1999 Oldsmobile Alero: won't start

Filed Jul 7, 2014 · Fuel system · PA

Purchased car in 2002. Car would not start in nov of 2004 spent 343.44 on ignition cylinder lock at barr's electrical. Car did same thing in sept of 2012, spent 248.04 again at barr's electric on another ignition cylinder lock. Have complete repair statement and receipt if needed upon request. Still have car. But do not drive due to other issues not sure about.

Filed Aug 24, 2009 · Electrical, Fuel system · 93,500 miles · VA

Secuirty light on 1999 oldsmobile alero comes on and car will not start for over 10 mins. This causes me to fuel my car with the car engine running because I do not want to take the chance of it not starting. Sometimes it takes 3 trys before it starts and that is over 30 minutes of wait time. One day it may not start at all. Ongoing problem with the other alero owners. Oldsmobile needs to issue a recall on this problem.

Filed Oct 27, 2007 · Electrical · MD

I put the key in the ignition and the car does not start followed by the word security flashing on the dashboard car will not start. I have to wait about 15 mins and hope it won't do it again. I have read up online and seems this is a common occurrence related to the passlock system on oldsmobile cars.

Filed May 11, 2006 · Electrical · TX

The failure is general motors passlock theft deterent system. My car does not start on numerous occations because of this problem that should be recalled. My car has been in a general motors repair shop five times with this problem and it still occurs. It has left me stranded, late for school, late for work, among other things because it will not start for 10 minutes until it resets. It is a safety issue and is embarrrassing when you cant move your car for 10 minutes after refueling at a gas station causing other people to get angry.

Filed Feb 22, 2006 · Electrical · NC

Passlock system-car will not start 2-3 times a week have talk to people that had their key tumblers changed and still have the same problem . Have to wait 10 -15 minutes for security light to go out before to car will crank. I didn't ask for the passlock system but have no way to override it. Have found similar complaints on the web forums.

Filed Jul 19, 2005 · Electrical · MI

When it rains car either wont start, or guages will not work. Radio stops working. Brake lights go on and off. Fuse box was corroded, replaced worked fine for about 2 months and no is acting up again. Mechanics could find nothing else wrong. It was in the shop 4 times before they fixed the fuse box. Dealership tried to fix something that wasnt the problem and charge $450 more than the cost.

Filed May 9, 2005 · Transmission · 4,777 miles · CA

Occasionally, vehicle will not start after sitting for about an hour...vehicle will try to start...tachometer will fluctuate, but the engine ends up stalling. In order to start the vehicle, the ignition key has to be held in the start position longer than usual...about 5 seconds. Took to various dealer service dept. Several times, but nothing wrong could be found by them. Vehicle is now out of manufacture's warranty...contacted manufacture for assistance, but none given.

Filed Mar 16, 2004 · Electrical · AR

While driving the vehicle stalled. Consumer tried to restart vehicle, but it wouldn't start. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic could not duplicate or resolve the problem.

Filed Mar 2, 2004 · Engine · 72,936 miles · VA

I own a 1999 oldsmobile alero with a 3.4l engine. At a cost of $652.01, on 28-october-2003 I had service performed on my vehicle because I was loosing coolant at regular intervals and it was not leaking onto the ground. The severe cause for concern was after I had refilled my coolant reservoir, drove approximately 3 miles, and all of the coolant was gone. The temperature guage shot up to the red zone, and I pulled over immediately. I had the car towed to the dealer and they indicated that this was a common problem for vehicles with this engine. They replaced the intake gasket and I was on my way. A few weeks later I noticed the coolant level was low again, and I had to add more coolant. I took the car back to the dealership on 25-november-2003. They checked the car and said they could find no leaks. I continued to drive the car. Consistently, every 2 weeks, I was refilling the coolant resevoir. This has been happening until recently (february 2004). In late february 2004 I started losing coolant at a much faster rate, about 3 day intervals. On 2-march-2004 my car did not start the first 2 times I tried, on the third it caught. I decided to inspect the oil, using the dip stick, and found that the oil was a thick goo. This prompted me to call gm and the dealership to identify my options for having this problem resolved. I am frustrated, aggrevated, annoyed, among other things, and I fear that had this gone undetected, the oil would have gotten to a state where it would not have allowed the engine to function, perhaps leading to an accident. Not only do I fear for my safety, but I am concerned that having a severe problem like this "fixed" only to find that it happens again will only lead to the samething happening yet another time. How many times will I have to have this problem fixed? Is this a recurring safety concern?

Filed Dec 31, 2001 · Electrical · NY

This is about the third time that I have brought the alero in for repair for the same problems. The service dept claims that they can not fix the problem since they can not reconstruct the problem. However, the problems are: during and after it rains the drivers side floor is wet, the truck pops open, the dashboard instrument panel fails, the radio fails, the tail lights fail, the keyless entry system fails, and the car doesnt start. The problems that they have fixed already have been both driver side and passenger side windows had to be replaced, the lights on dash board fixed and noise comeing from under the back part of the car. I gave them the car on 12/24/01 and told them I do not want it back until its completely fixed.

Filed Oct 5, 1999 · Engine · IN

On three occasions I have driven my car to my destination and when I go to get back in the car it won't start. It have left me stranded each time and a tow truck was called. The dates this happened was 8/22/99, 9/14/99-9/17/99 & 9/22/99-current. The dealership still has my car to this date. They admit that there is a defect which they thought was the fuel pressure regulator because they've had this problem in other alero's, but apparantly that wasn't it. I forgot to add that after the car sits for awhile, it starts back up, so the it won't duplicate itself at the dealership. You never know when this will happen, but I have noticed that it has occurred within 24 hours after filling the tank up with fuel and I told them this because I thought it may have something to do with it not starting up or something in the fuel line was defective. I personally think that the car needs to be recalled. I've only had the car for 5 months and its been in the shop twice. The first time it happened it was on a weekend and the dealership was closed. So far my car has been in the shop cumulative 15 days. I think this is a safety issue because it has left me and my son stranded and I don't know if this has happened to anyone else, but I feel that the consumers need to know this. This is my only means of transportation and I do not feel comfortable in that car any longer and am not taking it back. We have yet to work out a resolution to this problem. Please contact the dealership and the manufacturer (general motors) to investigate this problem. This could result in a much more serious problem if the defects aren't detected. I spoke with brent walls, gm factory representative @ 1‑800‑823‑0055 x8174. I have also filed a complaint with oldsmobile 1‑800‑442‑6537 file #990072405 and with the attorney general's office and bbb autoline. Please contact me with any suggestions or to discuss this claim. I appreciate any help you can give me.

Filed Oct 4, 1999 · Electrical · MI

The vehicle is equiped with an ignition system, that has a security chip inside the key, which is read by the ignition system, and then the car is started. I have experienced two problems with the system,in which the car will not start and the "security" light on the dash starts blinking, this happens with both original keys. When I called the road side assistance people they tell me to leave the keys in the ignition for 15 minutes. I have talked to other people who own gm vehicles, and they seem to have had the same problem, I think it deserves to be looked into. Thank you