Pos Gm

[Wreckless]

My e-break light is coming on intermittantly while im driving,and when its on the cruise doesnt work any ideas on what this might be.I havent looked at it yet I just thought Id ask here to see if someone has had the same problem.All I know is that Im getting sick of the crap going wrong with this car its always something. Can GM make a vehicle in which everything works for more than 5 or 6 years?I doubt it.

[SweetNLow]

ive never seen a car that doesnt have some "issue" within 5 or 6 years.

i guess changing your oil is a problem for you as well?

[Mischief007]

Advice to you. Trade it on a bicycle. I hear they last a long time.

[Vinalero]

I gotta agree with Wreck, I know a vehicule comes with some issues, but of all the cars I've owned, the Alero is the one that has the most wierd things happening. I've never been to the garage as often as in the past 2 months.

And now, I think one of my hubs is going, yesterday the SES, ABS and Track off light came on all at same time, but disapeared when I restarted the car afterwards.

[14alero]

its a car stuff happens

[BlackJack]

every car made can last 5 or 6 years without something going wrong with it. All you have to do is buy it new, park it in a garage, put a tarp over it, and dont touch it.....ever. I can say with great certainty you'll never have a maintenance problem no matter who makes it.

[DaRockwilder]

Check your brake fluid level? the cruise not working while the e-brake light is on might be a saftey thing.

[Wildman]

My e-break light is coming on intermittantly while im driving,and when its on the cruise doesnt work any ideas on what this might be.I havent looked at it yet I just thought Id ask here to see if someone has had the same problem..

Ok, since nobody seems to want to be helpful, lets take a crack at the question he has...

Does your low trac or trac off lights come on also with the brake light? Could be a wheel speed sensor on the fritz. Have you had any of the front wheel bearings replaced since you have owned it ?? Also, does the light come on and stay on, or does it come and go while you are driving?

[Wreckless]

First off Thank you Wildman and DaRockwilder for your advice it is much appreciated,and to everyone else who had a smart ass coment I do appologize for insulting the holy grail of vehicle manufacturers GM .I suppose that when I pay good money for something I expect it to work properly not crap out on me every 4 weeks,but if thats what a good car does Im going back to an old Ford truck I had that never gave me any problems what so ever.I do realize maintenance is the fact of owning a car I have no problems with that.But having to turn or change the rotors once a year is bullshit.Its the exact same thing with the GA as well. What the hell is up with that ?

[Wreckless]

Advice to you. Trade it on a bicycle. I hear they last a long time.

Maybe Ill trade it in on your MOM, SweetNLow says shes a good ride.

[Wreckless]

Ok, since nobody seems to want to be helpful, lets take a crack at the question he has...

Does your low trac or trac off lights come on also with the brake light? Could be a wheel speed sensor on the fritz. Have you had any of the front wheel bearings replaced since you have owned it ?? Also, does the light come on and stay on, or does it come and go while you are driving?

The trac light comes on when its supposed to not with the brake light.I did have the rear drivers side hub and wheel bearing replaced last spring after an accident.The light mostly just comes on and stays on but it does go out every now and then.

[Wreckless]

Check your brake fluid level? the cruise not working while the e-brake light is on might be a saftey thing.

Thats what I was kinda thinking as well it would make sense,you hit the brakes when your cruise is on, it turns it off I just gotta find out why the light is on.Off topic but you guys getting lots of snow as well in Red Deer?

[BlackJack]

stay on topic. yes, the cruise not working IS a safety thing, just as if you tap the break pedal when cruise is engaged. Start with the simple stuff and see if the e-brake sensor is shorting or going out.

[Wreckless]

stay on topic. yes, the cruise not working IS a safety thing, just as if you tap the break pedal when cruise is engaged. Start with the simple stuff and see if the e-brake sensor is shorting or going out.

Thanks.Ill give it a look and see what I can find tommorrow after work.

[Cliff8928]

Definitely start with the fluid check, there is a sensor in the reservoir that will usually turn on the "BRAKE" light on the dash if the fluid is low.

[sorrowfulkiller]

Could also be a live wire interfering with the e-brake line... Time to pull apart the center console!


Oh and about rotors... this is why I'm changing out all my rotors for aftermarket Drilled and Slotted. I figure, why waste more money on OEM parts (in the long run) that are ALWAYS going to warp, why not go with aftermarket ones from a trusted company so you know they won't warp?

[SweetNLow]

i was actually reading about the warped rotors the other day....... its more of a oem pad issue than the rotors

[alerocar01]

i was actually reading about the warped rotors the other day....... its more of a oem pad issue than the rotors
wow i always thought it was the alloy of metal they used in the rotors that caused them to warp. i guess not.

[Mr_Reed]

I agree with Wreck GMs quality sucks
My cars a 2001 and has 71,000 miles on it and has more problems than my 1993 Ford Festiva GL with 300,000 miles on it.
(Festiva has a Mazda motor and a Kia body) But still they put a better car togeither than GM does..Also my dad had a 1998 Chevy S10 Blazer and man it was a piece had problems out the ass..

[HazMatt24]

every car made can last 5 or 6 years without something going wrong with it. All you have to do is buy it new, park it in a garage, put a tarp over it, and dont touch it.....ever. I can say with great certainty you'll never have a maintenance problem no matter who makes it.

the battery will die, stupid battery manufacturers not making batteries that last forever.

[ziaplayboy]

I used to have the same problem, the e brake didnt want to turn off, and the cruise didnt want to work. i checked the brake fuild and it was fine, the problem was, with my car, inside the brake fuild container there is a float with a little metal piece. well it turns out my float didnt float, all i had to do was to remove that float and i have never had a problem with it since. so check that out also.

