2000 Oldsmobile Alero Engine Dies While Driving

Reader Question
HELP!!! I have a 2000 Alero and I just paid it off!! And here I am!! It has 133000 miles on it and I have been having a problem with it dying while I’m driving it!! I have changed the fuel filter and spark plugs.

I still continue to have a hesitation and every now and then it just SHUTS DOWN!! I wait a few minutes and it starts up and is fine for a few days. I have been told that it could possibly be the coil cover and boots. (one of the boots is cracked) Would this cause me to be “stranded”?FED UP, but PAID OFF in ILLINOIS

Hi there

Those types of intermittent dying problems can be VERY frustrating to diagnose, since the problem has to happen for the mechanic while it is in the shop and hooked up to some test equipment. Ignition coils, ignition modules, crankshaft position sensors, fuel pumps, computers are some of the things that are most common to fail and produce the complaint you are experiencing. Since you mention you also have a hesitation issue, I would probably want to inspect the fuel pump operation and the fuel pressure first and rule out a weak fuel pump.

Could a cracked boot cause you to get stranded? I would think that it would produce an engine “miss” and cause the check engine light to come on more than cause a “stranded” issue. The crack won’t get any better, so you might has well start budgeting now for its replacement.

Blessings,

Austin Davis