2003 Oldsmobile Alero

YOUTST1

MEMBER
2003 OLDSMOBILE ALERO
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
120,000 MILES

Hello I just purchased a Oldsmobile Alero a few months ago. Wasn't a bad price so anyway it had 120,000 miles on it. This is my first car. I expected there to be a few problems but it drives pretty smooth so I'm not exactly sure what is going on. I have 3 issues so far that I have found, we'll for starter my ac works great. The air is very cold But the heater does not work. Just wondering what that could be. I also went to a local mechanic she said I was missing a bolt in my alternator. So they went to put it in and said this alternator is a little oversized if they put the bolt in then it would rub on the belt? I think that's what she said. She said it looks like it came from a junkyard. She said I need a bosch or delco something like that. Now is it a problem that I need to fix right away. Trying to see what needs fixed first. This is my last problem. Sometimes I try to start the car and it turns off. Like it sounds like it's it's starting or about to then cuts off. It comes right back on the second time. Now I have had it maybe once or twice were it didn't start till the third try. But is it the starter. Or the ignition. I do not want to make the problem worse. I do not want to get stranded because my car one day won't start. I hope to go to a mechanic within the next few weeks.

Monday, November 24th, 2014 AT 5:46 PM

3 Replies

JOHNNYT73

MECHANIC
924 POSTS

Okay, does heat not work at all? IF you raise the RPM up to about 3000 does the heat blow out then? IF so then it could be that you need to bleed the cooling system of air. A lot of GM front wheel drive cars from the period are prone to coolant leaks at the intake manifold, so you may be low on coolant as well. If there is no heat at all then you may have a blend door issue. As for the alternator, I would believe getting the correct part would be beneficial. ACdelco is the GM brand. As for the starting issue. It could be the ignition switch (check for recall). Also check fuel pressure to be sure you have good pressure at start up.

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Monday, November 24th, 2014 AT 6:28 PM

YOUTST1

MEMBER
2 POSTS

The heat does not blow heat at all. Even at 3000 rpm. It feels like fan. I have no defrost or anything. As for the alternator I will do that. And the recall might be exactly it. Is that what it's doing shutting everything off? Could it happen if I was driving.
That might be what o fix first then.

One last thing. When I turn sometimes the light turns off after the turn that's fine but sometimes there's this weird clicking. Sounds like the turning signal is still on but it's not. Sometimes it comes on non stop. Some days it barely does it and sometimes not at all.

______________________________
DETROIT -- General Motors is recalling another 8.4 million cars globally from the 1997 to 2014 model years, including some that are linked to seven crashes, eight injuries and three deaths.

Most of the cars -- 7.6 million -- are across seven full-sized models being recalled for inadvertent ignition key rotation, � GM said Monday. The fatalities, which occurred in two crashes, involved 2003 and 2004 Impalas.

The older-model cars range from the 1997 to 2008 model years, including the 1997-2005 Chevy Malibu; 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue; 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero; 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am; 2004-08 Pontiac Grand Prix; and 2000-05 Chevy Impala and Monte Carlo. The 7.6 million vehicles covered in this campaign make it the biggest single recall this year for GM.

GM spokesman Jim Cain said the problem with the ignition key on those models is different from the defective ignition switch in 2.6 million recalled small cars from the mid-2000s.

_________________>The switches in the small cars have insufficient torque and are prone to slipping out of “run, ” shutting off power steering, power brakes and airbags. GM has linked 54 crashes and 13 deaths to the defect. GM dealers are in the process of replacing those ignition switches.

On the cars recalled today, the key-rotation problem “is one of weight on the key. It’s not system performance, ” Cain said. The torque in the switches “may be slightly out of spec, ” Cain said, “but the performance of the system as a whole meets the requirement.”

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Monday, November 24th, 2014 AT 7:22 PM

JOHNNYT73

MECHANIC
924 POSTS

SInce you have no heat. I would look and see if maybe its that your low on coolant (possible leak), or if it is a blend door issue. I cant say for sure that you switch is causing your issue for sure and that it is recall related. Its best for a pro to take a look at it. You can go the GM website and input your VIN to see if there are any open recalls on your vehicle. As for the turning issue, that I cannot be for sure either. Could be a multifunction switch issue or a wiring problem. Also good for a pro to diagnose.

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Tuesday, November 25th, 2014 AT 9:03 AM