How to Troubleshoot a 2000 GM Alero Heating and Cooling System
If your 2000 Alero is having heating and cooling difficulties, then you may have several problems originating from different locations. Your air conditioner system will not work properly if it is out of refrigerant. Also, your heater coil may not be receiving enough coolant to heat air that is sent through the vents. There are many different components for both the heating and cooling systems, some of which you may easily troubleshoot and fix, while a professional mechanic should repair more difficult issues.
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Things You'll Need
- Gaffer's tape
- Socket wrench set
- Mechanic's gloves
- Funnel
- 50/50 mixture of coolant and water
- Antifreeze tester
- Electronic AC leak detector
Instructions
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Heating System
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1
Check for coolant leaks by turning on the engine and looking for coolant coming out of the hoses or a cracked radiator cap. Look underneath the Alero for coolant which might be dripping from a failing water pump. Wrap hose leaks with gaffer's tape until the hose can be replaced. Use coolant stop-leak -- a chemical additive you pour into the radiator -- to help plug leaks around fittings and the water pump. Remove the old radiator cap and put a new one in its place.
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2
Check the coolant level in your Alero. The coolant reservoir tank is to the left of the engine and next to the radiator. If the coolant level is below the line on the reservoir marked "Min," then there may not be enough pressure in the heating and cooling system. Low coolant levels can cause engine overheating and permanent engine damage. Use a funnel to pour in a half-and-hal mix of water and coolant until the level is between the "Min" and "Max" lines on the reservoir.
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3
Open the radiator cap when the engine is cool to the touch. Sample and test the coolant by using an antifreeze tester. Drain and replace old coolant with new coolant.
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4
Check the thermostat by feeling the upper radiator hose when the engine is hot. If the hose is cool to the touch, then your thermostat may be stuck in the closed position, which can also prevent coolant from traveling to the heating coil.
Troubleshoot Air Conditioning
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5
Turn on your engine and leave your doors open as you inspect the Alero's air conditioning system. Check the compressor, which is placed near the middle of your engine. If the compressor's belt and pulley system do not activate, then your compressor may have failed or your refrigerant level is too low for it to turn on.
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6
Feel the hoses located between the firewall and the evaporator, which absorbs heat from the engine and transfers it to the coolant. The evaporator looks like a rectangular component similar to the radiator grille. If the two hoses are not cool to the touch, then your refrigerant is most likely low and needs recharging.
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7
Attach the hose from the recharge kit to the low side pressure fitting for the air conditioning system, which is marked with an upper-case "L" and is located between the compressor and the accumulator. The compressor is the air conditioning component with a pulley and belt system attached to it and sits near the middle of the engine between the radiator and the evaporator. Turn on the Alero and crank the air conditioning to full blast. Turn on the release valve from the recharge kit. Turn the valve off as soon as the air conditioning is blowing out cold air.
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8
Use an electronic air conditioning leak detector to scan your air conditioning system for leaks. With the air conditioner turned on, hold the sensor's probe beneath the pipes and fittings for the air conditioning system starting with the condensor grille at the front of the vehicle, checking the hoses and fittings of the compressor and the evaporator. Any cracked or split hoses can be temporarily wrapped with gaffer's tape. System specific stop-leak can also be applied to your air conditioning system to help plug up any small leaks on the low-pressure side of the system.
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Tips & Warnings
The Alero holds 28 ounces of R-134A refrigerant.
References
Resources
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