2003 Oldsmobile Alero engine problems

Filed Jul 20, 2019 · Engine · 74,350 miles · UT

1200 miles after j02 recall car runs sluggish going up canyon. Stop car and engine is misfiring. Turn around and coast downhill in neutral until check engine light turns on then stop and park car for several hours. Called dealer and asked what I should do. Coast out of the canyon with the engine off. Turn engine on after several miles and no more problems. Drive home carefully. Next day throws several codes and running sluggish. Several days later codes are gone right before it goes to dealer. They can't diagnose if car has no active codes or symptoms. About a week later turn car on and car is making a knocking sound and has several pending codes. Carefully drive home. Codes didn't save. Finally able to take to dealer around june 25th while car is making the knocking noise but no codes and they think it's a lifter but not sure. I left the car and they say they can't replicate the issue. Literally the same day I pick the car up it is knocking and consistently does so for the next week as soon as the engine warms up. July 5 engine sounds like it's being hit by a hammer and throws p0011 cam timing advanced. Oil pressure is 5psi at idle and 40psi at 5000rpm. Have car towed to dealer because it probably wouldn't make the drive and they say it is piston slap without even opening the engine they determine it is not caused by the recall. At this point the engine is sitting in my garage with the timing cover, oil pan and one valve cover off and I don't know what to do with it. I can't afford to pay them to fix something that is happening to dozens of people after the recall. I'm going to try to get the dealer to actually tear it down to diagnose it.. Codes thrown so far are p0011 p219a p0301 p000a p0420 knocking seems to be when oil warms up and oil pressure drops to about 30psi and below.

Filed May 8, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 90,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 oldsmobile alero. While the key was in the ignition, the engine failed to engage without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Jun 7, 2016 · Acceleration, Engine · 110,000 miles · WV

I was driving on the interstate and the car jumped up ito 6 and 7 rpms in the red got stuck even when pedal was not pressed stayed there I the red for a few seconds with no warning lights finally dropped and started knocking.

Filed Apr 13, 2016 · Engine · 215,015 miles · KY

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 oldsmobile alera. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 10 MPH, the temperature gauge increased and white smoke or mist emitted from the exhaust pipe. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the engine block was cracked and recommended that the vehicle be taken to a radiator specialist, who diagnosed that there was a crack in the block and the engine manifold. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 215,015. The VIN was not available. ....updated 07/05/16

Filed Jan 29, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 91,000 miles · OR

Tried to start car and it would not start, only crank. Started next morning and had it towed to repair shop and it would not start intermittently. Repair shop said to take it home because they could not diagnose or fix. I checked the internet and discovered that this has been an ongoing problem with certain gm vehicles and many people are complaining. There is a way to start it sometimes by waiting ten minutes with key in acc and then turning off and then removing the key and then re starting. This is working but not always. Apparently gm is fully aware of this problem but has taken no action to correct it. I am afraid that I may be stranded somewhere or the security system could possibly turn the car off. Also there is discussion that this may also be a bad ignition switch but there is no recall for this vehicle for the switch, only the key!

Filed Dec 29, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 23,227 miles · CT

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 oldsmobile alero. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle loss power without warning. The vehicle was diagnosed and needed to have the pass lock assembly and the lock cylinder replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,227. Updated 02/19/16*lj

Filed Dec 9, 2015 · Engine, Steering · NC

My ignition switch does not invoke the engine. It has happened couple of times with my alero. Last year as per the recall notice gm dealer changed the keys and not the entire ignition module. Have spent over usd 350 in the last three weeks and again today the olds alero is stop working. The ignition does not seem to turn on.

Filed Nov 23, 2015 · Engine · 117,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 oldsmobile alero. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning four times on the interstate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 117,000.

Filed Jul 20, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 162,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 oldsmobile alero. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle shut off and the check engine warning light illuminated. After several attempts, the contact was able to restart the vehicle. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 162,000. Ma 09/25 updated 11/28/2017

Filed Jan 26, 2015 · Engine · 127,000 miles · IN

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 oldsmobile alero. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted after waiting a while but the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,000.