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Could I go into the radio and cut the yellow wire without reconnecting the yellow wire in the BCM or do I reconnect and then cut the yellow wire behind the radio?
Can I now go in behind the radio and cut the yellow wire without going back to the BCM and reconnecting the wires that I soldered together?
2003 Oldsmobile Alero Passlock Repair
For those of you in the know...I am having an additional problem with my 2001 Grand Am as it has begun to stall while driving (seems to happen after the car has been driven for a while). After letting the car cool off for 30 minutes or so, it starts back up as if nothing wrong. In trouble-shooting this, I am planning (if I can figure out how to do it) to replace the crank shaft positioning sensor (got this idea from visiting other forums). Does this sound like a good starting point or does anyone have a better idea?
Thanks (especially to Mr. Berger),
PBURDS
Once you have made the passlock modification, the ignition switch is completely out of the passlock system. Did the 10 minute learn procedure work, and is your "SECURITY" light now off? If so, you have eliminated the passlock circuits, and now need to find another reason why your car doesn't like to start.
Good luck.
I have a 1998 grand am. It starts runs a second or two and then dies. When I first turn the key on, the security light is on. When I start it, runs and dies, the lights blinks a few times and then goes solid again.
I have tried the wait 10 minutes, and it worked the very first time. car ran for about a week, then did same thing. This time 10 min wait does nothing. Replaced the ing. switch, did the wait, and nothing same thing, light stays on solid after a few blinks. took out new ing and put old back in. did the resister trick. Still same thing. Replaced the computer, Did the wait, still same thing. Other than maybe a bad wire somewhere in the line, is there any other component in the passlock system on a 98 that I need to look at? Is instrument cluster a vital component?
Thanks David
Put everything back to normal and try my method of cutting the wire and installing the toggle switch. BEFORE YOU CUT THE WIRE, START THE CAR. If it won't start or starts and dies, try jiggling the data wire while you turn the ignition. That can alter the resistance enough that the car starts. At least it worked for me, and once I cut the data wire and got the switch in, I never had another problem with the security system.
Thanks
Just follow this link and your problems are over.
http://www.bergerweb.net/grandamsecurityfix.htm
After doing all this, my car started so I'm thinking will never sit in my car for 10 minutes to wait for the security to re-set. It was quite easy to do, although there is not much space to work.
I had to remove the glove box to have good access.
Good luck.
Ads thank you, thank you, thank you, for the person that posted this fix
Dick Berger
www.bergerweb.net
The passlock won't shut the engine down while it's running, but will keep it from starting. If the security light isn't flashing when you try to start it then it's probably not passlock. If the security light comes on solid while driving it indicates a problem has been detected in the passlock system, which may or may not mean it will become a no start issue.
With that many miles with your symptoms the first place I would look for a problem is the fuel delivery. Just because you can hear the pump running doesn't mean it's delivering fuel pressure to the injectors.
It could be many things, but throwing money at it for "it could be" type diagnosis isn't a good idea.
R Berger
www.bergerweb.net
1999 - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
1997 - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
1999 - 2004 Pontiac Grand Am
The body control module contains the circuitry and brains for the anti-theft system, so the fix for the system is different. On the other hand, the Body Control Modules are seldom the culprit for Anti-Theft failures, so the resistor bypass will almost always work.
Go to Bergerweb.net and read about fixes for this problem on both Grand Am's and Aleros
Dick Berger
I did fail in my previous post to explain that it would not have helped to have the diagnostic unit attached to your vehicle to read out the trouble codes. The Passlock system does not store any trouble codes that can be read out at the diagnostic connector. The standard price for a diagnostic readout is $40.00, according to the Pontiac Manual. Most Chevrolet dealers will do it for $25.oo. If you want a trouble code readout, you should be able to get the best deal from a Chevrolet dealer, but there are probably other mechanics around who will charge less. If you bring your car to my garage, i'll read out the codes for free, (Ok, I know that's not practical, since I live in Michigan, and who would want to drive up here in the cold.)
Anyway, good luck, and I hope you find a good mechanic to keep your Grand Am running.
Dick B.
Sent To CAC@PONTIAC.COM
http://www.allworldauto.com/comments/viewthread.php?cid=636615 http://www.allworldauto.com/comments/viewthread.php?cid=631466 http://www.allworldauto.com/comments/viewthread.php?cid=626559 http://www.allworldauto.com/comments/viewthread.php?cid=625845 http://www.allworldauto.com/comments/viewthread.php?cid=621816 http://www.allworldauto.com/comments/viewthread.php?cid=619915
http://www.allworldauto.com/comments/viewthread.php?cid=626770 http://www.allworldauto.com/comments/viewthread.php?cid=625514 http://www.allworldauto.com/comments/viewthread.php?cid=619290
All these are different posts from Grand Am owners.
www.allworldauto.com/comments/2001_PONTIAC_GRAND_AM_comments_and_complaints_104-- 1473-2001-1.html
Please take some time to read some of these, visit the above website also. PLEASE.
