We had the key cylinder replace in January. since then this car I would realy like to push off a cliff. We had it in the shop in July it wouldnt start. We had a gasket changed a baring for the brakes, wire harness and battery cables all fixed 2k later.I go pick up the car and go to the gas station right after picking it up from the shop it wouldnt start. have it towed back to the shop. They tell us it the ignition cylinder again. Luckely that is still under warrenty. We get the car back and things were better. Then a couple of days ago it wouldnt start, have it towed to the shop and they tell us its the fuel pump have that replaced $800. I found this site a day to late. I was amazed at how many people have the same problem and its still not fixed.

I agree with alot of you olsmobile needs to step up and fix the problem, our come upwith a solution to help us fix it insted of sitting thier fo ten min hopeing that its going to work.

this car is a nightmare, i got it in February and it has been sitting for a month because we could not figure the problem out. I have no money to take it to a garage so my son has been trying to fix it and he hates it, finally got a crank sensor and worked on it for days just trying to get it out. And no luck,now it broke off and still can't get the old one out. I wish I would have never got this car and I can't even sell it cause who would want it? So I'm stuck with this junk and no money to buy another car, GM sucks!!! anyone with any suggestions 4 me??

These cars are an electrical nightmare..my fuel pump has been replaced twice since I purchased the car in 2001..The wiring harness underneath the car was totally chared and had to be replaced when the car was only 2 years old...lots of switches have been replaced and now my car wont start it is the ignition switch again a wiring issue..The headliner fell apart..The knob on the shifter fell out..The strut mounts have been replaced. And believe it or not this car is driven very gently...and maintained very well...But still a PAIN in the butt.....

WTF is up w/2001 Olds Aleros? Mine ran fine since day 1 (I bought it new in 01). Recently I started hearing a clicking/chugging-type sound under the hood. Do auto mechanics ALL have their head up their asses? I've had so many diagnoses that I'm ready to throw the keys away! Initially I was told I needed new engine lifters. The damn car doesn't even have engine lifters! Then I was told it was probably the timing chain. Then I was told, "no, it's definitely the alternator." Then I was told that it's probably not engine-related at all, because the noise wasn't apparent when the car was in park idling. Now, the car is DEAD! It won't even turn over! Went to run an errand yesterday morning, and NOTHING!! Not even a little "click." NOTHING! I am SO pissed off! Can ANYONE help me resolve this problem?? Is there a resolution, or is the car trashed? If so, I will NEVER do business with GM again...EVER!!

Thanks to the website for helping me find this solution. Just wanted to add it on here again as another tally to the problem. Turned the key to the ACC position (between off and on), the security light was flashing along with the battery and oil light being on. Kept the key in the ACC position for 10 minutes, security light stayed solid for 10 seconds and then shut off. Turned the key to off and took out of the ignition, waited about 15 seconds put back in and started right up.

Too bad I did not know what the problem was a year ago as the same exact thing happened. I got it towed and the mechanic said he had to reset the security system which he said was reprogramming the key etc. Now I find out that he probably just did the above and made an easy $75 in 10 minutes.

Luckily the problems with my Alero have been limited to the following: Racing Engine where the car goes without touching the accelerator, high idle, cruise control not working, window needs manual help to close, horn does not work. Therefore I am going to buy a new car sooner rather than later.

This website is great. I turned the key on for 10 mins and then turned the key off. Then the car started. Great!!!!

I repIaced the key assemble which has the key sensor. Cost was $273.00 ( with a new key ) Reprogram took ten minutes. Some vehicles can take up to 30 minutes to reprogram. The replacement of the assemble took alittle over a hour...

This website is awesome.

Update from Sep 21, 2009: The security light flashed and the service engine soon was on. The car would crank and not start.

This website is great. I turned the key on for 10 mins and then turned the key off. Then the car started. Great!!!!

I repIaced the key assemble which has the key sensor. Cost was $273.00 ( with a new key ) Reprogram took ten minutes. Some vehicles can take up to 30 minutes to reprogram. The replacement of the assemble took alittle over a hour...

okay! i have discovered the much expensive problem with the Alero!!!!! I have a 2001, replaced fuel pump for no reason! car cranked but wouldn't start! replaced fuel pump and 6 weeks later it did the same thing, but i noticed the replacement fuel pump was still turning, after 2 days of chasing problems and checking sensors and control modules and coil packs, i have discovered the much aggravating problem! i put a fuel pressure gauge on the injector rail! it has a damn bleeder valve built into these gauges! i hit the bleeder button, and air came out, i turned the car off and back on, the fuel pump turned, i bleed the air out again! and it started! ive done this one other time since! somehow it gets air bubbles in the fuel line/ fuel rail when u run it too low on fuel! this is the problem, probly a design flaw! so just push ur bleeder valve a few times, when it wont start, and ur good to go!!

I purchased this car in January. The first issues I started experiencing was with the hazard lights clicking while I am driving. The second problem was the car shaking at 60 mph. The third issue was the evap system and solenoid purge piece I replaced underneath the back of the car. The fourth issue is now both of the hub bearings on the front. The fifth issue is the battery disconnecting itself. Now the car won't start I tried the 10 sec rule several times and nothing I've only had the car for four months and me and my fiance have had to miss work and school due to this, not to mention the cab money alone today. I am so tired of these dealers getting away with this its so sad. No wonder they don't sell Oldsmobile because they only created lemons. I have to miss work and school tomorrow to try to fix this problem please Help if anyone has answers.

It's very interseting to see how many people are having the same trouble as me. Initially I was just driving and my car stopped running. Now it just cranks but won't turn over. I replaced the fuel filter, and that didn't help. Now from reading all of these, I think it's either my fuel pump or the stupid security system. I disconnected my fuel line, and tried starting the car to see if the fuel pump would squirt out gas. It didn't, but i'm still not sure if it needs replacing because I think the cars theft system might prevent it from giving the necessary amout of gas. (just a side note: the fuel gages are pretty jacked up on these things, so always try putting gas in your tank before spending to much money because this happened to my friend with the same car. She only needed gas).

CAR CRANKED, SECURITY LIGHT ON

Got stranded at a gas station in the middle of a snowstorm. Called AAA and waited nearly two hours. Had the car towed to a dealership/mechanic. They did diagnostic...which showed no problem. They thought it had something to do with the fuel pump, but the pump itself was OK. My cost was a little more than $135, plus the inconvenience of having no car that weekend. That lasted 1 week...same problem, different dealer/mechanic. They told me about the "10 minute" wait fix...

WHAT A PAIN...WHY SHOULD BE HAVE TO ACCEPT THIS?

CAR CRANKING, SECURITY LIGHT BLINKING.

This is now the fifth time this has happened since getting the car in December 2007. In April, after having it towed to the mechanic and being told nothing was wrong...even though it wouldn't start when I went to pick up the car and paying more than $100 for the diagnostic test...I broke down and bought another car. My nephew (who is not a mechanic) replaced the fuse (even though it tested OK) for the fuel pump and the car started (and the security light went off). The car worked fine until yesterday (less than 6 months) and it happened again...security light blinking, car cranking but not starting. I replaced the fuel pump fuse and the car started right up.

WHY DO WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THIS?

Most annoying thing in the world. It's been happening for at least a year now, but the kicker is you never know when it's gonna happen.

Plan to leave for any appointment at least 10 minutes early because it's a hit or miss whether your car will start.

I called GM about this, they said they had no reported problems like mine... BULL... went to a local mechanic and they had seen it before. Said it would be a few hundred to fix...

Thanks GM, I know what kind of car I WON'T be buying next time!