Intake manifold leaking on 2000 oldsmobile alero. Oil system is contaminated, and engine is running poorly, and will be permanently damaged if not repaired soon. There is a tsb out to replace the defective design. I had the vehicle in to a gm service department for diagnosis , and then discussed issue with gm customer service. They will not pay for complete repair because it is out of warranty even though the gasket design is defective.
2000 Oldsmobile Alero engine complaints
Page 3 of 4: complaints 41 to 70 of 88, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Leaking intake manifold gasket.
2000 alero gls with the 3.4 l v-6 had to have the intake manifold gasket replaced due to failure and coolant leaking. The car had 38,000 miles on it at the time of the failure. This is the third gm vehicle I have seen that had this problem. A 2000 malibu with the 3.4 l and a 2000 bonneville with the 3.8l. All of these cars had the new dexcool coolant in them.
Check engine soon light comes on; had prob fixed before mechanic said a wire was laying on manifold, repositioned and tightened but prob is occuring again; service vehicle light stays on along with trac off light; car engine presur is decreased and makes noises and when turning wheels left or right there is a sound like rubber running together; pads have to be changed every 6 months and rortors have been changed twice.
The 3.4l v6 engine regularly lost coolant, and the reservoir had to be refilled about once a month. Also noticed thick white goo on the oil cap (but not on the oil dipstick), and heard a ticking sound after starting the engine, which went away after the engine warmed up. The dealer said the head gasket was leaking, and the repair cost $1,100. The engine had 53,000 miles at the time of the repair, which is well beyond the warranty, but this type of problem would have developed several thousand miles ago, before any symptoms were noticeable. It is very disappointing to have major engine work done with so few miles (also had to have serpentine belt replaced), especially when the alero's sales brochure brags about "long life fluids, including coolant, that will last up to 100,000 miles or more." when the dealer replaced the head gasket, they said that replacement part is the same as the original (gm had not made any design changes to the part), so this will most likely be a recurring problem for the life of the engine. Overall, Im happy with the cars design and performance, but its upsetting to have such high cost repairs on a car I plan to drive for several more years.
My car in a period of 2 months(on and off) was in the shop for a month b/c it would start when it felt like it. The mechanic said "a cold start".
My 2000 alero has just over 50000 miles on it. I was just told that I had to have the intake gasket replaced. The car has been leaking coolant for months. Oldsmobile needs to take responsibility for this problem since it seems to be happening to a lot of their vehicles.
Cracked head gasket, causing leaking of oil and radiator fluid! Causing possible damage to my engine causing costly repairs.
I have a 2000 oldsmobile alero. I just recently bought this car used with approximately 35,000 miles in october 2003. At around 40,000 miles in february of 2004, I discovered that I had an coolant leak. While the manual says with the "dexcool antifreeze" I should not have had to replace any coolant until 150,000 miles, I had refilled around three times within around 4,000 miles. I took it to a gm dealer who informed me that I needed a new intake manifold gasket, along with many other small parts associated with the I.m. Gasket, that came to a total bill of around $600. My intake had to be completed taken apart and resealed because the dealer said that oldsmobile had used a "weak sealant". I have filed a complaint with oldsmobile, but was informed that it would not be a recall until more people complained to them. I have seen many consumer complaints on this subject, and if more people complain we may be able to get our money back. This was a defect on my car because of faulty eqiupment and parts used in the manufacturing, and I feel that no matter if I was the first to complain or the thousandth person to complain, an intake manifold gasket should not have malfunctioned and had to have been replaced on a car that only has 40,000 miles. Oldsmobile really needs to take credit for their actions in replacing faulty equipment on the cars they have made, no matter if they are going out of business or not.
It is known that with gm's 3100 and 3400 engines the coolant eats away at the head gasket causing corrosion and leakage of coolant. Why should the consumer be responsible for the cost of fixing this problem when gm is aware of it but does nothing about it.
While driving at any speed vehicle stalled. Consumer managed to get vehicle out of traffic. Had tried to restart vehicle and it rolled backwards. Consumer waited 15 minutes, and then started vehicle. Took vehicle to dealership to find the cause of the problem.
I have a 2000 oldsmobile alero gls. On or about 1/3/04, the fill coolant light came on. I refilled the coolant level. Since then I have put 2 and 1/2 containers of coolant in the car. The car was the losing coolant quickly but it was not leaking in the ground. I had it checked by two separate mechanics and was told that the coolant is running into my oil and my engine has blown a head gasket. There is no warranty on the car. I don't understand how a car of 4 years old can blow a head gasket. The car is still reasonable young.