Thank You,
Terry McCullough
Clarksville, TN. 37042
owner of a Pontiac Grand Am GT (2001) having same problems and more!!
A class action lawsuit generally takes several years, by which time many will be rid of their vehicles. And, the resolutions are rarely of much benefit to the consumer and often benefit the company you're suing - example: if successful, each owner will get a few coupons for oil changes, or, say, a $500 off certificate for the purchase of a new GM vehicle. The latter is a likely outcome. I was recently in a "class" that sued Bank of America over unjustified fees and bill pay delays. I haven't had a BOA account for at least 5 years. So I get a letter regarding the resolution - if I sign the form, send it to my ex-spouse to sign, and send it in, I'll get a check for $5 (to split, of course). The lawyers undoubtedly got millions.
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1. The passlock module fails slowly, and causes intermittent "passlock" lockouts.
2. The connector at the ignition switch that handles the passlock signals becomes intermittent, causing the same type of lockouts.
The dealer fix is to replace the module. Trouble is, they don't replace the connector, so their fix isn't permanent.
Solution can be found here:Bergerweb.net
If you have already paid to have the ignition switch replaced. Print out the instructions, take them to the dealer, and say you want your f--- money back.
Unfortunately, there aren't any Pontiac dealers any more. Remember.... the company went bankrupt?????? So for those who think they are going to get a class action suit going...... FAT CHANCE
Anyway, Edmunds is a great place to find solutions. I'm glad we still have them!
Dick Berger
Bergerweb.net
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX/.f11dbe0/35
and see if the symptoms sound familiar, that'd be great. I don't have enough mechanical expertise to know if the problem is similar or not!
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Is there a limit to how many times you can do the override before it stops working?
What's the likelihood that the alternator or starter instead of a problem with the Passlock system?
If I do the re-wiring that is linked to at the top of this forum, is that a permanent fix to the Passlock problem or just the light on the dash?
Thanks for any help I can get!! I'm not quite ready to give up on this car completely and I don't want to spend a ton of money at a mechanic that might not give me a true fix.
The re-wiring that is linked to at the top of this forum bypasses the passlock module in the ignition lock cylinder, and therefore is a proven cure for the problem. You may also want to look at the same fix, performed by removing the radio. described on my website at:
Bergerweb.net/AleroSecurity. The instructions are written for an Alero, but the procedure is the same on a Grand Am.
If the "security" light is on or flashing, then the problem is with the Passlock system, not the alternator or starter.
I apologize for your frustration. I would recommend taking the vehicle into the dealer to have it at least diagnoised. Please keep me updated on your situation.
Christina
GM Customer Service
Wait for lovemygrandam to chime back in , he will not steer you wrong .
It just so happens that the resistor fix did not work for my 2002 Grand Am either . I put everything back where it should be and did the yellow wire cut and toggle fix. I had no problems after that . Anyway , hopefully you can wait a little longer to see if lovemygrandam has any other options for you . Good Luck
Check the value of your resistor. I recommend a 2200 ohm or 2700 ohm resistor. the color code for a 2200 ohm resistor is Red, Red, Red. For a 2700 ohm, it's Red, Violet, Red.
Make certain, using an ohmmeter, that your work is connected to pins A6 and B6 of the center connector of the BCM. Also, I found out some months ago that the black wire can also be cut, rather than spliced into. If you cut it, leave the end that goes to the ignition switch disconnected, and connect your resistor between pins A6 and B6 of the BCM connector.
Several people who have read my instructions have mistakenly used a 2.2 ohm resistor, rather than a 2.2Kohm. (2200 ohms). They have suffered the same symptoms as you describe.
If all the above fails, and reading over the instructions does not reveal some mistake, I would suspect that you may need to replace the BCM on your vehicle. Try to get a used one from a salvage yard... they seldom go bad.
Good luck.
Dick Berger
Thank you for joining this discussion. We're wondering if there are any service bulletins that can help the mechanic diagnose Passlock issues. We know that the weak links are the passlock module in the ignition switch, and the connector that handles the three wires to the passlock module. Are there any diagnostic tests that can be run through the ALDL to determine if there is a fault in the BCM? If so, It would greatly help if the GM dealers were aware of those tests.
Thanks again,
Dick Berger
If you have many miles on the engine, you may have low compression, which can also cause hard starting. The symptoms you have do not indicate a Passlock problem any more.
How many miles, and what size engine? Standard transmission?
Dick Berger
http://www.bergerweb.net