the system will go completely bad.

The 10 min. procedure is a Security reset to get you going right away. This is in your manual. The 30 min procedure is a relearn procedure which might make the problem stop repeating itself. The Relearn is what you pay a dealership an arm and a leg for. Something that I read about the relearn though: Make sure your security light is not flashing when you start this procedure on the first cycle. Also, after the third 10 min cycle, make sure to turn the switch to off. The next time you turn the switch on is when the actual Relearn and Module synchronization takes place. This link has a similar discussion.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...0&page=1&pp=15
Ray