I have a 2000 alero (64025 miles). My mechanic said that I need to replace the intake gasket, a cost of $600.00 to fix. He told me that he has replaced many of these mostly in aleros between the years of 2000-2003. This is not the only problem I am having with my car. The motor for the window on the drivers side has been broken for about 1 yr. The oldsmobile dealership gave me a quote of just under $400.00 to repair it. Not to mention that I have had the rotors and brakes replace all the way around the car (about 1 yr ago) and about every 3-5 months I have to go in and have the rotors turned. It cost me close to $800.00 to have the brake and rotors replace and the turning of the rotors are under warranty...but I have to take time to do this and it is very inconvenient. Not to mention the car is only 3 years old...oldsmobile should take care of all of these problems. This is costing their customers time and money!
I bought the car used in 2001 with 30k miles on it. I bought the extended warranty to carry me over to 75k miles. I first had to replace the ignition. Then I had to get a new fuel filter and fuel pump. I have had to replace the brake pads approx 4-5 times in 2 years. The rotors twice. They both need changed again. The air conditioner had to be serviced because the switch was broke and it was blowing air at all vents including the floor and windshield. Then, the motor went out. At approx 65k miles. A used motor was paid for by the warranty company and installed after sitting at the dealership for over a month. This was in january. At that same time the exhaust had went out. I was told my warranty would not cover it because it was not the catalytic converter it was a piece that hooked onto it. Finally after they replaced the motor the put a new catalytic converter in. Then comes the cd player. It ejects at random and skips. It also gives error codes frequently. Then I started having problems with the lights. The ABS light and the trac off light stay on along with the check engine light. I was told the check engine light was on because the fuel injectors were clogged. Well, yesterday I took the car in for a fuel injector cleaning and flush. I also had a tune up, oil change, tires rotated, air filter installed, new fuel filter, and new spark plugs. Still I am having a fuel problem of some sort. The car idles and misfires very badly. It shakes badly enough to make you nauseous. It also misfires when you speed up and sometime sputters like it does not want to go. This was after everything was done. Then I am told it sounds like my catalytic converter is going out again after only 8 months. They should be responsible for these problems. I would not say that but I have done extensive research online and found that every single complaint mentioned the brake system but 50% of them mention the fuel system and several mentioned the engine problems.
Lower intake manifold gasket failure causing leakage of coolant into the engine and onto pavement. This type of gasket failure is unacceptable at such low miles. August update: since filing the complaint, I had the intake manifold gasket replaced (along with the other gaskets, seals, and rings that are typically replaced in this procedure) by the olds dealer here in my area. This was done at mileage 51947 on 2/11/03 for my 2000 olds alero that was purchased new on 7/6/2000. As for cost, I was able to do some negotiating with the service manager. About one month earlier, I had taken the car in to get the drivers side window repaired. It had fallen out of track (for the second time), and I raised the issue that this was unacceptable, and that their competitor cars do not do this (non gm vehicles). Having negotiated a low price on this window repair, the service manager remembered me for the intake manifold repair. I raised a number of issues and facts surrounding the intake manifold gasket and was able to get the entire repair done for $276.75, along with an oil change and serpentine belt replacement, included. I have not noticed and problems with coolant leakage since the repair was preformed. Another concern that I have is, since my repair was done in february 2003, but the service bulletin is dated march 2003, were old parts used in my repair and will this happen again?
2000 olds alero gl 3.4: found coolant drops on garage floor. Took in to dealer and was told intake manifold gasket leaking. This does not seem reasonable at 3 years old and only 47,088 miles. Gm needs to be investigated and a recall should be made. Too many others I found online have same problem about same mileage. Cost to do work $843.85 (replaced intake and other gaskets drained cooling system and changed oil etc.) told this was all necessary because of the leak from the intake manifold gasket. On january 10, 2003, I spoke to a man at olds customer service...his name garritt bates. After putting me on hold he called the dealer and came back to tell me this problem was "normal wear and tear". He gave me a file # and told me to hang on to my reciepts in case there ever was a recall.
The intake manifold gaskets had to be replaced. If left alone, the leak would have ruined the engine which would have cost 2000.00 or more.
