problem central, and I don't have 4000$

[BadFrog]

ok so I knew that there were a few things wrong with my car, A/c clutch/pully, and strut mounts and I took it to a dealership to havetthem check it outbut holy crapin addition to those, my LIM gasket is gone, one of my brake calipers is leaking,my water pumpis leaking, and worst and most explensive of all my power steering gear is leaking. and with all the dealer mark up in the world the magic number to fix it all 4000$!!:(

I don't know what to do right now. I got a couple of people who are trying to help me with parts, cause I don't have 2000$ for parts. I hope(key word) that I can do some of the work myself but I don't know. what do you guys think I should do?

[doubleN0alero]

trade it in while its there

[billytheman1188]

trade it in while its there

Yea but is he gonna get anything for it?? i mean with all those problems i doubt he will get any good amount of money, say he gets $2,000 for it, what is he gonna do with the money then? put it as a down payment on something else? that wont work, cause then he will be paying a lot monthly. So i would say just ask around on this forum, theres a grand am forum too, and see what your friends can get you, and try to install some of the parts yourself, or if u need help, maybe someone u know can help you.....maybe u can pay them $100?? idk, just some suggestions, but that really sucks man..... I have been really happy with my alero and after reading somethings on here ive been really paranoid about how my car runs and i hear more things that i used to, lol.

But good luck man, hope you find a good solution

[doubleN0alero]

if you're hell bent on keeping the car here's some tips of places to take it to get fixed cheaper...
1. local garage, not a dealership
2. high school mechanic class
3. trade school
4. vo-tech with auto mechanics...

[billytheman1188]

if you're hell bent on keeping the car here's some tips of places to take it to get fixed cheaper...
1. local garage, not a dealership
2. high school mechanic class
3. trade school
4. vo-tech with auto mechanics...

If it comes down to this^^, DO NOT take it to a high school mechanic class......One of my sisters old bf took his stealth there cause he didnt have much money at the time, and they didnt really fix the problems too well. I mean if it comes down to it and u really DONT HAVE ANY MONEY, then ok ur obviously gonna have to do something like that, but if u can save up some money just take it to a local garage(someone that u think u can trust, cause i know around albany there isnt many places u can go to where u can trust people to work on your car).

[AGT]

I say trade it to another dealer and make sure its not leaking or anything when you do.

[doubleN0alero]

If it comes down to this^^, DO NOT take it to a high school mechanic class......One of my sisters old bf took his stealth there cause he didnt have much money at the time, and they didnt really fix the problems too well. I mean if it comes down to it and u really DONT HAVE ANY MONEY, then ok ur obviously gonna have to do something like that, but if u can save up some money just take it to a local garage(someone that u think u can trust, cause i know around albany there isnt many places u can go to where u can trust people to work on your car).

well, here in lies the problem...your sisters b/f had a stealth....the dodge dealership I used to work out didnt even liek to work on those things b/c they are junk and very difficult to work on. Our cars are rather easy

[billytheman1188]

well, here in lies the problem...your sisters b/f had a stealth....the dodge dealership I used to work out didnt even liek to work on those things b/c they are junk and very difficult to work on. Our cars are rather easy

Yea it was pretty crappy, but it was pretty damn fast toolol He ended up getting a 2004 mustang......but im not gonna get off topic.

Update us on what u decide to do.

[BadFrog]

Well I am looking around to get help, my Girlfriends mom works for a company that GM out sources to so we're seeing if I can get some parts with less mark up. my neibors dad has his own little after hours shop and used to work fo an old dealship, so he kniows the car. I'm hoping I can do some work myself. I don't really want to get id of my car, I really like it, and it is my first car. i'll keep you guys posted to see ifit all pulls through

[alero440]

Get a personal loan. That way it gets done, and you can make month payments back to the bank. get it for like 2 or 3 years and it woule be like 100 a month. Just a suggestion.

[Satsuriku]

^
thats what i would do if you dont want to dump even more money into a new car

[Redog]

IDK it's up to you.You could wait on the A/C but everything else must get fixed right away.

[jackal2000]

IDK it's up to you.You could wait on the A/C but everything else must get fixed right away.
doesnt the a/c compressor run when "defrost" is selected?? i dont remember why i think that but i swear its the truth and since he is in MI lord knows he will need defrost lol

[mike k]

yes the a/c does run on defrost but the compressor electrics can be unplugged preventing the clutch from actually engaging.this will help prevent the compressor from locking up.

