Problem starting and shuts down.

[Veronica1228]

I am having problems with my 2000 Alero (I think it's a a 4cyl). The first problem is that I have a hard time starting the car. I turn the key in the ignition and it just revs, but doesn't actually turn over. Sometimes if I wait a minute and then try again it will finally turn over, but lately it is taking even longer. I thought it might be the key since the other one is worn out so I started using my spare key and it got better for a while, but now it's even worse.

The next problem I'm having is that sometimes it will turn on, but I get random dash lights coming on to. "Service Engine Soon", "Anti-Lock", and "Trac Off" come one most of the time, but "Service Vehicle Soon" has come on once before. These lights stay on until I turn the car off.

My last problem is that sometimes I can get the engine to turn over, but then the engine will shut down while I'm driving it. Sometimes it's at a light, but most of the time it's while I'm driving. When this happens I loose brakes and steering and I have to put the car in park and turn the engine back one. This one scares me the most because the other day the engine stopped as I was in the middle of a left turn and I was stranded in the middle of an intersection. I finally got the car started again but then it shut down again less than 5 minutes later. What is going on with my car? Please tell me it is an easy fix.

By the way, all of these problems started about a month and a half ago after I got an oil change. The oil change place says they did nothing wrong, but I wonder if it is something they did. Thanks for any help you can give me. I'm afraid to drive my car, but I have no choice. I have to get to work.

Thanks again.

[Veronica1228]

I'm not sure if I did something wrong when posting my question or if my problem was too difficult to diagnose over the internet, but I just wanted to note that I couldn't wait any longer and I took my car to an auto shop. Turns out I needed a new ignition. It runs perfectly fine now.