2001 grand am wont start all the time

  • Thread starter Thread starter whpass1
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01 misfires

I had the same problem with my car.. it was off and on for a couple months. i finally took it to the a mechanic. he asked what kind of fuel i was running and i told him it was 10% ethanol.. and apparently pontiacs don't like that or something. so i switched to the next on up without ethanol. and i've never had a problem since. sounds crazy.. but it worked
 
Thank you! My car a 2001 Pontiac Grand AM has just had a fuel pump and computer chip replaced about a month ago- almost $1000. Yesterday it would not start again. I came here and found the information about the security system. It worked. THANKS!
 
Remote Start Modifing

raycorri said:
You do not have to install a remote starter for this disablement. This will help a lot of you guys.

PASSLOCK I or II DISABLEMENT

The following is a procedure to disable Passlock I or II Systems for vehicles in which remote start/stop system installations are required. This procedure is required because a remote start system will not function with the current Theft Deterrent System (Passlock) which is included on many 1996 and up GM vehicles.

Please note that this modification is intended to be used only in conjunction with the installation of a remote start/stop system and does not provide a procedure to install a remote start/stop system.

CAUSE
If an attempt is made to start a vehicle by a means other than a key rotation in the ignition switch, the Body Control Module (BCM) will interpret this start as a vehicle theft and disable the fuel injectors.

CORRECTION
A minor wiring modification may be made to allow the vehicle to be started remotely. This modification includes adding a switch to allow the customer to select “ON” to allow remote starting or “OFF” for normal Passlock operation.

CAUTION: When this modification is performed and the switch is set to the ON position, the theft deterrent feature will be disabled. When the theft
deterrent is disabled the SECURITY/THEFT SYSTEM telltale will light up indicating that the theft deterrent system is NOT functioning.

PASSLOCK MODIFICATION
Refer to appropriate GM service manuals and/or SVMQP Electrical Guideline Manual for instruction on splicing and electrical connections.
1. Select a suitable on-off switch (see note below) which will be used to disable/
enable the Passlock System. Mount the switch in a location such that it is
accessible to the driver and will not interfere with normal vehicle operation.
NOTE: This is an extremely low current circuit (approx. 7mA), it is therefore very important that a high quality, low energy, fast acting switch be utilized
for this application.
2. Turn the ignition switch to the OFF position.
3. Locate the Main Ignition Switch Harness in the Column. GM's Passlock System wires exit the Ignition Switch Tumbler together and then join with the Main Ignition Switch Harness. (See http://www.bulldogsecurity.com/ or http://64.85.6.118/diagrams/diagrams.asp and select your Make, Model and Year for wire colors and clues on the quickest way to access these wires.)
4. Locate the Yellow Passlock Data Wire which is included in a bundle of three tiny (20 GA) wires wrapped in friction tape.
Cut this wire and splice a 0.5mm2 (20 GA) yellow wire to each end of the cut wire.
Keep wire length to a minimum. Route modification wires clear of moving parts.
Connect the yellow wires to the switch such that the contacts are OPEN when the switch is in the ON position.
5. Turn modification switch to the OFF postion (contacts closed).
6. Start vehicle to verify normal operation. If engine “cranks but will not start"
recheck the switch position (contacts should be closed), wire connectors and
modification wiring.

SWITCH OPERATION

To enable remote start:
Start the engine with the ignition key (modification switch must be in the OFF
position). Turn modification switch to the ON position (contacts open). The
SECURITY/THEFT SYSTEM Telltale will light up indicating that the Passlock System is inoperative.
Once the SECURITY/THEFT SYSTEM telltale has been on for at least 5 seconds the vehicle can be turned off and then remotely started.

To disable remote start:
The Passlock System can be reactivated by turning the modification switch OFF
(contacts closed). Vehicle can either be running or off when this is done.

Please note that the VCM/PCM will record Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) related to the security system when the modification switch is in the ON position (circuit open). This is due to the way that the VCM/PCM interprets this condition.

NOTICE
Any condition which removes battery power from the Vehicle Control Module/Powertrain Control Module (VCM/PCM) (e.g. dead battery, disconnected harness connectors, etc.) will prevent the vehicle from being restarted. If the engine exhibits a “cranks but will not start” symptom, place the modification switch in the OFF (contacts closed) position. This will reactivate the Passlock System and allow the vehicle to be started with the ignition key.


Ray
Click to expand...


Or you could just by the little in line resistor that USUALLY COMES with a remote start system and do the job right the first time.
 
