1996 Grand Am with a serious theft system problem...

When you start the car the theft system light comes on and then the car stalls. This has been a continuous problem for about two years. I can't find any pattern to when it does and does not start. Sometimes it will start again the next try, sometimes 30 minutes, sometimes I have it towed to the pontiac dealer after a week of not starting. Recently I have had the cluster sent out twice to check for problems, a new lock cylinder, and the bmc replaced. (about $1,150 total) This was done by a certified pontiac garage and the problem is still not fixed so I dropped it off again last night. Any suggestions? Also is there a point where I should get reimbursed for having parts replaced that were not broken? I have to believe that if the problem is still happening then there was nothing wrong with the lock cylinder or the bcm.

Welcome to AF !

I doubt you get reimburst but its always worth a try.
Though, if you told them not to fix something unless its broke then depending on where you live your rights very.

But on with this security gremlin. If you do a search you will find you are not alone, hundreds of people have things like this happen.

Now when they replaced the lock cylinder did they give you a new key or did you use the same one?

Also if you have a bunch of stuff hanging from your key chain, this will make it worst.

Other then doing the relearn procedure when it doesnt start, you are pretty much at the hands of the stealership.
Theirs no reason why they shouldnt find the problem since they have the tools.

No I didnt get a new key. They just coded it again. After the new lock cylinder was put in I picked it up and it started fine and I drove it home. Later I made a few stops and then it wouldn't start again. I drove it to the dealer and it wouldn't start for him either which was good b/c I hate when I get it there and it starts fine for them. He hooked it to a computer and he would code it, it would learn it, then when he tried to start it there was a failure and the code was gone. Thats why they replaced the bcm. I swear that it starts better when the tank is full and the times when it has gotten really bad and had to be towed were when it had about a half a tank of gas. They thought this was just a coincidence which could be true. I'm always trying to find a pattern as to when it does and doesn't start.

If your key is badly worn it can screw with the passlock and ignition.

My GT key is worn and only turns the ignition when is put in a certain way, turn it over and the key wont turn at all.

Have they checked the fuel pump and its wiring?
The harness on this model is notorious for breakage by the gas tank.

Also sometimes when you replace the ignition you need to do a relearn, but I would think if it needed it they would have seen so on thier testing....

By any chance you have all the codes they got ?

Keep me posted!

Thanks for the replies. I know its not the key because we tried a couple of them. I don't thnk the fuel pump and wiring have been checked. If it was the fuel pump or wiring would this cause the theft system light to blink? The car starts for about 2 seconds and then stalls.

If the lights a flashing then wait till it stops before trying to start it. That means its not reading the key properly.

Can do the relearn.
Attemp to start, leave key in the "ON" position for 10 mins.
SHut off for 1 min, then repeat two more times(total of 3 times).
It should fire up after the third try.

See if that dont help.

Also keep ride the stealerships ass about this.

When you say repeat two more times, do you mean starting with the key in the on position for ten minutes or just the shut off for one minute part?

both, with the key "on" for 10 min. shut off 1min.
then do it two more times, On and off.

They are now putting a remanufactured cluster into it free of charge. They don't make them anymore. I haven't got it back yet but I am hoping.

So they replaced the lock cylander, the pcm (twice), sent the cluster out to be remanufactured (twice), and tried three different used clusters that they got from junk yards. Then they called me and told me they had bad news. They said my car can't be fixed due to its age. They have had my car for over three months. This is Loughead Pontiac in Springfield PA. I spent an hour on the phone with Pontiac customer service and when it was all said and done they told me the same thing. The car is a 96 so it is old but not so old that I would expect to be told the parts have been discontinued.

Sorry to hear !

Sounds like they couldnt figure it out,
of coarse they'd never admit this,
so they just give you a bs excuss :disappoin

Its too Old? thats not right :screwy:

So are you getting payed for them having your car for 3 mnths?

I think they should reimburse me for the parts. I don't mind paying for the labor. Two different times the guy told me that it couldn't be any other problem except (1st time lock cylander 2nd time PCM) and that guarantee is why I told them to go ahead and do the repair. If I told somebody flat out this is the problem and this is what it will cost to fix it then I dont think I could say well I was wrong that part didn't need fixed but that will be another 500 dollars.

Good Luck with that !

have you gotten the vehicle repaired yet

I have this problem. Do I still have to go to GM dealer to get this tool ?

