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Pontiac Grand Am Security Passlock Problems

1230 messages,  Last post on Jun 14, 2013 at 12:34 PM

You are in the Pontiac Grand Am Forum.

What is this discussion about? Pontiac Grand Am, Security System, Sedan

    
Go to NHTSA to file a safety complaint.
Or call Monday-Friday (8 am to 8 pm ET) (888) 327-4236 TTY: (800)424-9153
 
    For those experiencing the security passlock problem, please see long-time member lovemygrandam's GM Security Passlock Fix tutorial.

Messages Page 103 of 124

#1014 of 1230 Re: Help with Preferred Fix for 2004 Grand Am [abruc] by lovemygrandam

Jul 20, 2011 (7:57 pm)

Replying to: abruc (Jul 20, 2011 10:06 am)
Yes, you can use the non-solder fix. The wiring is exactly the same in the two vehicles. It states at the beginning of my article that this fix applies to the following vehicles:
1999 - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
1997 - 2003 Chevrolet Malibu
1999 - 2004 Pontiac Grand Am
 
These are all Passlock II systems. If you are able to find the wiring bundle with three wires in it, and you have identified the yellow and black wires, you are all set to go.

#1015 of 1230 97 Grand Am intermittant no-start by car_surgeon

Aug 03, 2011 (1:14 pm)

I have been having problems with this GA starting then dying for about a week now. Two years ago, someone unplugged the 3-wire connector to the Hall Effect sensor, disabling the Passlock. I reconnected it and installed the 2.2K ohm resistor in place correctly, worked for a couple of days. I pulled out the resistor, installed the toggle on the yellow wire; still intermittent. Fuel pressure is 46 static, 40 running. Sometimes, I can get it to stay running by holding the key halfway on after it starts. That would indicate to me a faulty switch on the column, correct? I am starting to go NUTZ, as this car is my gf's, and she is ready to dynamite it. It is in cherry shape except for this and a heater core bypass. We don't use heaters in Phoenix, anyway!

#1016 of 1230 Re: 97 Grand Am intermittant no-start [car_surgeon] by lovemygrandam

Aug 03, 2011 (2:15 pm)

Replying to: car_surgeon (Aug 03, 2011 1:14 pm)
This sounds more like a tune-up problem, or an intermittent connection somewhere on the ignition switch. (because of your experience with holding the key partly on)
I believe you can trace your problem to the correct defective part by following the troubleshooting procedure in the shop manual. I don't have a manual for that particular year Grand Am, but you should get one if you intend to do your own repairs. It will be well worth the money you spend on it.
By the way, are you stating your fuel pressure in PSI or KPA?

#1017 of 1230 Re: 97 Grand Am intermittant no-start [lovemygrandam] by car_surgeon

Aug 03, 2011 (5:50 pm)

Replying to: lovemygrandam (Aug 03, 2011 2:15 pm)
The FP is stated in PSI. I am considering "hotwiring" around the switch to confirm a positive start every time by taking it out of the loop.
My other consideration is the microprocessor controlling the Passlock system, shown in the wiring diagram to be on the back of the instrument cluster. A trip to the local Buick dealer was unproductive in trying to pin down the shape or exact location of this MPU. There are several "97 Grand Ams in the wrecking yards, maybe a cluster from one of them might solve it (?)
The $125 for the shop manual is not unreasonable, but the 10-day wait will drive someone batty. Of the hundreds of cars owned by myself and my family members, I have done all the repairs since 1976, when I got my degree in auto tech. When they break down out of state, I just tow them home and fix them here. I believe the manual would be a lot less than a tech with less experience than me will want to charge to solve this problem.

#1018 of 1230 Re: 97 Grand Am intermittant no-start [car_surgeon] by lovemygrandam

Aug 03, 2011 (6:21 pm)

Replying to: car_surgeon (Aug 03, 2011 5:50 pm)
You said:
I believe the manual would be a lot less than a tech with less experience than me will want to charge to solve this problem.
 
Good point!
    My manuals have saved me literally thousands of dollars. I got manuals for my two cars when I bought them new, and I "borrowed" my Grand Am manual from the shop at GM Proving Ground where I worked. There are other sources. I've used online manuals from http://www.alldatadiy.com for just $27/year. They aren't exactly like the manufacturer's shop manual, but they're good enough to do most everything that a shade-tree mechanic would want to undertake, and it's easy to print out the pages you need and keep them for reference later on.

#1019 of 1230 97 Grand Am intermittant no-start by car_surgeon

Aug 03, 2011 (6:43 pm)

Thanks for the tip about ALLDATA online. I have used their products at the city libraries and found them helpul. I am used to using Mitchell's or Chilton's professional shop series of manuals, and I kept a few thousands worth of them when I sold my shop in '92. Nothing beats a factory manual- I use them all the time when repairing Benzes.

#1020 of 1230 97 Grand Am intermittant start & die by car_surgeon

Aug 04, 2011 (7:00 am)

I replaced the ignition switch on a hunch to save time- $ wasted, it was a red herring. I can start it sometimes by jiggling the wires going into the Hall Effect switch. Otherwise, it might start and run for 2-4 seconds some of the starts.
The gf is getting ready to call the junkyard to haul it off. It's a shame, under 100K, no dings or rust. AZ car. I need to go out of town for a few days for a family emergency.

#1021 of 1230 2002 Grand Am GT by grandamgtjp1

Aug 08, 2011 (11:59 am)

I have read through all the posts and just want to get your insight on my problem.
 
I have a 2002 Grand am GT, Automatic Transmission, 75,000 miles. My parents took my car on a weekend road trip and when they got back i went to start my car and the security light was bright red and solid on my dash. I drove it around a little bit and after my last stop I shut car off and tried to start again and I have lights, radio, etc. but the car would not start. The car had no clicking of the starter, nothing other than what i wrote before. It was if the battety was completely dead. (New battery) I did the 10 minute reset and the car started up and light is gone and has started the last 10 times I tried, but i haven't drove anywhere in it yet afraid that it will do it again. Has anyone had any luck that this was a one time deal and didn't happen again? Plus will this Passlock make the car engine sound like it is working harder? And will this make rpm on idle be 1200? What sound the engine sound like in a Grand Am GT? Loud? Smooth? Should it be at 2200- 2500 rmp at 55 miles an hour? Just wondering if it's okay to do new disable of system or if something else is cause?

#1022 of 1230 Re: 2002 Grand Am GT [grandamgtjp1] by burdawg

Aug 09, 2011 (8:52 am)

Replying to: grandamgtjp1 (Aug 08, 2011 11:59 am)
The security light on SOLID when it's running indicates a problem has been detected in the security system.
From your description it sounds somewhat like an ignitionswitch or related circuit problem was the culprit when it wouldn't start, but that's just a guess.
Passlock won't make the engine work harder.
It won't effect the idle (other than the fact it won't run if it's tripped).
It should sound somewhat louder than a standard GA due to the exhaust but it's no big difference. The big difference is in the final drive gearing in the GT.
The rpm's at 55mph is determined by the load. If it's in overdrive that sounds a little high, but under power or going uphill that could be normal.

#1023 of 1230 Re: 2002 Grand Am GT [burdawg] by grandamgtjp1

Aug 09, 2011 (12:21 pm)

Replying to: burdawg (Aug 09, 2011 8:52 am)
When i was doing the 10 minute reset the red security light was blinking until 10 minutes was up and it went off, that when I was able to start. I drove around last nite for awhile and the light didn't come back on. I may have to find a blog for te idle thing. Could be many things. At 55 the rpm was at 1500 with overdrive kicking in at 55. The car is just making a whinning noice like the engine is working harder.

Messages Page 103 of 124

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