Ask the Car People.SM


Pontiac Grand Am Security Passlock Problems

1226 messages,  Last post on May 13, 2013 at 1:41 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 112 of 124

#1105 of 1226 Re: Passlock problem or ignition cylinder prob? [janman90] by lovemygrandam

Jan 18, 2012 (1:35 pm)

Replying to: janman90 (Jan 17, 2012 4:07 pm)
What size resistor did you use to bypass the Passlock module? I always use a 2200 ohm resistor, but any value between 1500 and 4000 will work. In some cases you must do a 30 minute relearn procecure, which is also mentioned at....
www.bergerweb.net/PasslockFix.
To read the value of a resistor, hold it so you can read the bands from left to right. The first band is the one nearest to one end of the resistor.
The first band is the first number.
The second band is the second number
the third band is the number of zeros to add.
The color codes are as follows:
Black = 0
Brown = 1
Red = 2
Orange = 3
Yellow = 4
Green = 5
Blue = 6
Violet = 7
Grey = 8
White = 9
 
So on a 2200 ohm resistor, the bands will be red - red - red
On a 3000 ohm resistor, the bands will be orange - black - red.
 
A common mistake is to use a 2.2 ohm resistor (red - red- black) instead of a 2.2 K ohm.
 
Finally, If your security light is on solid, it's an indication that the BCM has detected a problem in the Passlock module while the car was running normally. If you have done the bypass correctly, you should be able to perform one of the reset procedures and get the "SECURITY" light to go out. It's not likely that your BCM is defective, but this problem does sound like the Passlock system is preventing the fuel pump from running.
 
The fact that you cannot get the starter motor to run without jumping it is another problem, unrelated to the Passlock. This could be caused by the ignition switch (not the ignition cylinder), or by bad wiring to the starter solenoid. According to the service manual, The Passlock II system does not prevent the starter motor from running.
 
A link to the GM Security Passlock Fix can be found at the top of each page of this thread.

#1106 of 1226 Re: Passlock problem or ignition cylinder prob? [lovemygrandam] by janman90

Jan 18, 2012 (3:14 pm)

Replying to: lovemygrandam (Jan 18, 2012 1:35 pm)
Thanks for your response. I put a 2.2k ohm resistor in(3 red stripes). The car will not crank and the light is just solid and does not time out. I did put the resistor I the by the bcm using the terminal block with 1black wire going in from bcm and 1 yellow wire going back to bcm with the resistor in the middle. Still same as before. Light stays on and no crank. I will double check to make sure I wired it exactly the way it was demonstrated in previous posts. If I did it correctly the light on the dash should go out and I will not have to worry about the key being the problem, right? I love working on cars but this one has got me baffled. I am not ready to throw in the towel yet. I will replace both key and bcm if I have to. If I replace both componets will I have to take it to a dealer to have it reprogrammed or will the relearn process work. In reading your post again I also wanted to mention that the fuel pump does cycle and the car starts and runs for about 2 sec each time I jump the solenoid on the starter. Something is keeping it from running. Could that be the key? I leave it in the on postion and it runs for a little bit and dies. I keep jumping it and same effect each time.

#1107 of 1226 Re: Passlock problem or ignition cylinder prob? [janman90] by lovemygrandam

Jan 18, 2012 (3:25 pm)

Replying to: janman90 (Jan 18, 2012 3:14 pm)
If you keep having to jump it (starter motor won't spin the engine) each time, I would suspect there is something bad in the ignition switch, The Park/neutral switch, or the Clutch switch. I have electrical diagrams, if you need them (for a 2002 Grand am, but should be the same as yours).
 
The fact that it won't keep running for more than 2 seconds after squirting starter fluid seems to indicate that there is something wrong with the fuel supply... either fuel pump or fuel filter. I would certainly replace the fuel filter as a first step, before replacing fuel pump or BCM.
 
I'm baffled as to why the Security light is on solid and won't reset. Have you tried the 30 minute reset method?
 
Dick B

#1108 of 1226 Re: Passlock problem or ignition cylinder prob? [lovemygrandam] by janman90

Jan 18, 2012 (4:26 pm)

Replying to: lovemygrandam (Jan 18, 2012 3:25 pm)
I have not tried the 30 min relearn. The light just comes on and stays on. The fuel pump and filter are only about 3 weeks old. The pump primes when I turn the keep to the on postion. I do not need to spray starting fluid into manifold to get it to run for the 2 seconds. I just leave the key in the run/on postion and crawl under the car and bypass the solenoid on the starter. It runs for a short time then dies. The real problem is that the engine will not crank using the key. It should crank even if the bcm or the passlock was bad, correct? If so I think the ignition switch might be my problem and not the key or bcm. What are you thoughts? Got no juice to the starter when I turn the key. I just wanted to make sure the passlock or the bcm would not disable the starter. How could I test to see if the switch is bad? Thanks for all your help.

#1109 of 1226 Re: Passlock problem or ignition cylinder prob? [janman90] by lovemygrandam

Jan 18, 2012 (5:23 pm)

Replying to: janman90 (Jan 18, 2012 4:26 pm)
I'm posting an electrical diagram of the Starter Circuit. Right click on the diagram and choose "View image" to see the diagram full size. Also, here is something I just read in my service manual about the fuel pump.
 
CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
When you turn ON the ignition switch, the Powertrain Control Module enables the fuel pump relay which powers the fuel pump ON. The fuel pump remains ON as long as the engine is cranking or running and the Powertrain Control Module receives ignition reference pulses. If there are no ignition reference pulses, the control module shuts the fuel pump OFF within 2 seconds after the ignition was switched to the ON position or if the engine stops.
 
Does that reference to 2 seconds sound familiar?
  
Here is the starter schematic:

 
Looking at the wiring to the starter motor, you could have a problem in one of four places:
  • 1. Ignition switch Batt 1 fuse.

  • 2. Ignition switch, or the connector to it.

  • 3. Gearshift Park/Neutral switch (or clutch pedal switch if stick shift)

  • 4. Starter solenoid (Not making contact between motor and battery when engaged.

 
I think I would check the fuse first. Second, jumper between the small wire and the large wire on the solenoid to see if that will make starter motor run. If it does, then the problem is the P/N switch, ignition switch, or wiring.
 
About the "Security" light...
Have you pulled the middle connector off of the BCM and read the resistance between pins A6 and B6 of the connector? Should read 2.2Kohm
 
Also, there seems to be some validity to the information in Post #1104. There is wiring that goes from the Coolant reservoir to the Body Control Module. It could be that the BCM checks that signal, and then as a safety precaution, sends a signal to the PCM telling it to shut off fuel when there is no coolant.
 
Good luck, and don't forget to let us know how you made out.
 
Dick B.

#1110 of 1226 Re: Passlock problem or ignition cylinder prob? [lovemygrandam] by burdawg

Jan 19, 2012 (12:43 pm)

Replying to: lovemygrandam (Jan 18, 2012 5:23 pm)
I saw post 1104 also and almost replied. I thought that the switch in the coolant reservoir only made the BCM command the "Low Coolant" light in the cluster to come on. I'm not aware of it having any other function.

#1111 of 1226 Re: Passlock problem or ignition cylinder prob? [lovemygrandam] by janman90

Jan 19, 2012 (2:20 pm)

Replying to: lovemygrandam (Jan 18, 2012 5:23 pm)
Dick, I put a test light to the fuse and it was good. I then put the light to the ignition switch(yellow wire) and turned key to the crank postion and light came on. I then put the light to the starter fuse under hood, had my daughter crank engine and the light, again, came on. Last I went down to the starter itself (purple wire) and could NOT get the light to come on when she cranked the engine. I don't know where the park/neutral switch is located, so I did not test. Just want to verify. The car should still crank even if the passlock system is in "security" mode. The passlock just disables the fuel pump. Right? If I have power at the ignition switch, then to the fuse panel but nothing after that it is either that park switch or bad wiring. Any help is appreciated. Thanks for all your advice/help.
 
Chris

#1112 of 1226 Re: Passlock problem or ignition cylinder prob? [burdawg] by lovemygrandam

Jan 20, 2012 (3:15 pm)

Replying to: burdawg (Jan 19, 2012 12:43 pm)
Yes, I thought the same thing about the wire from the coolant reservoir to the BCM, but in light of their experience, there may be other safety functions built into the newer BCM's. My 2002 manual makes no mention of such a function.
 
I don't know where the park/neutral switch is located, so I did not test. Just want to verify. The car should still crank even if the passlock system is in "security" mode.
 
You are right, the car should crank. I think the Park/Neutral switch is located on the transmission. Here is the service manual page concerning removal and replacement of it, but before going that far, I would try wiggling the gearshift lever around and see if you can find a position where the starter operates. The PNP switch could just be loose, or mis-adjusted.
 
Here is the manual page.
Park-Neutral Switch Service

#1113 of 1226 Re: Passlock problem or ignition cylinder prob? [janman90] by lovemygrandam

Jan 20, 2012 (7:46 pm)

Replying to: janman90 (Jan 17, 2012 4:07 pm)
Janman90,
I just now noticed something in Post #1103 that I had overlooked before.
 
The security light is on solid and will not go out after the 10 min wait period with the key in the acc position.
 
The Passlock reset must be done with the ignition in the ON position. Here is the exact quote from the owner's manual:
"After attempting to start the engine, if the SECURITY light flashes or stays on, wait ten minutes with the key in ON until the light goes off. Then turn the ignition to OFF before attempting to start the engine again."
 
Is that what you did?
 
Dick B.

#1114 of 1226 Security light by whitneykcasey

Feb 06, 2012 (10:28 am)

Brian i see you had the same problems i am having now with my pontiac, after all these years of posting your messages did u ever figure out what TRIGGERED the security light to come on?
It Rained really bad here the other night and my windows wont roll up all the way it got very wet in my car and the water got into my door and made me TRUNK pop open then thats when the next day i saw that my car wouldnt start because of my security light?
 
ANY IDEAS? i founf your posts very helpfull

Messages Page 112 of 124

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement