8.1
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$412.00
Average Mileage:
91,223 miles
Total Complaints:
18 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (7 reports)
- passlock problem (7 reports)
- turn key to on position wait ten minutes and start (2 reports)
- replace body control unit (1 reports)
- replace the fuel pump fuse (1 reports)
electrical problem
Helpful Websites About 2001 Oldsmobile Alero engine turns over but won't start
2009Jun 16
Alero 3.4L
- Automatic transmission
- 92,000 miles
Changed both crank & cam sensors and car still won't start. If any one out there had this same problem and got it corrected please contact me via email with solution please. contact: margeboy@hotmail.com
2006Dec 21
(reported on)Alero 2.4L V4
- Automatic transmission
- 136,000 miles
It's very interseting to see how many people are having the same trouble as me. Initially I was just driving and my car stopped running. Now it just cranks but won't turn over. I replaced the fuel filter, and that didn't help. Now from reading all of these, I think it's either my fuel pump or the stupid security system. I disconnected my fuel line, and tried starting the car to see if the fuel pump would squirt out gas. It didn't, but i'm still not sure if it needs replacing because I think the cars theft system might prevent it from giving the necessary amout of gas. (just a side note: the fuel gages are pretty jacked up on these things, so always try putting gas in your tank before spending to much money because this happened to my friend with the same car. She only needed gas).
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
1920Jun 06
Alero GS 3.4L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 88,542 miles
I wish I'd found this site before I bought it! I checked Edwards, recall notices, Carfax, nothing.
The car wouldn't start when it was hot out. Here in So Fla that's a problem. Got a quote for $1200 & 'bout croaked! Parked it for a few months, then we had to have it. Got a different mech. & a better price. Changed the body control unit & that seems to have done it.....for now.
2008Dec 10
Alero 2.4L
- Automatic transmission
- 191,000 miles
This is a very common complaint listed on this web site, thanks for all the help. Beats what the dealership wanted to fix it.
2008Jan 10
Alero
- Automatic transmission
- 127,546 miles
CAR CRANKED, SECURITY LIGHT ON
Got stranded at a gas station in the middle of a snowstorm. Called AAA and waited nearly two hours. Had the car towed to a dealership/mechanic. They did diagnostic...which showed no problem. They thought it had something to do with the fuel pump, but the pump itself was OK. My cost was a little more than $135, plus the inconvenience of having no car that weekend. That lasted 1 week...same problem, different dealer/mechanic. They told me about the "10 minute" wait fix...
WHAT A PAIN...WHY SHOULD BE HAVE TO ACCEPT THIS?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Oct 13
Alero
- Automatic transmission
- 130,800 miles
CAR CRANKING, SECURITY LIGHT BLINKING.
This is now the fifth time this has happened since getting the car in December 2007. In April, after having it towed to the mechanic and being told nothing was wrong...even though it wouldn't start when I went to pick up the car and paying more than $100 for the diagnostic test...I broke down and bought another car. My nephew (who is not a mechanic) replaced the fuse (even though it tested OK) for the fuel pump and the car started (and the security light went off). The car worked fine until yesterday (less than 6 months) and it happened again...security light blinking, car cranking but not starting. I replaced the fuel pump fuse and the car started right up.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS?
2008Sep 18
Alero
- Manual transmission
- 90,099 miles
Most annoying thing in the world. It's been happening for at least a year now, but the kicker is you never know when it's gonna happen.
Plan to leave for any appointment at least 10 minutes early because it's a hit or miss whether your car will start.
I called GM about this, they said they had no reported problems like mine... BULL... went to a local mechanic and they had seen it before. Said it would be a few hundred to fix...
Thanks GM, I know what kind of car I WON'T be buying next time!
2008Apr 25
Alero CL 2.4L
- Manual transmission
- 72,000 miles
I found this site when looking for fuel pump info,after I had my car towed to a repair shop on Thursday they were going to do the diagnosing on monday for $100.which would have been fuel related and wouldn't have found the problem.Friday after I was on this site I went back to the repair shop got my car key started the car and drove home saving $100.,if there is a class suit count me in.
2008Feb 09
Alero 3.2L
- Automatic transmission
- 112,000 miles
I bought the 2001 Alero in Oct. 2002. All of my problems have started coming all at once. Recently I believe my car has been to the shop about three times in about four months. I recall fixing the fuel pump twice and I don't recall the third. I also replace the battery because of the car not starting at work. Now my car stalled on me after I filled up the gas tank in feb. This in now two months since I have driven the car. I plan on getting it fixed and getting rid of the car.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2007Mar 18
(reported on)Alero
- Automatic transmission
- 67,000 miles
This is the 4th time in the past 6 months the car would turn over but not start. Since it is Sunday I went to other web pages that gave me an answer. First the problem seems to be with the passlock system. My dealer had told me that much. But today I found 1) Use other key 2) Turn the car to on and wait until the Security light stops blinking (about 10 minutes) 3) Turn the key to off 4) It then should start. I followed these instruction and it worked. I am going to call dealer and see if they can disable the passlock.
2007Mar 18
(reported on)Alero 3.2
- Automatic transmission
- 125,000 miles
I took my car into the shop only to find out I could fix the problem myself, if your security light is on in the 2001 alero, and it won't start, but tries to crank over, try this before you pay to have it fixed. turn off the car put the key in to the ignition, turn to the on position, and leave it in the on position for 10 minuites, (it will reset your security system), take the key out put it back in the ignition and try to start it, it should turn over and the security light should go off, I have had this happen may of times, dealer says the security system need to be replaced, and it's an electrical problem, i've had this happen many times and it always works.. hope this helps all of you with one of these piece of sh*t cars.
2008Feb 21
Alero GL 4
- Automatic transmission
- 69,955 miles
Thank You so much for the advise ......Here is my story....First have to go back 2 years.
July 06' - 11pm - went to fill my tank to complete a trip home. Filled up and tried to start the call and it wouldn't start. Strong engine turn over but engine would just not start. After playing with it about an hour, decided to have car towed to mechanic. Had to spend additional night. Next day mechanic, told me he checked electrical and no power is going back to the fuel pump located inside the gas tank. Had to replace fuel pump, $750.00
Feb 07' - 2p - leaving work my car won't start. Engine turns over and sounds like engine is not getting gas. Had car towed. $80.00 and then an hour later mechanic said it was a fuse $20.00
Jump to today - Feb 21st 08 - Leaving work and same thing, engine turns over but car won't start. I pulled fuse box apart and check it fuse nothing is blown. After an hour decide to call tow company. While waiting for tow truck decided to go back to my office and frustrated with this car decided to Google... 2001 Oldsmobile Alero electrical problems .... and up came this site and exact posting. I read and it sounded so familiar... went out side and tried it on my car.... my car started right up after the 10 minutes. I looked up the issue in my owners manual it is on page 2-20- PASSLOCK theft-deterrent system. Thanks again you probably saved me from getting ripped off again, I suspect that I never needed the new fuel pump so overall I have spent $850.00 and countless lost time due to the problem.
2008Feb 08
Alero
- Automatic transmission
- 74,565 miles
2001 ALERO IS A PIECE OF CRAP!!!!
I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 2YRS NOW AND HAS NOT STOPPED GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE!! I HAVE SENT SOOOO MUCH MONEY ON THIS CAR IT IS INSANE! OUR FIRST INCIDENT WITH THE CAR NOT STARTING WAS WHEN WE WERE ABOUT 4 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME ON A TRIP AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. WE CALLED OUR MECHANIC AS HE USUALLY HELPS US OUT..AND HE HAD NO IDEA WHY IT WOULDN'T START. IT WAS THE MAY LONG WEEKEND AND NO MECHANICS WERE OPENED THERE! WE HAD TO TOW THE CAR FROM NORTH BAY TO TORONTO WHICH WAS ABOUT 400K AWAY! WE PAID $300 FOR CAA THANK GO CAA GIVES YOU THE FIRST 200K FREE! THEN WE HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR AND THAT COST $300!! THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SECURITY SYSTEM WHICH COSTED $800!! SO THIS WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE WEEKEND! HE FOUND SOME STUFF ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS YOU TO START THE CAR IF YOU HAVE TIME TO WAIT 10MIN!!! HOPEFULLY NOBODY IS CHASING ME WHEN MY CAR WON'T START!! SO HE FIXED IT FOR THE TIME BEING BUT 2WKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN!! AND AGAIN!!AND AGAIN!! I HOLD MY BREATH AND PRAY EVERY TIME I HAVE TO START MY CAR!! IT HAS HAPPENED OVER 20 TIMES THIS YEAR AND THE YEAR HAS JUST BEGUN!! SO WE ARE GOING TO BE SELLING THIS CAR TO A DEALERSHIP NEXT WEEK BECAUSE I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!! GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE! I HAVE PAID MORE FOR REPAIRS IN TWO YEARS THAN I HAVE EVER PAID IN MY WHOLE LIFE!! PLEASE DON'T BUY THESE CARS AND SAVE YOURSELF THE HEARTACHE!! HOPEFULLY ALL OF THESE RESPONSES WILL GIVE YOU SOME ADVICE ON "HOW TO START YOUR PIECE OF SH*T!" I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING A GM EVER AGAIN!! OR FORD, OR DODGE!! I AM GONNA BUY CHINESE!!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Jan 01
Alero V6
- Automatic transmission
- 140,000 miles
Thank God for this site!! I drove home from work without any problems. Next morning, my car will turn over but not start. My boyfriend swore it was the fuel pump, but I wasn't convinced because I didn't want to pay out the %$#&!. I switched out fuses and relay switches, but nothing helped. The day we were going to haul my car to the mechanic, finally a solution. My mother had found online to turn the key on for about 10 minutes and wait for flashing security light to become steady on and then turn key off and then start. And, I'll be damned if that didn't work! Thanks for saving me $100's. P.S. I have had a ton of problems with this car and I hate it soooo much!!