[Cliff8928]

i was actually reading about the warped rotors the other day....... its more of a oem pad issue than the rotors

That is most definitely the case. With the OEM pads, under certain occasions you can get a build-up of pad material stuck on the rotor in areas, and that is what the pulsation is. I noticed this a few times on my Alero, a good firm stop got rid of it every time. I haven't had it since with my upgraded brakes though. Rotors RARELY warp.

[Wreckless]

I used to have the same problem, the e brake didnt want to turn off, and the cruise didnt want to work. i checked the brake fuild and it was fine, the problem was, with my car, inside the brake fuild container there is a float with a little metal piece. well it turns out my float didnt float, all i had to do was to remove that float and i have never had a problem with it since. so check that out also.

BINGO! thanks man,float was stuck,I got it unstuck and every things good now Ill keep an eye on it to see if it keeps it sticking.

[Wreckless]

That is most definitely the case. With the OEM pads, under certain occasions you can get a build-up of pad material stuck on the rotor in areas, and that is what the pulsation is. I noticed this a few times on my Alero, a good firm stop got rid of it every time. I haven't had it since with my upgraded brakes though. Rotors RARELY warp.

Good to know,as soon as the 5 inches of snow melts Ill give it a shot.Do you think a good set of ceramic pads would help?

[Wreckless]

That is most definitely the case. With the OEM pads, under certain occasions you can get a build-up of pad material stuck on the rotor in areas, and that is what the pulsation is. I noticed this a few times on my Alero, a good firm stop got rid of it every time. I haven't had it since with my upgraded brakes though. Rotors RARELY warp.

Good to know,as soon as the 5 inches of snow melts Ill give it a shot.Do you think a good set of ceramic pads would help?

[strtrydr]

holy triple post :lol:

[Wreckless]

Yeah sorry I talk alot.LOL.But I only meant to post that last one once.

[Satsuriku]

Good to know,as soon as the 5 inches of snow melts Ill give it a shot.Do you think a good set of ceramic pads would help?

well, i have both ceramic pads and cross/slotted rotors and i NEVER ride my brake hard and my rotors are already starting to get warped again and its only been 9 months. was thinking about doing a complete brake upgrade but thats a little bit on the expensive side. to make it short, either my pads were just low quality (or my rotors - R1 Concept) or its my luck lol

[SweetNLow]

how do you know they are warped?

i have cross drilled and slotted with semi metallic pads and have NEVER had an issue

[Cliff8928]

I also noticed, the easier i was on my brakes, the more prone they were to vibration...

[Vinalero]

well, i have both ceramic pads and cross/slotted rotors and i NEVER ride my brake hard and my rotors are already starting to get warped again and its only been 9 months. was thinking about doing a complete brake upgrade but thats a little bit on the expensive side. to make it short, either my pads were just low quality (or my rotors - R1 Concept) or its my luck lol

Are the rotors a appearence mod for you? If not, why would you get cross/slotted rotors if you are not going to even use them for what they are ment to be? :wtf2:

[antichrysler]

I had a similar issue with my Alero. The brakepads/rotors wore out pre-maturely. Took it in to the shop and had them put on Wagner rotors and brakepads all around. Been 5 months and haven't had an issue yet. I also find the stopping is more responsive.

[Midgear]

searching teh phorumz to find what you seek ftw. LOL BUMPZ LOL (this thread's title needs to be changed btw.)

erm.

about this "float" thing- I know it's suppose to be located INSIDE the brake fluid reservoir.. but I've never noticed a float inside mine O_o

gonna give it a once-over tomorrow and see what I can find out.. hopefully the fluid is just low. and for those of you who dont realize.. yes my brake light is coming on for what seems to be no apparent reason.. I can lock up all 4 tires (tried it.. never done it before.. the alero can stop on a frickin' dime) so i'm going to assume theres nothing wrong with the brakes themselves..

no "OMG THREAD JEZUZ" crap.. this thread has useful information- beats starting another thread.

edit: this post was made at 9:11 ... i've been seeing this time alot lately both morning and evening :blink:

[kniedelm9490]

Maybe Ill trade it in on your MOM, SweetNLow says shes a good ride.

haha i dont think he caught that yet

[cherrington17]

searching teh phorumz to find what you seek ftw. LOL BUMPZ LOL (this thread's title needs to be changed btw.)

erm.

about this "float" thing- I know it's suppose to be located INSIDE the brake fluid reservoir.. but I've never noticed a float inside mine O_o

gonna give it a once-over tomorrow and see what I can find out.. hopefully the fluid is just low. and for those of you who dont realize.. yes my brake light is coming on for what seems to be no apparent reason.. I can lock up all 4 tires (tried it.. never done it before.. the alero can stop on a frickin' dime) so i'm going to assume theres nothing wrong with the brakes themselves..

no "OMG THREAD JEZUZ" crap.. this thread has useful information- beats starting another thread.

edit: this post was made at 9:11 ... i've been seeing this time alot lately both morning and evening :blink:

the "float" looks like a little nerf yellow cylinder inside the brake fluid reservoir.

[Midgear]

the "float" looks like a little nerf yellow cylinder inside the brake fluid reservoir.

hmm.. never noticed one in there.. i'll check it out and letchya know-

[Cliff8928]

The level can also drop (causing the light to come on) if your pads are REALLY worn.

[Redog]

OK I'm going to lock this thread.

The reason why is this thread was last active during the "Alero bashing" era.

"I don't understand!! What a POS!! A car I have to take care of"

I was tired of it then, I'm still tired of it now.

Not happy with your Alero after 6 years of ownership and you ACTUALY have to do some work to it. Go ahead and buy a car that YOU think you won't have to do ANY maintance to :rolleyes2: