Can Alero Passlock be deactivated

For the 2nd time in as many weeks my 2001 Alero is deader than a doornail. Two weeks ago it died and wouldn't take an AAA jump nor start with the aid of starter fluid or thwacking the living beejeebers outt eh gas tank. AAA thought might be fuel pump and car was towed to my mechanic.

Mechanic checked fuel pump and it was okay. Replaced fuel filter to be on safe side then threw up his hands telling me it was either computer or anti-theft system and I would have to have towed to dealer. Dealer guesstimate started at $300 or so all the way up to $1800 or more for new computer.

Nothing much in manual about Passlock so I Googled the problem and came up with the following fix that I verifed first with local Olds dealer:

Key to ON position for 10 minutes
Key to OFF position for 10 seconds
Key to ON position again for 10 minutes
Key to OFF position for 10 seconds
Key to ON position for 10 minutes
Key to OFF position for 10 seconds and start

It worked fine to reset Passlock but car had to be jumped anyway as battery was drained during previous attempts to start.

Well, it happened again today. It was towed this time to my apartment parking lot where it sits till I find someone to standby to jump start again.

Is there any way at all for a conventional mechanic....not deal....to permanently deactivate the Passlock system???

Responses to [email protected], please and thank you.

Thanks. :)

Katie-Mae

Katie Mae,
I think that the passlock system is part of the PCM or powertrain control module, so its programmed in. I would think the only way to deactivate it is to reprogram the PCM...

Jeremy

I agree. The passlock shuts down the fuel pump altogther. more or less, if somebody tried to hotwire your car, 91/2 times out of 10, they cant steel it. i also beleve it is part of the pcm.