2007Dec 21
Alero GLS 4 cyl
- Automatic transmission
- 0 miles
This is the worst car ever made.Why theres no recall is a mystery to all man kind.i've had nothing but problems with this car - been towed so many times tow truck drivers are now coming over for family events.Anti theft really means no money left in your pocket.had pass code set at least 4 times since bought brand new. not to mention ign switches & relays.Now having tranny problems all on a car with 70,000 miles can't wait to get screwed on class action law suit.
2007Jul 24
(reported on)Alero
- Automatic transmission
- 11,500 miles
My 2001 Alero has had this problem at least 4 times. Thankfully, I have not be in a bad area when it happens. I park the car, try to start and it won't start. The security light continues to blink. I thought maybe someone was tampering with my car. I had it towed to an auto shop and they said they couldn't find anything wrong with it. I drove it again for a while and again I parked it and the same thing happend, it wouldn't start. I called around to auto shops and dealers and was told it was a passlock problem. This last time I had it towed in they had to search and found the problem and it appears it is the passlock or ignition. I've sinced researched this and have found that some people seem to be having this same problem. It is a recall problem? Have this been looked into.
2007Nov 01
Alero GLS 2.4L Litre
- Automatic transmission
- 76,000 miles
I bought my Alero about a year and a half ago, and everything seemed fine with it
until about a month and a half ago. I was driving to work one day and all the lights in
the car came on, ( check engine, ABS, blah, blah, blah) I knew it wasn't normal but
the car was driving good so I left it for a while. Then a couple days later the lights on
the car started turning on and off on their own, the stereo would turn on and not turn
off or I would get out of my car and shut the door and the radio would just start blaring
on it's own.Sometimes I would have to get out and open and shut everyone of my doors
just to get it to turn off. I knew it needed to be looked at but I had to wait until pay day to
afford it. So a week later I ent uptown to the bank before work, came back to the car
and it just wouldn't start. I was starting to realize that this car is a real peice fo sh*t or
it 's f*cking posessed. I towed it home and was told by a friend of mine that it was probably
the ecm (computer) in the car so I went and bought one, installed it and it still wouldn't
start. I replaced the battery, I checked the feuld pressure to the feul line, hooked sh*t up to a code reader which read nothing, and checked the spark plugs ( by the way gm, you
picked a really stupid place to put those) and everything seemed fine. Well I figured
that the computer needs to be reprogrammed so put the old one back in the car and took the new one out to take to a dealership. I plugged it in, let the security light flash until finished so it could reset itself back in to the car, and have an hour later the car just magically freaking stars again. Hooked it back up to the code reader and it read that it was one of the wheel bearings and that's why the lights were coming on. That still doesn't explain the stereo and head lights. I hope maybe this helps someone else. Don't ever buy an alero, they are junk and a huge waste of money. Just wish I would have know that a year and a half ago.
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2009Sep 10
Alero 2.4L 4 cyl
This website is great. I turned the key on for 10 mins and then turned the key off. Then the car started. Great!!!!
I repIaced the key assemble which has the key sensor. Cost was $273.00 ( with a new key ) Reprogram took ten minutes. Some vehicles can take up to 30 minutes to reprogram. The replacement of the assemble took alittle over a hour...
This website is awesome.
Update from Sep 21, 2009: The security light flashed and the service engine soon was on. The car would crank and not start.
This website is great. I turned the key on for 10 mins and then turned the key off. Then the car started. Great!!!!
I repIaced the key assemble which has the key sensor. Cost was $273.00 ( with a new key ) Reprogram took ten minutes. Some vehicles can take up to 30 minutes to reprogram. The replacement of the assemble took alittle over a hour...
robpro
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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