New Alero owner with questions.....

[quidditchfan]

I just bought a '00 Alero with the 3.4L V6, and while I know a little about cars, most things on this are new to me. Recently the Service Vehicle Soon, ABS and Low Trac or Trac Off lights have been coming on. I read in the forum that it could be a wheel bearing or speed sensor. There is no shimmying, shaking or grinding from the car so I don't think it is the wheel bearing, but rather the speed sensor. My question is: Is the speed sensor under the car, like in a Chrysler, and therefore pretty easy to change or am I looking at a lot of work. Also could the tripping of the sensor simply be caused by dirt and is there a way to prevent it from getting dirty again?

My second question has to do with the ALC. I'm guesing that the car has a sensor that causes the dash lights, low beams and radio lights to come on when it is dark, however all of these are so bright that I don't notice a difference when I turn on the headlights, so I simply don't turn them one. Is this normal?? Or is a sensor malfunctioning?? Even though I don't have the headlights on the brake lights and parking lights appear to be functioning normally. Does this make sense?? I've never encountered something like this before. This is the newest car I've ever owned. Somebody please help...

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by quidditchfan

I just bought a '00 Alero with the 3.4L V6, and while I know a little about cars, most things on this are new to me. Recently the Service Vehicle Soon, ABS and Low Trac or Trac Off lights have been coming on. I read in the forum that it could be a wheel bearing or speed sensor. There is no shimmying, shaking or grinding from the car so I don't think it is the wheel bearing, but rather the speed sensor. My question is: Is the speed sensor under the car, like in a Chrysler, and therefore pretty easy to change or am I looking at a lot of work. Also could the tripping of the sensor simply be caused by dirt and is there a way to prevent it from getting dirty again?

My second question has to do with the ALC. I'm guesing that the car has a sensor that causes the dash lights, low beams and radio lights to come on when it is dark, however all of these are so bright that I don't notice a difference when I turn on the headlights, so I simply don't turn them one. Is this normal?? Or is a sensor malfunctioning?? Even though I don't have the headlights on the brake lights and parking lights appear to be functioning normally. Does this make sense?? I've never encountered something like this before. This is the newest car I've ever owned. Somebody please help...

There is a wheel/abs sensor located at each wheel. Its built into the hub/wheel bearing assembly. Some sensor problems are the wiring. You can remove and clean the electrical connector to each wheel sensor and check the condition of the wiring running along the lower control arm.

Your Alero has ALC and DRL (daytime running lights). The sensor to detect darkness is located on the dashboard. The low beam headlights, dash lights, and running lights, etc. should come on when ALC is active without having to turn the headlights on manually. You should be able to adjust the dash lights for brightness with the dimmer control.