olds alero??
07-27-2005, 09:19 PM
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olds alero??
hey all i was curious to any general info on the olds alero... my sister was asking me about them...me being the only GM owner in my family and i told her all that i know is that they are no longer in production...any info good and bad would be well noted.. thanks
07-27-2005, 09:47 PM
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What year is this Alero, and what engine is in it?
It may be a Quad 4( 2.4 L ) or a 3400 V6...
I respect and like the Quad 4, but at time it can be a nightmare in the making... And can become very expensive to repair...
The 3400 is a good motor, but it will have lower intake manifold gasket problem down the road... Usually at 80,000-140,000 miles or so...
I have driven a couple of Aleros with the 3400 V6 and was not impressed with them... I would not have one... And I have never understood why GM attached a pretty good size V6 to the 4T45-E trans... Made no sense...
Overall if she gets a 3400 Alero, it should be ok... The best thing to do is have someone with a very good eye for automotive problems.... Maybe a family friend that just may be a mechanic go along for the test drives...
A coworker bought a grand am, 2004 with the 3400 in april... Talked to her the other day and she said she had not had a single issue with the car... She had me go with her because she was afraid she would buy a lemon... The one she had her eye on was a lemon... Worst piece of junk ( 2005 with 15,000 miles ) I ever drove for being a 2005... I told the dealer it was a POS before I drove it... Went down the road and cursed something or other, and parked the car, told the coworker not to buy it... The 2004 was awsome... Everything worked exactly as it should have... Ihope that car will give her many trouble free years....
Ok whats my point here....
Have her take someone very knowledgeable about cars with her to both look at and drive the car... Some Aleros will be good, other will be junk...
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It may be a Quad 4( 2.4 L ) or a 3400 V6...
I respect and like the Quad 4, but at time it can be a nightmare in the making... And can become very expensive to repair...
The 3400 is a good motor, but it will have lower intake manifold gasket problem down the road... Usually at 80,000-140,000 miles or so...
I have driven a couple of Aleros with the 3400 V6 and was not impressed with them... I would not have one... And I have never understood why GM attached a pretty good size V6 to the 4T45-E trans... Made no sense...
Overall if she gets a 3400 Alero, it should be ok... The best thing to do is have someone with a very good eye for automotive problems.... Maybe a family friend that just may be a mechanic go along for the test drives...
A coworker bought a grand am, 2004 with the 3400 in april... Talked to her the other day and she said she had not had a single issue with the car... She had me go with her because she was afraid she would buy a lemon... The one she had her eye on was a lemon... Worst piece of junk ( 2005 with 15,000 miles ) I ever drove for being a 2005... I told the dealer it was a POS before I drove it... Went down the road and cursed something or other, and parked the car, told the coworker not to buy it... The 2004 was awsome... Everything worked exactly as it should have... Ihope that car will give her many trouble free years....
Ok whats my point here....
Have her take someone very knowledgeable about cars with her to both look at and drive the car... Some Aleros will be good, other will be junk...
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07-27-2005, 09:57 PM
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My wife has an '02 (I think - possibly '01) Alero for her company car. Just over 60k miles now. It'* a quad4. The engine/trans mechanically has been great. The front calipers (yes CALIPERS) have been replaced 3x Left & 2x Right because the pistons have froze up. She goes through brake pads/rotors about every other oil change (or every 8-10k miles). The rear pads/rotors have had to been changed twice (unheard of) and a rear caliper has also had to be replaced. The PCM has been replaced twice. The blower motor resistor block has been replaced 4 times. A lot of the trim on the interior is warped from who knows what. Also, both front wheel bearings have been replaced 2x left and 3x right. All this in alittle over 60k miles from new.
Now, before you go saying that the brakes have had to be replaced because my wife drives like a maniac, she doesn't. Most of the time she coasts up to stop signs with little braking and the car isn't driven in stop and go driving at all because we live out in the country.
I wouldn't take an Alero if someone were to give it to me with free oil changes for life. Way too expensive to maintain.
Now, before you go saying that the brakes have had to be replaced because my wife drives like a maniac, she doesn't. Most of the time she coasts up to stop signs with little braking and the car isn't driven in stop and go driving at all because we live out in the country.
I wouldn't take an Alero if someone were to give it to me with free oil changes for life. Way too expensive to maintain.
07-27-2005, 10:43 PM
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Originally Posted by swartlkk
My wife has an '02 (I think - possibly '01) Alero for her company car. Just over 60k miles now. It'* a quad4. The engine/trans mechanically has been great. The front calipers (yes CALIPERS) have been replaced 3x Left & 2x Right because the pistons have froze up. She goes through brake pads/rotors about every other oil change (or every 8-10k miles). The rear pads/rotors have had to been changed twice (unheard of) and a rear caliper has also had to be replaced. The PCM has been replaced twice. The blower motor resistor block has been replaced 4 times. A lot of the trim on the interior is warped from who knows what. Also, both front wheel bearings have been replaced 2x left and 3x right. All this in alittle over 60k miles from new.
Now, before you go saying that the brakes have had to be replaced because my wife drives like a maniac, she doesn't. Most of the time she coasts up to stop signs with little braking and the car isn't driven in stop and go driving at all because we live out in the country.
I wouldn't take an Alero if someone were to give it to me with free oil changes for life. Way too expensive to maintain.
