You won't believe, how to fix AC and Power Window working only after 10-30 minutes

[Netuddki]

It started a year ago and it was rare, when I had to wait 3-5 minutes for the AC starting and power windows working.

Everything else worked fine, only these two things had a delay.

I assumed, there is some wobbly connection, checked all fuses, wiring etc. Didn't find anything. Changed Battery even.

With time it got worse and at the end it took about 30 minutes (if at all) until the AC and the windows worked.

I replaced the AC control panel. Didn't help.

Replaced Window Buttons, didn't help.

I found the solution in the deeps of the web:

You have to change the electronic part of the ignition switch!

After I did that, everything worked as they should.

[dbral]

Interesting repair and thanks for sharing! By saying "You have to change the electronics of the ignition key" you mean the ignition switch behind the dash? If so, maybe one of the ignition switch contacts that outputs to the HVAC and windows circuits (and maybe others) was slowly going bad? That would have been a tough problem to find right away being so intermittent.

Vienna.... Austria? If so, you are quite far away (and your English is good)and am surprised to hear from an Alero owner living there...and really there are not too many Alero owners left anywhere lol!

Might consider joining mewe. Do not want anything to do with facebook but would be nice to have a facebook account just for the n-body groups and other groups like that. The internet forums are not very popular anymore but there is still good info on them. You just have to dig for it...

[zzyzzx]

Yeah, the ignition switch on my Escort (and pretty much all Escorts when they get like > 20 years old or more and have over 200K on them) have separate key part and electrical ignition switch parts that cause the car to not start when the electrical part wears out. I could see it doing exactly this but would need to review the schematic to see exactly what common point on the switch would cause this.

[dbral]

Yeah, the ignition switch on my Escort (and pretty much all Escorts when they get like > 20 years old or more and have over 200K on them) have separate key part and electrical ignition switch parts that cause the car to not start when the electrical part wears out. I could see it doing exactly this but would need to review the schematic to see exactly what common point on the switch would cause this.

It started a year ago and it was rare, when I ahd to wait 3-5 minutes for the AC starting and power windows working.

It is great to hear what actually fixes problems like these. Electrical gremlins can be hard to track down.....especially when they are intermittent.

[Netuddki]

Originally Posted by dbral

Interesting repair and thanks for sharing! By saying "You have to change the electronics of the ignition key" you mean the ignition switch behind the dash?

Yes, I mean that. You have to take out your radio and your speedometer to get to the ignition switch body, which has the cylinder, where you put your key in and a bigger part, where the cables with connectors go in. You have to change that part. The big black part shown here:
https://www.amazon.com/Pontiac-Ignit...YRV/ref=sr_1_6
I just learned that it's called ICM (ignition control module). Edited OP.

Originally Posted by dbral

Vienna.... Austria? If so, you are quite far away (and your English is good)and am surprised to hear from an Alero owner living there...and really there are not too many Alero owners left anywhere lol!

Yes, I live in Austria. Thank you for your kind words about my English. To be honest, English is my third language. My first one is Hungarian and the second one is obviously German. :-)

The Alero was sold in western Europe as Chevrolet Alero, but it wasn't a big success. There were not too many sold in the first place and there are even less on the road now.

Europeans are afraid of american cars, because they think, it's expensive to get replacement parts, which is not true in most cases for the Alero at least.

I love my Alero and it is the only car which I never had problems with. I still pass my mandatory inspection without any problems every year. Sometimes I have to replace some rubber parts or brake pads or such, but nothing extraordinary.

Originally Posted by dbral

Might consider joining mewe. Do not want anything to do with facebook but would be nice to have a facebook account just for the n-body groups and other groups like that. The internet forums are not very popular anymore but there is still good info on them. You just have to dig for it...

I am fed up with Facebook so I decided to leave. MeWe is the best alternative imho. Minds have a bit more interaction maybe, but it's getting be monetized like Facebook started out back then.

MeWe is completely free except for upload space, if you used up your initial 8GB. Then you can buy extra space. That'S how they stay alive.

[dbral]

Yes, I mean that. You have to take out your radio and your speedometer to get to the ignition switch body, which has the cylinder, where you put your key in and a bigger part, where the cables with connectors go in. You have to change that part. The big black part shown here:
https://www.amazon.com/Pontiac-Ignit...YRV/ref=sr_1_6
I just learned that it's called ICM (ignition control module). Edited OP.

Okay, was thinking that was what you meant by that lol! Also, I am not sure of the language translation but in the U.S. the part that is listed in your amazon link is generally called an Ignition Switch. An ICM (Ignition control module) in the U.S. is usually a totally different part. Thought that might be worth mentioning before you placed your order...hopefully the right part arrives!

Yes, I live in Austria. Thank you for your kind words about my English. To be honest, English is my third language. My first one is Hungarian and the second one is obviously German. :-)

The Alero was sold in western Europe as Chevrolet Alero, but it wasn't a big success. There were not too many sold in the first place and there are even less on the road now.

Europeans are afraid of american cars, because they think, it's expensive to get replacement parts, which is not true in most cases for the Alero at least.

I love my Alero and it is the only car which I never had problems with. I still pass my mandatory inspection without any problems every year. Sometimes I have to replace some rubber parts or brake pads or such, but nothing extraordinary.

3 languages...dang! I only know one and I am not all that good with it lol.

Chevrolet Alero!! Two words that you will probably not see put together over here! I am surprised to hear about the Alero sales overseas and crazy/awesome that you still rock an Alero all the way across the pond!

I am fed up with Facebook so I decided to leave. MeWe is the best alternative imho. Minds have a bit more interaction maybe, but it's getting be monetized like Facebook started out back then.

MeWe is completely free except for upload space, if you used up your initial 8GB. Then you can buy extra space. That'S how they stay alive.

Thanks for the heads-up with MeWe

[Netuddki]

Originally Posted by dbral

Okay, was thinking that was what you meant by that lol! Also, I am not sure of the language translation but in the U.S. the part that is listed in your amazon link is generally called an Ignition Switch. An ICM (Ignition control module) in the U.S. is usually a totally different part. Thought that might be worth mentioning before you placed your order...hopefully the right part arrives!

Damn. I will never learn these specific terms. Edited OP again.
Anyway, I already ordered and installed that part from Amazon and it fixed my issue, regardless, how it's called.

[dbral]

Damn. I will never learn these specific terms. Edited OP again.
Anyway, I already ordered and installed that part from Amazon and it fixed my issue, regardless, how it's called.

Lol! Good to hear and thanks for posting your fix!!