First let me say this. I am sorry for calling my wife a lier. LOL. She has missed work several times because the Alero wouldn't start. I would attempt to start the car later in the day and it would start right up. This happened over the last several months. And I was thinking to myself she was just lazy and didn't want to go to work.

We packed the car up for vacation and all piled into the car for vacation. I went to start the car and it wouldn't start. I looked around the engine compartment for a bit and took off the air cleaner. I had my wife start the car while I sprayed carb cleaner down the throttle. The car would run on it but would die when the stpray ran out. I switched the relays out and still no start. I also checked all fuses and no luck. So I assumed it was the fuel pump and we took my Sentra on vacation.

While on vacation I ordered a fuel pump on line so it would be there when I came back. When we got back sure enough the fuel pump was sitting on the porch waiting to be installed. I am so glad I went to work and did a search for Alero problems and came to this website. I followed the 10 min with the key to Acc, removed the key for 10 sec and attempted to start. It fired right up. I am only out $40 for the pump but I can't believe a manufacturer would install a system on a car that does not work all the time. It is like not doing your homework. I feel real sorry for the people that did everything to get their cars to start before someone figured out the passlock system was at fault. Thank you all for writing this down so I didn't have to go through the same thing you all did.

I have had the car towed 4 times and sent to the dealer twice. It is still at the dealer and they have had it over a week. They have replaced fuel pump twice and it still won't work. It will work for them but when I get in to start it - it won't start. They say nothing is wrong but when I try and start it it won't start. This needs to be recalled. With all these complaints about the same thing I don't understand why GM won't recall to fix the problem. They should stand behind what they make even if they don't make the model anymore. Will not buy another GM product.

Ok, I have gotten my car out of the shop and it cost $180 to get the new fuel filter (actually $75 for towing). Of course, once it was towed to the shop it fired up like nothing was wrong. The mechanic said he tapped on the gas tank where the fuel filter is located and it fire up on the tow truck. He recommended changing the filter since I hadn't had it changed since buying the car. I am praying this resolves my car issues; if not, someone tell me how to blow the damn thing up because I am too tired of the same ole problem. Thankfully, Joey at Muffler & Brakes Master in Macon, GA was so nice and didn't try to rip me off. I recommend going there if you are in the area and need car maintenance or repair.

Ok, I have been dealing with this problem for about 3 years. I had a solution that was working fine until today. In the past, I had turned my key to "ON" position until the security light stopped flashing which usually took anywhere from 7-10 minutes. Once it stopped, I would turn the car off then crank it right up. Well, that didn't work today. The security light started flashing and the car didn't' crank after 15 minutes. I tried several times to crank it but it wouldn't. I called a repair shop and they sent a wrecker to get the car. The guy tried and it almost crunk up, but of course, almost doesn't count. I have no idea what is wrong but I'm stranded without transportation once again. Someone, please, send me some advice because this is getting really expensive and tiresome.

I am very amazed how everyone is experiencing the same problem? This is absolutely ridiculous. Basically, let me give you an overview of how I treated this car since day 1. I purchased this car for my girlfriend who is now my wife back in October 2000. It was a brand new 2001 Alero GLS fully loaded. Only 2 miles on the odometer. I have babied this car since day 1. I've ran nothing but Mobil 1 Synthetic since it's 1st oil change after the dealership til now. Every 6 regular 87 octane fill ups I always use Mobil 93 Octane once. The first time my wife experienced a non-start was when the car was 2 years old and it only had 9,000 miles on it. We really paid no attention to it... at the time. I had a buddy of mine who's a mechanic... change the battery, alternator, spark plugs at around 26,000 miles and it was about 5 years old. We would experience LONG start ups. Usually a car turns over quickly... this Alero takes like 10 seconds to turn over. Cut the story short... the car is 8 years old now... 38,500 miles on it... and it is stuck outside on the road at a family members home... PROBLEM... The car won't turn over!!! The battery tested good and the alternator tested good! General Motors has a very serious issue on their hands and they won't listen to us! I have babied this car since day 1... and I feel like I babied a LEMON! Wish you all the best in fixing this problem... I have no idea what could be the cause of this ridiculous nonsense.

I bought this car used in late August 2007; with 25K miles. It is currently February 2008, and this car has been back to the dealer 5 times now for the same problem. I bought it from a Toyota dealer and apparently the previous owner traded it in to the dealer I bought it from. The car just would not start, from time to time. No reason, or explanation. The Toyota dealership I bought it from sent it down the street to the Oldsmobile dealership. They told me they previous owner had the car there for the same problem. Each time I received the car back they either said they could not find a problem and it just started right up. Or they found a problem with the fuel pump, then the security device. They claimed the car was fixed. But the problem still persisted. Without warning the car would not start, causing me to have it towed. I am at my wits end at this point ready to get a lawyer. I truly believe this car is a lemon!!!!!!!!!!

I HAVE A 2001 OLSMOBILE ALERO, I'VE HAD IT SINCE 2006 (BOUGHT IT USED) ALOT OF PEOPLE ON HERE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR CAR NOT STARTING, I HAD THAT PROBLEM AND I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND IT WAS A SECURITY PROBLEM (WOULD HAVE NEVER GUESSED) YOU CAN EITHER GET THE SENSOR CHIP FIXED OR TURN YOUR IGNITION TO ON (NOT START) FOR 10 MINUTES IF THE SECURITY LIGHT IS FLASHING ITS DEFINITELY A SECURITY PROBLEM JUST LEAVE IT ON FOR 10 MINUTES UNTIL IT STOPS FLASHING AND GOES OFF THEN TURN YOUR IGNITION OFF AND START, IT SHOULD START RIGHT UP!!!!!!!!

Well, sadly, I took over the payments of this car from my parents. I wish I had done my research. In the past i remember hearing about the car not starting and problems with the security light. They took it in (GM dealership) and like everyone else they couldn't find a problem. They did end up changing/replacing a few things on the car but I cant recall as it wasn't my car at the time. About 4 months later it happened again. Towed it, took it into the GM dealership and couldn't find a problem. After having the car for a couple of days they said the problem came when the gas cap on the car was on properly, therefore throwing off the computer and fuel system. They said make sure its on tight and properly and after driving it for awhile it will go away. It worked! and hasn't had the no turn over starts, BUT will get the occasional start that takes a few seconds before it fires. By reading all these complaints and other sites, this is what I've found out.

Possible Fixes 1. Fuel relay switch (fuse under the hood) just replace. 2. Ignition fuse 3. reset the computer (passlock reset i think) - Turn off the car - Turn to 'ON' - Security will flash (if it turns off, its not a passlock problem) - wait 10 min, light will go on steady and then will go off - turn key to off and take out key - wait 10-20seconds and try to start. 4. Try to start in neutral (dont ask why but i hear it works) 5. MAKE SURE WHEN YOU FILL UP YOUR GAS CAP IS ON PROPERLY!

Possible Problems - Crank sensor - Oil pressure sensor - cam sensor - Passlock key assemble - fuel pump relay

By the sounds of it is a computer/fuel system problem. This 'anti-theft' system i think causes more harm then good. I hear something as simple as someone trying to lift your doorhandle when your car is locked can manifest this problem to not having the factory key chip when you start your car can 'confuse' the computer. I think its such a wide range of problems that cause the car not to start, not just one simplified problem.

When you go to start your car turn to 'on' and wait 5-10 seconds and give the gas pedal one quick pump and then start your car. This has helped me a few times.

I've had this car for about 3 months. I purchased it used from a really good dealership. The car ran rally good for about the first two and a half months. then I started to smell gas and noticed I had a leak at the pressure regulator. Stopped at the gas station to put gas in for the next day and went home. The next morning the car would not start and have not started since. I only get a trickle of gas from the pressure valve. I can't trade it, can't afford to fix it and hate to pay for it because I can't use it. i really need some help.

I was driving to a friends house on the express way doing about 70mph when the car started struggling. I stepped on the gas and the car would make a sound that sounded like a vacuum line sucking in air but the car would not go any faster. Eventually the car just died and I pulled over to the side. I started the car again and it started but it was struggling to stay on. I put the car on drive and I pressed the gas pedal it died. I started it again and slowly pressed the gas pedal. This allowed the car to pick up speed and allowed me to get off the express way but not without the car struggling while going up the exit ramp. Once out of the express way, I was able to park it somewhere and I had it towed. This is not the first time this car craps out. Another time it left me at the post office, I had it towed and looked at. Mechanic found the problem. It was the ignition fuse. This cost was about $200 dollars just for the damn fuse. Anyway, I am getting sick of American cars. I just bought a used Honda and it works great. I had enough of GM, dodge, and other American cars.

Engine turns over, but no fire. Was a real mystery for a while. Seems that if the fuel level drops below 3/4 of a tank, it will not start if left for more than a couple of hours. Keeping the fuel level above that, I have not had a problem starting. Not a solution, but it seems to have worked for the time being. Bit of a pain not having full usage of the tank, but works fine on long trips as long as we fuel up before shutting it off.

It sounds like none of the other solutions have had much success, and have cost a lot of money.