Top 10 1999 Oldsmobile Alero Questions & Answers

I was shopping for a winter beater and found a 99 Alero. The dealer and I had a "B" of a time getting the key to turn. You had to push it in, pull it out a micron, cross your eyes, stick out your tounge and turn it to get it to work. 181000 + miles of wear on the ignition key had it worn down pretty good. The dealer remade the key with the key code from the manufacturer (NOT just recut from the old key) and it turned like a charm. He also said something about the old key having to be in it, removed and then the new key inserted withing 3 seconds, so the "chip" (which is in the ignition switch) can memorize the new key. (?) Sounds hokey but he got it to work. My understanding is that without the key in the on position you can't move the shifter. Good luck.

u need the colors of the radio or the car wires.... here are the car wires and the radio are below that. I suggest however gettiing a wiring kit..They are around 8 dollars and well worth the money. It makes is so easy to connect a radio.
RADIO 12V|orange + at radio
RADIO GROUND Black
RADIO SWITCH yellow
POWER ANTENNA dk. green at radio LF SPEAKER tan - gray at radio or LF speaker
RF SPEAKER lt. grn - dk. grn at radio or RF speaker LR SPEAKER brown - yellow at radio or LR speaker
RR SPEAKER dk. blu - lt. blu at radio or RR speaker

Radio wiring
constant power yellow
switched power red
power antenna/amp turn on blue
illumination is orange
all speakers the one with the black stripe is the negative connection.
right rear is purple
left rear is green
left front is white
right front is grey

hope that helps ya...

There isnt a fuse for the theft system. You need to take the coloum cover off. Should be 3 screws and you will see all the wires in there. The ones you need are three togather. White Black and Yellow. Get the car started and cut the yellow wire. The theft light will come on and stay on but will bypass the theft system. If it is a 2 wire system you will see two little metal strips on the upper side of the key. You have to use a ohm meter and measure the resistance of the strip in there. Its a resistor used to tell the theft computer the key is in there. Anyway find out what the resistance is and buy a resistor from radio shack and look under the steering wheel for the 2 very small guage wires in a yellow cover....NOTE not the air bag wires. Simply cut those wires ( the 2 white ones) and on the set going away from the steering wheel strip the wires and put the resistor one one wire and the other end of it to the other wire....That will disable that system. If its the 2 wire and you have issues getting it simply take the car to a car audio place that does remote starts and for a nominal fee they will do it for you. My records show that it has the 3 wire system.

I'm sure you have installed a fuel pressure gauge and monitored the fuel pressure while the problem is occurring?Another diagnostic tool which is easy to do,is while the problem is occurring,unplug one sensor at a time beginning with the Mass Air Flow first,.if it uses one.Many times,not always,depending on the sensor,if the sensor is taken out of the picture as far as what the PCM is seeing,like unplugging the MAF,the PCM will substitute the missing sensor output with a generic value that will allow the engine to at least run,and if unplugging for example the MAF,the engine idle speed returns to normal,you know you're onto the problem.You didn't mention if the engine ran ok other than the idle problem.As far as checking for vacuum leaks,i use something like brake cleaner or WD 40,more of a liquid,and it does sound like a vacuum leak.Plastic intake manifolds do develop nearly invisible cracks that open up more with heat.Revsisit the possibility.And as for the PCM,it is possible,but more likely a mechanical problem.Lastly,remove an O2 sensor or two before the catalytic convertor,run the engine and see if anything changes.Cheap way to verify the catalytic convertor is flowing and not restricting engine airflow,as i have seen bad cats cause misfire codes and strange problems.Good luck.

abs relay some times go bad

YOU HAVE A RUPTURE PRESSURE LINE IF YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR.LOCATE LEAK THEN BLEED POWER STEERING SYSTEM BY ADDING POWER STEERING TO RESERVOIR.DONT OVER FILL BY FULL COLD MARK ON POWER STEERING DIP STICK.ADD FLUID TO RESERVOIR WAIT A 2 MINUTES.CHECK FLUID LEVEL AGAIN.WHEN POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL STOP DROPPING.START ENGINE LET IT RUN FOR 10 SECONDS.THEN TURN OFF ENGINE CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID ADD FLUID IF FLUID LEVEL DROPS. WHEN FLUID LEVEL STOP DROPPING.SAFELY RAISE SUPPORT VECHICLE FRONT WHEELS.START ENGINE.NOW TURN STEERING WHEEL GENTLY FROM STOP TO STOP MEANING LEFT TO RIGHT DONT HOLD IN POSITION.LET THE STOP TO STOP BE QUICK.CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID AFTER YOU HAVE TURN STEERING WHEEL ABOUT 7 STOP TO STOP.WHEN FLUID LEVEL STOP DROPPING YOU AT HOT MARK ON DIP STICK BLEEDING PROCESS COMPLETE.TURN OFF ENGINE LOWER VECHICLE BACK TO GROUND WAIT ABOUT 5 MINUTES CHECK YOUR FLUID LEVEL.IF FLUID LOOKS LIKE A TAN COLOR.YOUR POWER STEERING SYSTEM FULL OF AIR.TURN OFF VECHICLE LET VECHICLE SET A LONG WHILE TO AIR BUBBLES SETTLE DOWN LOOK FOR LEAKS AROUND POWER STEERING PUMP FRONT SEAL AND CHECK FOR LEAKS AROUND POWER STEERING LINES.

