I got a 2000 Pontiac grand am gt with the 3.4l. Herr lately sometimes when driving it the security light stays on. Not all the time but once and awhile. And today I was coming home from work my gas light came on so I stopped to put gas in it and when I came out to start it it wouldn't start. Just turn over and the security light was flashing. I had to wait like 15 min for it to stop and then the car started. Its been having rough starts so I think it's time to change the crank position sensor do u guys know what else would cause this
-
🔍 Like our community? You can tell Google to show you results from this site more often. Just Click Here and then click the empty checkbox on the right side of our name.
security light question
- Thread starter roger01
- Start date
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2008
- Messages
- 25,967
- Reaction score
- 740
- Points
- 113
Crank position sensor has nothing to do with the security light, do you have a check engine light on? For the security issue you probably need to replace the key sensor on the ignition cylinder.
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2008
- Messages
- 25,967
- Reaction score
- 740
- Points
- 113
How up-to-date are you with maintenance before you start changing sensors. Plugs, air filer, fuel filter, cleaning throttle body, etc.?
______________________________
Define "rough starting": Is it cranking over longer before it fires, not firing every time you turn the key, cough and sputter when it does fire?
Do you hear the fuel pump pressure up each time you turn the key? Do you wait for the fuel pump to pressure up or are you just going straight to 'Start'?
Grand Ams are notorious for the key sensor going to crap. Mine went at 200,000 kms then the ignition switch went 20,000 kms later. Depending on your mileage it wouldn't hurt to change both the lock cylinder (w/ key sensor) and the ignition switch as well as cut new keys. If the key is worn, it will give you grief as well.
My OE crank position sensor went at 80,000 kms, so when the ignition switch problem reared its ugly head, I changed the CPS as well. Like you said, it's cheap.
Are you saying you have a new fuel filter and haven't changed it yet or you just recently changed it?
When you do, turn the filter off and not the nut holding it. When you have it off, Add some WD40 or similar penetrating fluid, let it soak and carefully try to work the nut free. I like to add anti-seize to the filter threads to make the next filter change easier.
If the filter is stuck on, try the WD40 and let it soak for a while.
The Security light is part of GM's Passlock 2 anti-theft system. It has nothing to do with any sort of engine components. It consists of a resistive sensor in the ignition cylinder that only imposes the correct resistance to the Passlock computer when the cylinder is rotated with the correct key in the cylinder.
The Passlock sensors on these and I believe the Olds Alero are prone to failure. Any GM vehicle that uses the same cylinder as the Pontiac Grand Am is prone to Passlock sensor failure.
You can bypass the system permanently if you don't mind having an active anti-theft on your vehicle. On the lock cylinder you will find a black, yellow and white wire. Cut and cap off the white wire (this wire supplies +12V to the sensor). Then, join the black and yellow wires together with a 2.2K resistor between them.
Once this is done, place the key in the ignition, rotate the key to on, then try to start it. This will trigger a Passlock fail condition, and the Security light will flash. Leave the key in the on position until the Security light stops flashing (takes roughly about 10 minutes or so). Once the Security light has stopped flashing, turn the key off, then back on, and start the vehicle. The Passlock computer has now "learned" the new resistor and the system is bypassed.
You can go back at anytime and replace the lock cylinder if you feel like reinstating the Passlock anti-theft system, but you will have to repeat the above procedure to allow the Passlock computer to learn the new cylinder.
Some have stated that you may have to do the learn procedure more than once to get the Passlock computer to take it. My sister had me do this to her vehicle a few months back, and it learned the resistor on the first try. YMMV
Hope this helps.
The Passlock sensors on these and I believe the Olds Alero are prone to failure. Any GM vehicle that uses the same cylinder as the Pontiac Grand Am is prone to Passlock sensor failure.
You can bypass the system permanently if you don't mind having an active anti-theft on your vehicle. On the lock cylinder you will find a black, yellow and white wire. Cut and cap off the white wire (this wire supplies +12V to the sensor). Then, join the black and yellow wires together with a 2.2K resistor between them.
Once this is done, place the key in the ignition, rotate the key to on, then try to start it. This will trigger a Passlock fail condition, and the Security light will flash. Leave the key in the on position until the Security light stops flashing (takes roughly about 10 minutes or so). Once the Security light has stopped flashing, turn the key off, then back on, and start the vehicle. The Passlock computer has now "learned" the new resistor and the system is bypassed.
You can go back at anytime and replace the lock cylinder if you feel like reinstating the Passlock anti-theft system, but you will have to repeat the above procedure to allow the Passlock computer to learn the new cylinder.
Some have stated that you may have to do the learn procedure more than once to get the Passlock computer to take it. My sister had me do this to her vehicle a few months back, and it learned the resistor on the first try. YMMV
Hope this helps.
'03 Grand-Am GT
New member
Very useful info in case mine craps on me. But I guess once the lock cylinder is bypassed that the security system wont be effective as for getting the car started because it will probably be like as if there was a key permanently in the cylinder then. Right?
______________________________
Security Light - Remedy for Car Won't Start
So I FREQUENTLY have the security light issue and sometimes my car will not start. The key will turn over and the lights inside the car turn on but the car does not fire. (Sorry for my elementary mechanic terminology - I know only what my husband tells me
) Whenever the car doesn't start I put the key in the ignition, put it on "ACC" (the position between off and start), and leave it there for 10 minutes (security light will blink the entire time). Then, after ten minutes the security light will remain on, at that point turn the key to off, take it out of the ignition, and then put it back in a start the car as you normally would. Works every time and I have never had any wires cut or anything done to my anti-theft system.
I have also noticed that the security anti-theft will trip if I try to start my car too fast as well.
I am currently having issues with the coughing and sputtering when I try to start my car as well. It seems to be worse when it is hotter outside. FYI - the following has been replaced on my grand am: Catalytic Converter, Fuel Injector, water pump, thermostat, all fluids are religiously checked, and spark plugs are new.
I did have an issue last weekend with an extremely rough idle. I took it on some back roads, gassed it a lot and it seems to have fixed the problem. I think I may have had some junk in the gas even though we just put fuel additive in. Could there be any other underlying problems other than junk in the gas?
So I FREQUENTLY have the security light issue and sometimes my car will not start. The key will turn over and the lights inside the car turn on but the car does not fire. (Sorry for my elementary mechanic terminology - I know only what my husband tells me
) Whenever the car doesn't start I put the key in the ignition, put it on "ACC" (the position between off and start), and leave it there for 10 minutes (security light will blink the entire time). Then, after ten minutes the security light will remain on, at that point turn the key to off, take it out of the ignition, and then put it back in a start the car as you normally would. Works every time and I have never had any wires cut or anything done to my anti-theft system.I have also noticed that the security anti-theft will trip if I try to start my car too fast as well.
I am currently having issues with the coughing and sputtering when I try to start my car as well. It seems to be worse when it is hotter outside. FYI - the following has been replaced on my grand am: Catalytic Converter, Fuel Injector, water pump, thermostat, all fluids are religiously checked, and spark plugs are new.
I did have an issue last weekend with an extremely rough idle. I took it on some back roads, gassed it a lot and it seems to have fixed the problem. I think I may have had some junk in the gas even though we just put fuel additive in. Could there be any other underlying problems other than junk in the gas?
That's exactly what it will be like. However, something to consider is that most car thieves are aware that late model vehicles are equipped with some sort of vehicle anti-theft system. Because of this, they more than likely wouldn't even give your vehicle a 2nd thought unless they actually knew that you had bypassed the system.