2001 grand am wont start all the time

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whpass1

ive had problem after problem with this clunker i bought it new and it ran fine until last year ive had the 2 fuse relays for the fuel pump replaced,3 fuel pumps, the whole undercarriage was rewired but yet it sometimes wont start, it acts as if there isnt a spark or im out of gas,i was just wondering if anyone else has had these problems with theirs? if anyone can help me out it would be greatly appreciated
 
Penticton lemon

Oh my god I have the same problem with my car, It has ben in the shop for 3 weeks, they replaced the fuel pump and and fuse box and still it won't start sometimes. I crank the piss out of it and nothing happens. They can't fix my car HELP ME!!! What next???
 
Sounds like my 99 tahoe! On mine it seems to be the plug on the harness that connects to the fuel pump itself. Take it apart clean it up, runs great for awhile and then starts acting up again. Probably going to change the harness next and then the fuel regulator.
 
does any of those vehicles have the "pass-key". it looks like a little chip thats inserted into the key. Im havin trouble with my 97 T/A not starting somtimes and i found out that its the theft deterrant. theres 2 contact leads inside the lock cylender inside the column that reads the key code and alows the bcm to send a signal to the fuel pump and coil so it will start. those contacts are known to go bad, only solution is to get another lock cylinder.
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My tahoe doesn't but that could be their problem.
 
GA starting problems

I had similar starting quicks in my 99 and 03 GA GT with the 3400. Mine never actually didn't start, but at times after it had been driven hard, it took forever to crank. Like the fuel evaporated or something in the injectors. Never brought it in for service. Figured it was a common gremlin in the 3400 V-6.
 
car wont start

your ignition is going and when this happens it immobilizzes the fuel pump so the car wont start
 
Swap to a backup key, if the key is the problem, it should go away, if the ECM or wiring is, it won't. The security light (if you have one) is an indicator if that is a problem. You need a FSM (factory service manual) to decifer what it is showing.
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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.....
 
Bill in VT here again. Just checked my Haynes manual and it has instructions on the removal of both cam and crankshaft sensors. On the 2.4L it is not too bad. On the V6 it is behind the crank shaft pully. Also these cars have ingnition modules (Block distributor). The same problem will happen on older vehicles with fuel injection with a mechanical distributor. The rotation sensor is in that mecanical ditributor.
 
figured it out

I am proud to announce my 100 pound old lady found the problem. The problem is with the security system. This is what you do. Turn the key in the ignition as if you were going to listen to the radio without starting the car. You will see the security light flashing. Wait at least 10 minutes or until the security light stops flashing. Turn the key back to the off position and then go ahead and start the car again. It will start. This happened to me last year about this time, fall. Maybe it has something to do with the change in temperature. I read in one of the posts if it keeps happening then the permanent solution will be to make repairs on the security system. I forgot the part that needs to be repaired. Its contained in one of the posts.
 
Found it

I am prous to announce my wife found the problem and she is not a mechanic. The problem is with the security system. This is the fix. Turn the key on the ignition as you were going to listen to the radio without turning the key all the way. You will see the security light flashing. Wait for about ten minutes or until the light stops flashing. Then turn the ignition to the off position and start the car all over. It will work.
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2001 Pontiac Grand Am Won't Start/fuel System Problems

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.
 
Vanessa

whpass1 said:
ive had problem after problem with this clunker i bought it new and it ran fine until last year ive had the 2 fuse relays for the fuel pump replaced,3 fuel pumps, the whole undercarriage was rewired but yet it sometimes wont start, it acts as if there isnt a spark or im out of gas,i was just wondering if anyone else has had these problems with theirs? if anyone can help me out it would be greatly appreciated

I HAVE A PONTIAC GRAND AM GT 2001 AND I HAD THE SAME PROBLE I SPENT SO MUCH MONEY AND AFTER EVERYTHING I CHANGED IN THE CAR IT WAS THE SECURITY SYSTEM. SO WHEN IT WONT START ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PUT THE KEY ON, ON ONLY DONT CRANK IT UP, WAIT TEN MINUTES WITH THE KEY ON, ON AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THE SECURITY LIGHT IS BLINKING AFTER TEN MINUTES EXACTLY IT WILL STOP BLINKING. THEN YOU TURN IT OF AND THEN YOU CRANK IT UP. THAT HAPPENS TO MY CAR STILL AND THATS WHAT I DO. THE PROBLEM IS THE IGNITION SWITCH. I HOPE THIS IS HELPFULL. VANESSACAMPA59@YAHOO.COM
 
GM Passlock 1 or 2 Disablement

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
 
whpass1 said:
ive had problem after problem with this clunker i bought it new and it ran fine until last year ive had the 2 fuse relays for the fuel pump replaced,3 fuel pumps, the whole undercarriage was rewired but yet it sometimes wont start, it acts as if there isnt a spark or im out of gas,i was just wondering if anyone else has had these problems with theirs? if anyone can help me out it would be greatly appreciated
I had same problem w mine too, changed fuel pump etc. it was the vehicle anti theft in the ignition module,the whole time fix that and no more problems. matt texas
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I had that problem all the time and i found what works 99.9% of the time, is simply turn ur key into the on position so all the lights on the dash light up, and as soon as all the lights turn off turn the key all the way. and it should start up like a charm
 
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! My car would not start this morning, so I came here first. This solved the problem.
THANKS
 
Unregistered said:
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! My car would not start this morning, so I came here first. This solved the problem.
THANKS
give it some gas padle
 
the gas padle

Unregistered said:
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! My car would not start this morning, so I came here first. This solved the problem.
THANKS
give it some gas padle
 
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