REPLACE WATER PUMP ON A 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO. FIRST YOU HAVE TO DRAIN COOLANT SYSTEM IN A LARGE DRAIN. RADIATOR DRAIN PLUG SHOULD BE ON THE BOTTOM ON PASSENGER SIDE. THEN RAISE THE VECHICLE SUPPORT VECHICLE WITH JACKSTANDS. REMOVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM THE ENGINE. CAUTION DO NOT ROTATE THE FLEX COUPLING ON THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE MORE THAN 4 DEGREE OR DAMAGE TO THE FLEX COUPLING MAY OCCUR. REMOVE THE THERMOSTAT AND THE COOLANT INLET PIPE FROM THE WATER PUMP HOUSING AND SEPARATE THE ASSEMBLY FROM THE ENGINE. LOWER THE VECHICLE REMOVE THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE FROM THE CAMSHAFT HOUSING. REMOVE THE FRONT TIMING CHAIN COVER AND THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FROM THE ENGINE. CAUTION THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER MUST BE REMOVED TO UNLOAD CHAIN TENSION BEFORE REMOVING THE WATER PUMP FROM THE HOUSING OTHERWISE THE WATER PUMP WILL BECOME JAMMED IN THE TIMING CHAIN HOUSING. REMOVE THE HEATER OUTLET PIPE FROM THE WATER PUMP COVER. REMOVE THE WATER PUMP COVER BOLTS FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THE WATER PUMP. REMOVE WATER PUMP RETAINING NUTS AND SEPARATE THE WATER PUMP FROM THE TIMING CHAIN HOUSING. CLEAN THE SEALING SURFACES OF ALL GASKET MATERIAL ON THE WATER PUMP, WATER PUMP COVER AND THE TIMING CHAIN HOUSING. WIPE THE MATING SURFACES WITH A RAG SATURATED LACQUER THINNER OR ACETONE. YOU CAN BUY THESE CHEMICAL AT LOWES OR WALMART DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY SELL PAINTS. FIRST INSTALL THE WATER PUMP COVER AND GASKET TO THE WATER PUMP ON THE BENCH BUT LEAVE THE BOLTS FINGER TIGHT. APPLY A THIN LAYER OF RTV SEALANT TO BOTH SIDES OF THE NEW GASKET AND INSTALL THE GASKET ON THE WATER PUMP. WAIT FOR RTV SEALANT SET UP DRY FIRST. POSITION WATER PUMP AND WATER PUMP COVER ASSEMBLY INTO TIMING CHAIN HOUSING ENGAGING THE WATER PUMP SPROCKET IN THE TIMING CHAIN, AND INSTALL THE NUTS FINGER TIGHT. USE CAUTION TO ENSURE THAT THE GASKET DOESNT SLIP OUT OF POSITION. LEAVE THE NUTS LOOSE TO ALLOW REPOSITIONING WHEN THE BLOCK BOLTS ARE INSTALLED IN THE NEXT STEP. INSTALL THE WATER PUMP COVER TO ENGINE BLOCK BOLTS AND TIGHTEN THEM BY HAND. LUBRICATE THE O - RING ON THE HEATER OUTLET PIPE WITH COOLANT AND INSTALL IT INTO THE WATER PUMP COVER. HAND TIGHTEN THE BOLTS. NOW THAT THE ENTIRE WATER PUMP HOUSING ASSEMBLY IS INSTALLED AND IS FITTED AGAINST THE ENGINE BLOCK. TIGHTEN BOLTS CRISS CROSS SEQUENCE TO INSURE PROPER SEAL TORQUE WATER PUMP TO TIMING CHAIN HOUSING NUTS TO 19 FT LBS .NOW TORQUE WATER PUMP COVER TO WATER PUMP HOUSING BOLTS TO 124 INCH POUNDS. TORQUE WATER PUMP COVER TO ENGINE BLOCK BOLTS 19 FT LBS. TORQUE 124 INCH POUNDS THE RADIATOR OUTLET PIPE TO WATER PUMP HOUSING. INSTALL THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND COVER. INSTALL THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. INSTALL THE EXHAUST PIPE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WHEN ALL IS DONE. START POURING COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR OR COOLANT OVER FLOW JUG.CHECK FOR LEAKS. IF IS GOOD KEEP ADDING COOLANT TO RADIATOR OR OVER FLOW RESERVOIR UNTIL COOLANT LEVEL STOP DROPPING. NOW START ENGINE. WATCH THE COOLANT LEVEL WHEN START DROPPING ADD MORE COOLANT IN RADIATOR OR OVERFLOW JUG. WHEN COOLANT STOP DROPPING INSTALL RADIATOR CAP OR OVERFLOW JUG CAP. LET ENGINE IDLE UNTIL THERMOSTAT OPENS WATCH TEMPERATURE GAUGE WHEN TEMPERATURE GAUGE RISING TO OVERHEATING. TURN OFF ENGINE WAIT A WHILE TAKE A LARGE RAG SLOWLY OPEN RADIATOR CAP A LITTLE TO RELEASE PRESSURE. WHEN PRESSURE RELEASE REMOVE RADIATOR CAP ADD MORE COOLANT. START ENGINE LET IDLE WATCH TEMP GAUGE. TEMP GAUGE START RISING AGAIN TURN OFF ENGINE LET IT SET A WHILE ADD MORE COOLANT. TO RADIATOR. WHEN ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE STOP RISING AND THERMOSTAT OPENS YOUR COOLANT SYSTEM AIR IS BLED OUT. JUST LET VECHICLE SET A LITTLE CHECK COOLANT LEVEL MAKE ITS CORRECT BEFORE START DRIVING VECHICLE. IF YOU TAKE VECHICLE FOR TEST SPIN TAKE LARGE RAG AND PLENTY COOLANT WITH YOU.IF ENGINE START OVERHEATING WHILE DRIVING PULL OFF ROAD SAFELY WAIT 20 TO 30 MINUTES. USE LARGE RAG SLOWLY OPEN CAP A LITTLE RELEASE PRESSURE. THEN REMOVE RADIATOR CAP ADD MORE COOLANT IF NEEDED. HOPE THIS HELP.