[Redog]

^^ Oops I forgot :blush:

[BlackJack]

simple, if you have any idea what a wrench is, go get a Haynes or Chiltons, and fix it yourself. All the problems you listed are easy to repair, just a little time consuming. Take your time with it, and you'll be happy in the end.

[Redog]

Or sell it for a few bucks and buy the other one that's on sale on Aleromod right now

[number1alero]

speaking of personal loans, are those easier to obtain over an auto loan?

[Redog]

Depends on your credit, and job (abilty to pay back)

[Cliff8928]

yes the a/c does run on defrost but the compressor electrics can be unplugged preventing the clutch from actually engaging.this will help prevent the compressor from locking up.

Usually the V5 compressor clutch fails where it makes noise when the A/C is off. It makes like a grinding/rubbing noise. When you have the A/C on it goes away.

[BadFrog]

alright, to up date I got about a grand saved in labor, I'm hopin to work with my buddies dad in his after hours shop. adn within the week I will be finig out how much I can get the parts for right from GM.
from what the dealership guy, who sounds more down to earth than most( he actually told me to save some moeny and do some of it myself), the danger witht he A/C clutch is that if it goes too far that the pully will come off, therfor no belt and you can figure out what else goes then.

[BadFrog]

2 quick questions, I have the "sport suspension" do I buy the strut mounts for that kind of suspension or does it matter? and the dude said I need strut mounts and bearings, but on GM parts direct there is no strut bearings, and the part number he gave me dosent work, whats the deal wth that?

[BadFrog]

ok for an update, I got the brake caliper done, very cheaply I might add, go aftermarket parts. the suspension is next, since I have most of the parts, I'm waiting on a set of lowering spring, I figure why not change them while I'm at it. as for the big job (LIM, water pump, A/C clutch, and Power steering gear) my mechanic says the LIM isn't bad, unlike what the dealership said, so its not super imediate, but I have a question, does anyone know what I can do to help eleviate the cost of the powersteering gear( part is like 500$ from GM directly)? I have been told that there are aftermarket version which are cheaper but i can't find them anywhere. another question whats the difference between powersteering gear, and PS pump?

[Cliff8928]

The power steering gear is also referred to as the Rack and Pinion. The pump is the part attached to the engine.

[myowneq]

I might be a little bit late on this one, but with your LIM, you can go a long while with it leaking, but when if fails (and it will) it will be quite catastrophic. Make sure you check your water every day for around town and every two hours on long trips. Otherwise, you'll overheat and, if like me, I warped my heads. Good luck.

[CiscoPath]

-edit-

[CiscoPath]

My issue was the other way around. Car ran fine with just fan, but turn on the A/C or defrost and hear a noise like someone sticking a pencil in a fan. Also with the A/C on, my V6 had the power of a 4 cyl Geo Metro

[BadFrog]

Wel in regards to the LIM, I had my mechanic check it out while replacing the break caliper, he said its not bad, but if I am going to fix the A/c clutch, the water pump, and power steering crap may as will replace the LIM while we're in there

[Alero2k4]

I don't have the 3.4 but if you can just undo the belt that drives the A/C. The only reason that the compressor runs while you have defrost on is just a maintenance thing so that it doesn't sit all winter...it doesn't actually do anything and I promise you will have heat....just not cold in the summer. We had to do that in out Eclipse when the compressor clutch went bad. BTW if anyone already said this sorry, I just skimmed.

[Kilroy]

I don't have the 3.4 but if you can just undo the belt that drives the A/C. The only reason that the compressor runs while you have defrost on is just a maintenance thing so that it doesn't sit all winter...it doesn't actually do anything and I promise you will have heat....just not cold in the summer.

You're wrong on that. The A/C actually helps dehumidify the air, thus defrosting the window quicker.

[BadFrog]

Well, The A/c clutch is not a huge concern, I'm getting the parts from my girlfriends mom who works fro GM, and I don't have to get a whole compressor, just the clutch, pully and bearing, its less than 100 in parts, not a big deal to me, I'm more worried about the power steering gear, as it is a 500$ part, and it make an equally horrible noise.

Does anyone know where the power steering gear is, or how hard it is to get it out?