VTD Systems

Unregistered said:
Before You Go Out And Spend Thousands Of Dollars On Your
Fuel System Needlessly Read Pages 2-5 And 2-18 Of Your Manual.
Page 2-18 Describes The Procedure To Use If The Car's Fuel
System Is Killing Itself And/or The Car Won't Start.
If The Car Does Not Start, A Possible Problem (as Previously Described In This Forum) Is That The Passlock (tm) System Has Been Engaged And You Need To Reset It By Turning The Key From The
Off Position To The On Position And Leaving The Key In The On
For About 10 Minutes. While In The On Position (don't Mess With The Car During This Time - But You Should Stay In Your Car As A Theft Deterent), The Security Key Should Come On And Blink, After About 10 Minutes The Security Light Should Go Off (then You Know That This Procedure Has Worked). Turn The Key To The Off Position And Then Try To Start. If It Does Not Start, Turn The Key To The Off Position And Then Try To Start. It Should Start At This Point. If The Car Repeatedly Does This, You Need A New Key From The Dealership And/or You May Need To Have Your Lock Cylinder Replaced Because You May Have Bad Sensors. Hope This Helps.
Click to expand...
Hi, my name is Ace and I am an ASE Certified Master Auto Mechanic


If your doing a pass key program on you VTD "Vehicle Theft Deterrent System, your BCM and PCM should store a fuel enable password for the vehicle to start, The Pontiac Grand Am VTD your speaking of has a Technical Service Bulletin for this problem, the replacement parts to solve your "NO START" SECURITY LIGHT ON problems would include a VTD sensor replacement, "WHICH IS PART OF THE IGNITION LOCK AND CYLINDER" were the key goes in, and "THE CONNECTOR AND THREE WIRE HARNESS TO SPLICE IN TO YOUR CURRENT WIRING HARNESS. SPLICES HAVE TO BE SOLDERED TOGETHER. After the repair is complete, the proper way to program the VTD system is to
1- Turn the ignition on, the theft light should be on, momemtarily crank the engine, then release the key leaving it in the run position, "DO NOT SHUT THE KEY OFF
2- the security light will beggin to blink, when the security light stops blinking "10 MINUTES" turn the ignition off, then back on again
3- Start the vehicle, after vehicle is running, the VTD system will send the correct password though the class 2 serial line to the BCM,
The BCM in return will send a FUEL ENABLE SIGNAL to the fuel pump and in return the password will be stored, and the problem will be solved.



YES YOUR WELCOME
ACE, MASTER AUTO TECH
______________________________
 
mine has the same problem

If you turn the key to the "ON" position, does the "SECURITY" light flash? If so, leave the key in the "ON" position for 10 - 15 minutes. Turn it off and then try to start it. Simple fix to an annoying issue.
 
D Trimble

I tried what they said.It worked and saved me a lot of money.Thank You
 
Unregistered said:
To WHPASS1,
First is your car fuel injected and using an electric fuel pump? I assume so since most of these cars are. When you first turn the car on the fuel pump relay will turn on for about 3 seconds to pressurize the system. After that it needs to see the motor turning over to engage and maintain the fuel pump relay. If the fuel pump relay is not engaging while the starter is being turned then your crank shaft rotation sensor is not working. This sensor also tells the computer which direction the motor is turning. In the event it sees (or thinks it sees) the motor turning backwards it will shut down the coil ignition except for one or 2 cylinders to try to change the direction of the motor. If you are not electricly inclind, the easy way to do this is with a screw driver to the fuel tank and to your ear, the car in park and blocked, have some one turn the key and you should hear the fuel pump. If so have them turn the starter and it should come on again. If not the sensor is gone. The sensor is located behind the harmonic balancer. Not easy to get to. I forget the pin out, but look in a manual (Haynes or Chilton) with the schematic, Find the pin out and check for pulses using an analog meter (digital won't work as well). Good luck, I hope this helps. Bill in VT.....
Click to expand...


First of all, this has to be some of the WORST jibberish I have ever read! A crank sensor DOES NOT tell the computer which direction the engine is turning! It only tells the computer that the engine is turning, period. Second, how is the engine going to run in the wrong direction? And how do you know that this engine isn't a 2.4 liter engine, where the crank sensor isn't behind the balancer? And another thing, the crank sensor doesn't power up the fuel pump relay, the PCM does! So please, if you are going to give "advise", please know what you are talking about!!!:mad:
 
Wow, never seen so may start problems. My car is doing the same thing. Sounds like its going to start. Sometimes it adventually will. Once started, it will keep restarting, and as long as its started about every 2 hours, there is no problem. If it sits overnight, then I am taking chances of it not starting. Plugs and wires changed. Coils and module tested ok, fuel injectors ok. 3 mechanics cant seem to figure it out. It would be nice just to get up in the morning to go to work and not be afraid to get into a dysfunctional vehicle.
______________________________
 
2001 Pontiac Grand Am SE won't start

IT WORKED...........
Thanks to all of you the dealership that I bought my car from (1 month ago today) was unable to charge me an outrageous amount of money after my car had been towed to their shop 4 times because it would not start. Finally they figured out that it was the security system, but didn't want to fix it without charging me. I did exactly what you all said (turn the key in the on position, watch the security light blink for 10 minutes (the security light went off after the 10 minutes) I turned the key in the off position and YES it started. Thank you all for posting the solution to this problem. I will most definately come back here before going to the dealership when I have a problem with my car.
 
this also will work on a 1996 Olds Acheiva

Hey Ace thanks for the information. I have a 1996 Olds Acheiva which had the same problem . The security light would flash and then cut off the ignition module and fuel pump. The Lock cylynder was replaced about 2 months ago and I bought the car used with only 43,000 miles on it. I did exactually whatr you had stated and now the car starts. I really appreciate the time you took to post this in this blog. Thanks again,
Dale

Ace said:
Hi, my name is Ace and I am an ASE Certified Master Auto Mechanic


If your doing a pass key program on you VTD "Vehicle Theft Deterrent System, your BCM and PCM should store a fuel enable password for the vehicle to start, The Pontiac Grand Am VTD your speaking of has a Technical Service Bulletin for this problem, the replacement parts to solve your "NO START" SECURITY LIGHT ON problems would include a VTD sensor replacement, "WHICH IS PART OF THE IGNITION LOCK AND CYLINDER" were the key goes in, and "THE CONNECTOR AND THREE WIRE HARNESS TO SPLICE IN TO YOUR CURRENT WIRING HARNESS. SPLICES HAVE TO BE SOLDERED TOGETHER. After the repair is complete, the proper way to program the VTD system is to
1- Turn the ignition on, the theft light should be on, momemtarily crank the engine, then release the key leaving it in the run position, "DO NOT SHUT THE KEY OFF
2- the security light will beggin to blink, when the security light stops blinking "10 MINUTES" turn the ignition off, then back on again
3- Start the vehicle, after vehicle is running, the VTD system will send the correct password though the class 2 serial line to the BCM,
The BCM in return will send a FUEL ENABLE SIGNAL to the fuel pump and in return the password will be stored, and the problem will be solved.



YES YOUR WELCOME
ACE, MASTER AUTO TECH
Click to expand...
 
Pontiac wouldn't start! (Passlock System)

Thanks to the user who posted the article about the passlock system. The other day my girlfriend's car wouldn't start, and she did not know where she placed her user manual. After some short research, I found this article and attempted to reset the grand am's passlock system. If only my jeep had this, it probably would have gotten stolen in the first place. Needless to say, the procedure worked, car started, I was the hero of the day. Plus, I got dinner and a BJ out of it all. It's good to be King!

Thanks again.
~Dave
South Jersey
 
Try the ecm or the guys at auto zone said it could be the brain, the theft system. I have the same problem why do cars need computers!!!!!
______________________________
 
My car would not start. My brothers replaced the fuel filter, spark plugs and coils. It wanted to start but would not turn over. We tried your suggestion about turning the key to the on position for 10 minutes. turned key off and the car started. Thank you for all your help.
 
97 grand am ignition problems

Unregistered said:
your ignition is going and when this happens it immobilizzes the fuel pump so the car wont start
Click to expand...


I have the same problem how do i fix this. Thanks
 
Problem Solved

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for posting possible ways to fix the issue of Grand Ams not starting. Tonight was the second time my Grand Am would not start with problems related to what seemed like the fuel system. I tried the suggestion of turning the key to on position, waiting for 10 minutes and then turning off and on and it worked. I have already replaced the fuel pump and fuel filter and now will use this to keep my car from being towed around town to shops only to have them say they can't find any thing wrong. Thanks again!
 
Help for people who have grand am that wont start

hello there, i see all these people who have the same problem i seem to have had. i have found the resolution (as long as the issue is the exact same). There is a security light on the dash and i do not know if it has ever lit up for anyone before their car pulls this lovely stunt, but my issue has to do with that. My car would not start and i had it towed to this family owned shop and they were very nice and told me how to fix it myself if it did it again so that i would not be charged fees for things that are not really wrong.

what to do (even if the security light has never come on)... first, try to turn on the engine and then release the key so that it sits in the on position. you will notice the security light blinking (there may be some other lights on the dash as well) and just leave the car sit while it blinks. It will continue to blink 5-10 minutes and then will stop blinking and then stay on. when it turns off, turn the car completely off and then turn it on. you may need to repeat the process again before it starts, but i have never had to and to this day, my car still does it but i always get it started. good luck
______________________________
 
I had the same problem with my car about 2 weeks ago. Come to find out, the ignition switch and key cynlinder went out on my car. It was not recognizing my key any more. I had this replaced and now it is working fine. When this happened, the surge caused the dashboard lights to go out and a fuse had to be replaced also. Hopefully this might answer your problem too, but beware.....it ain't a cheap fix...:>(
 
Problems too!!!!!!!!

Hi Everyone,
Just started having problems with my 2001 Grand Am not starting. It seems to happen when it sit overnight. I read about turning the switch to the on position and leaving it for 10 mins. When I turn my switch on, the security light does not blink. It just stays on. Is this the way it suppose to do. I notice that when I lock the doors with the keyless entry the horn does not beep as loud as it did before. I did the thing with the sitting in the car with switch on and holding down the door locks to turn off the horn and then reversed it to make the horn beep again. It still just bearly beeps. I don't think it the battery. Everthing else seems to be working fine. Any ideals? I hope it is what you guy have been talking about before I go and spend big bucks on it. I was thinking it may be the starter but after reading your post I don't know. Today I am going to use my other key and see if that makes a difference.
 
It is probally the battery or altenator. You can go to a autozone and have the alt. tested for free.
 
I have had the same problem, tried the lemon law but since they could not diagnose the problem, I could not return the car. Happened like 6 times. I hate this car! 2001 grand am
 
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