Coolant leaking from engine area, told intake manifold gaskets needed replacing. 3.4l engine
Engine: intake manifold gasket leak. Leaking antifreeze into engine. $846 estimate to repair. Gm dealer will not cover repair. Brakes: 2nd set of brake rotors and pads replaced, this is first one out of warranty.
Engine coolant indicator light illuminated. Dealerships mechanic found the intake manifold gasket was faulty, and was replaced.
My intake manifold gasket began to fail earlier this year. Starting in sept. 2003 I had to add dexcool every two weeks to my reservoir; beginning in oct. 2003 I had to add every 7 to 10 days. My car was not quite yet to 50000 miles. Gm claims that my problem was not caused by dexcool and that I should have had my coolant system serviced at 30000 milles but I have three pieces of gm documents that say that the coolant system does not have to be serviced until 150000 miles. I was told by one gm service technician that the part I had to replace was a piece of junk. Fortunately there were no crashes or fatalities. I had to add two months to my car note in order to have this problem fixed. The part cost $58 and the repair cost $540. I have read complaint after complaint on the internet that this part has caused many problems and that gm refuses to do anything about it.
The gaskets on the alero engine are not compatible with the type of materials used on the engine causing them to leak very early in life. If coolant leaks into the engine it could cause damage and potential hazard while driving.
I am in the navy and have had my car for around 8 months but just found this site now. My intake manifold gasket went on me at 40,000 plus miles. I have read tsb's and found many others have had this problem. I know oldsmobile is being phased out but I love my car due to it being my first car and I have been financially stricken due to incidents like this. My warranty had expired and it cost me 600 dollars to repair it. I was told by my family and a navy jag to file a complaint with the better business bureau and the dealership but I decided to take this route. Please get back to me on this. I would appreciate it.
I have a 2000 oldsmobile alero. My rotors have been replaced 3 times while still under warranty and whereby the shim kit was placed. I am still experiencing the same brake problems. My turn signals and hazard lights have completely gone out. Now every few weeks, without any warning, my car completely shuts down, leaving me on the road. I have had it towed to repair shops where they put it on the computer and it doesn't give any code. They cannot figure out what is caused it to stall. This has happened to me 3 times this year. The regulator had to be replaced on the passenger side door window. My car is currently at the shop, and I have recently read the voluminous complaints to the engine coolant system and will inform my mechanic to check to see if that was the cause of the stall. The car will just shut down on the interstate while at 70 MPH. This is very dangerous.
Premature intake manifold gasket failure on gm sohc v6 engines causing an external coolant leak. This is common knowledge to mechanics and parts stores. In my case at less than 50k miles, although most commonly occurs around 70k miles.
I have a 2000 oldsmobile alero with 55,000 miles on it that is leaking coolant. I have brought it to 2 different auto locations, one a dealer snd the other a mechanic whom I trust. Both places agreed that the intake manifold gasket has worn out. I am now in the process of getting the gasket replaced which will cost me $600.00, not including the towing charges and diagnostic expenditures that I have gone through. The mechanic who is replacing this gasket said that this probobly about the 15th alero that he has had to do the same replacement work to and that he has read that this a common defect for this car. The first time that the car wa towed, because the engine coolant leaked all over the garage of a friend's house, it was taken to a pep boys shop and he also said that he had read in car magazines that this was a common problem for old's aleros from the year 2000-2003. I believe that gm should put out a recall on this problem as it is costing many people a lot of money and it is a road hazard, something which could cause a fire
While driving the vehicle reach high temperatures because the intake manifold failed which caused coolant to get inside the engine. Dealer notified. Please provide further information.
My 2000 oldsmobile alero (50,000 miles) got a blown head gasket. The manufactures instructions stated to use dex cool anti-freeze only. Our mechanic believes the anti-freeze rotted the gaskets which caused the problem. He had another newer alero with the same problem.
3 months after buying my used 2000 alero I found that the intake manifold was leaking and needed to be replaced soon. Once I saved up money I took it in and had it replaced. Since then (one and a half months later) my "service engine soon" lamp continually comes on. Place that repaired my intake manifiold gasket has no idea what the problem is--something with my air system. Also, immediately after repair of img my fuel gauge is stuck on (e)mpty.. Will occasionally move. I am extremely upset that I wasted my money on a piece of junk. Also, my cruise kicks out when I am in overdrive--has not worked since a week after I bought the car. I have put more money than need be into a car that is only 3 years old and I have not even owned for a month! What is going on with my car??
Service engine soon lamp: intake manifold gasket: cruise control: transmission.
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