I have the fix for the 96 grand am theft system problem. First i am a G.M. tech and have been one for 33 years. I just bought a 96 grand am for 250 dollors. Yep thats right the owner just got sick of it not starting from time to time and the theft system light coming on. So i have had time to play with it and try things that may work to bypass this system. I want go into all that junk her it is. Tell you dealer the just unplug the harness at the base of the column coming from the lock cylinder. Then hook up the tech 2 go to the special functions opions section under I P then run the 10 min. relearn. After its done leave the harness unpluged start the car and this will program the system leaving the lock cylinder out of the picture. Dont plug it back in. The only downfall is the theft system is no longer there. The light want even come on again but after all who would still a 96 grandam.

That is a bad way to do it. First, if your battery ever run flat (or you replace it) then the car will not start back again. Second, it will light up the security light.

Better way to do it is to cut the wires and solder a resistor, then do the 10 mins relearn procedure. That way it will always work. That work for passlock 1 and 2, not for passlock 3 (which use RFID instead of resistance)

I don't think there is any such thing as PassLock 3...there is PassKey III....

But I agree....the resistor method is better...eliminates the toggle switch, and you don't have to worry about loss of power due to a bad battery or loss of battery power due to a disconnect....

Ya oldGMguy was a little late,Ive removed his post as it was not useful!

It just seems wrong to hack the harness, when a new lock cylinder fixes the problem 99% of the time, for me any way.

A lot has to do with the way people abuse the lock cylinders. They are cheap plastic inside, not metal like the old ones.

Welcome to AF 500TPmech !
Yes you do have to go to the stealership, but they wont lend it or prob do what oldGmguy suggested. You might find a used one for a $1000, maybe.

I would NOT follow the advice on cutting the harness. :grinnno:

What exactly is your issue with your passlock ??

And please note the post dates before posting in such an old thread.

I got the same pro. Now the mic.said i need cluster.

thephantom1492, could you be more specific with how to fix it with resistors, I have the same car with the same problem.

Please help me. I have tried the re-learn about 1000 times and it does not work. I just replaced the entire ignition lock cylinder today with a brand spankin new one and for the first time after trying to start it the THEFT light actually blinked and wasn't on just solid red. I conveniently messed up the re-learn this time for whatever reason, so now once again the light does not blink, indicating it's ready to relearn, it just is on solid. This was the issue before the new cylinder, was that the light did not blink it was just on completely solid red. I don't know how to get it to blink to do the re-learn or what could be causing it to just stay on solid red without blinking. I don't care about the security system at all. I followed the wires down from the new cylinder to the harness it connects to and clipped the yellow wire from that harness. I thought that would kill the pass lock system entirely but no, the light is still shining bright like a big red middle finger in my face. this is a '96 pontiac grand am. Please help if you know a secret for making the light actually blink for the relearn or for just deactivating it as a whole.

Please help me. I have tried the re-learn about 1000 times and it does not work. I just replaced the entire ignition lock cylinder today with a brand spankin new one and for the first time after trying to start it the THEFT light actually blinked and wasn't on just solid red. I conveniently messed up the re-learn this time for whatever reason, so now once again the light does not blink, indicating it's ready to relearn, it just is on solid. This was the issue before the new cylinder, was that the light did not blink it was just on completely solid red. I don't know how to get it to blink to do the re-learn or what could be causing it to just stay on solid red without blinking. I don't care about the security system at all. I followed the wires down from the new cylinder to the harness it connects to and clipped the yellow wire from that harness. I thought that would kill the pass lock system entirely but no, the light is still shining bright like a big red middle finger in my face. this is a '96 pontiac grand am. Please help if you know a secret for making the light actually blink for the relearn or for just deactivating it as a whole.

Welcome to AF seejayforpresident !

on the relearn procedure you need to attempt to start it , then leave the key in the run position for at least 12 mins or until the security light stops flashing. then off for at least 30 seconds. But reconnect the yellow wire you cut and tape it up so it doesnt short out before you do the relearn!

If the security light was on solid and not flashing, before you replaced the lock cylinder , that might not have been your problem(s).

You might be able to add a 2200 Ohm resistor into the yellow and black terminals on the lock cylinder and cover the leads with tape or something.

Also sometimes the security light does not flash or blink when theirs security issues, just stays lit solid. You can try to do the relearn either way, flashing or on solid. Just keep repeating the relearn until it stops flashing and stays on and it starts.

but once you cut the yellow wire its told the pcm somethings not right so you might have to do the relearn repeatedly until it starts.

If you search the Grand Am forum you'll find many threads that discuss the lock cyl replacement, and the relearn procedure and how to by pass the passlock system properly. Im not a big fan on hacking it because it can still cause problems down the road with it not wanting to start. So Im not responsible if you screw it up. lol

Hope that helps.