Now, before you go saying that the brakes have had to be replaced because my wife drives like a maniac, she doesn't. Most of the time she coasts up to stop signs with little braking and the car isn't driven in stop and go driving at all because we live out in the country.
I wouldn't take an Alero if someone were to give it to me with free oil changes for life. Way too expensive to maintain.
Seems as if they sure bought a lemon for her...
A good friend has a 99 chevy Malibu... 2.4 Quad 4... Been a good motor... His front pads were done at 30K, gone gone gone....
He has been having a lof of issues with his car... It had 30K on it, and the other day it went to runnung like pure crapp, the the SES light started winking at him... I have been saying for the last year that I felt that the PCM was screwed up... Its back in the shop yet again... Cylinde 1 injector has been replaced, the coils have been replaced, the coil housing has been replaced, the plug boots have been replaced, the plugs have been replaced... I think I'm leaving stuff out... It only has 30K on it.....
I'm at 140,000 miles, and I think for the things I fixed in the last week... $500 in parts... I have done ok... Mechanicly the car has been good to me the last few years... A few leaks interior wise... I just did the brakes & rotors, Ball joints & strut mount bearings( front ), upper intake replacement, with upgraded lower gaskets, oh and the fuel pump... It didn't go out, but I didn't trust it...
I'd say for the last few years, with no payments... $500 for everything I bought, did the work myself... Thats not too bad...
I'm wondering how much my friend will spend trying to find the problem...
The Grans Ams are also N bodies.... Not sure if they are any worse of better...
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07-28-2005, 08:53 AM
#5
Don..
You're forgetting that the 03 and 04 Aleros came with the Ecotec or 3400. The Ecotec was the replacement for the Quad 4.
The Ecotec hasn't been out long enough to prove its livelihood, however, I know lots of people who are happy with them. My brother had an 03 Alero that he just sold. It had 50,000 miles on it. He bought it with 20,000. He didn't have one single issue with. And he'* very hard on cars.
Don't overlook the Ecotec...I think they're rated at 150 HP. The twin cam really opens them up.
You're forgetting that the 03 and 04 Aleros came with the Ecotec or 3400. The Ecotec was the replacement for the Quad 4.
The Ecotec hasn't been out long enough to prove its livelihood, however, I know lots of people who are happy with them. My brother had an 03 Alero that he just sold. It had 50,000 miles on it. He bought it with 20,000. He didn't have one single issue with. And he'* very hard on cars.
Don't overlook the Ecotec...I think they're rated at 150 HP. The twin cam really opens them up.
07-28-2005, 09:39 AM
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Ecotec'* only 140hp instead of the Quad4'* 150, but I remember GM *saying* that you benefitted with fuel economy. 
Personally, I feel that if you get an Alero, it'll be one of two things:
a.) Great
b.) A Nightmare.
Seems to be pretty divided between owners... ie, SSEiMatt having horrid luck with his, or PJ having good luck (far as I know?) with her Grand Am.
Personally, I feel that if you get an Alero, it'll be one of two things:
a.) Great
b.) A Nightmare.
Seems to be pretty divided between owners... ie, SSEiMatt having horrid luck with his, or PJ having good luck (far as I know?) with her Grand Am.
07-28-2005, 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by repinS
Seems to be pretty divided between owners... ie, SSEiMatt having horrid luck with his, or PJ having good luck (far as I know?) with her Grand Am.
No problems as of yet. I think she just recently had to get her rotors turned and pads replaced. But I think that is it...oh yeah....other then the tires leaking. But that might have had something to do with the nail in one of them.
07-28-2005, 10:01 AM
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Originally Posted by vital49
Don..
You're forgetting that the 03 and 04 Aleros came with the Ecotec or 3400. The Ecotec was the replacement for the Quad 4.
The Ecotec hasn't been out long enough to prove its livelihood, however, I know lots of people who are happy with them. My brother had an 03 Alero that he just sold. It had 50,000 miles on it. He bought it with 20,000. He didn't have one single issue with. And he'* very hard on cars.
Don't overlook the Ecotec...I think they're rated at 150 HP. The twin cam really opens them up.
You're forgetting that the 03 and 04 Aleros came with the Ecotec or 3400. The Ecotec was the replacement for the Quad 4.
The Ecotec hasn't been out long enough to prove its livelihood, however, I know lots of people who are happy with them. My brother had an 03 Alero that he just sold. It had 50,000 miles on it. He bought it with 20,000. He didn't have one single issue with. And he'* very hard on cars.
Don't overlook the Ecotec...I think they're rated at 150 HP. The twin cam really opens them up.
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07-28-2005, 10:01 AM
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Let'* admit it...The quad 4 is a cool motor that like Don mentions..when you need to work on it....it takes patience.
And beer..who can be expected to work on something with a timing chain longer than the wheel base and not drink?
And beer..who can be expected to work on something with a timing chain longer than the wheel base and not drink?
07-28-2005, 10:04 AM
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Originally Posted by BillBost37
Let'* admit it...The quad 4 is a cool motor that like Don mentions..when you need to work on it....it takes patience.
And beer..who can be expected to work on something with a timing chain longer than the wheel base and not drink?
And beer..who can be expected to work on something with a timing chain longer than the wheel base and not drink?
Lots O Damage... They didn't even try to turn it over by hand to make sure they wouldn't impact anything.... Crushed all 8 intake valves and destroyed the head....lol__________________
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