KIND HARD TO GET A BRAKE LINE DIAGRAM.YOU HAVE TO A SALVAGE YARD LOOK FOR CARS WITH THE N BODY SAME YEARS AS YOUR CAR IF YOU HAVE A OLDS ALERO A 99 MODEL LOOK FOR BUICK SKYLARK , OLDS ACHIEVA AND GRAND AM, THE MALIBU AND OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS.LOOK AND FOLLOW THE BRAKE LINES ROUTING FROM MASTER CYLINDER TO UNDERNEATH THE CAR.BRAKES LINES HAVE TO BE AWAY HOT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND PIPES.BRAKES LINES HAVE TO BE AWAY FROM ENGINE OR DRIVE TRAIN THAT CREATES VIBRATIONS WHICH CAN CAUSE BRAKE LINES TO BREAK.BRAKE LINES HAS TO BE SECURE IN BRACKETS.WHEN YOU GO TO SALVAGE YARD LOOK AT CARS I LISTED ABOVE.SAME BODY STYLE TAKE NOTE DRAW DIAGRAM ROUGH DRAFT OF HOW BRAKES LINES ARE ROUTED AND SECURE IN BRAKETS.THAT WILL GIVE YOU A IDEA WHERE TO RUN NEW BRAKE LINES.

LIFT THE REAR SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION UP SHARPLY AT THE TWO FRONT CORNERS UNTIL THE TWO CLIPS COME OUT OF THE BODY,THEN SLIDE THE SEAT CUSHION FORWARD AND OUT OT THE VECHICLE. AT EACH LOWER CORNER REMOVE THE NUTS SECURING THE TWO REAR SEAT BACK TABS WITH THE NUTS REMOVED PULL THE SEAT BACK FORWARD ENOUGH FOR THE TABS TO CLEAR THE STUDS THEN PULL THE SEAT BACK SHARPLY UP AND TOWARD THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO DISENGAGE THE UPPER SEAT CLIPS FROM THE BODY.REMOVE THE SEAT BACK FROM THE VECHICLE.

LOOK DOWN ON THE LOWER BACK ENGINE FIREWALL, LOOK AT THE AC EVAPORATOR LINE GOING TO INTO FIRE WALL. IT HAS A BLUE CAP,THATS WHERE YOU CHARGE UP THE AC SYSTEM.THAT IS LOW PRESSURE SIDE PORT.