intermittent no-start

I'm going to be checking out a 2002 Malibu with a no-start condition many times when it sets for 1-5 hrs. I originally thought of the pass-lock system, but according to the manual the system is not at fault because the light goes out and stays out like it's supposed to.

It been happening about a year or so and is getting worse. It's also been to a few mechanics that cannot duplicate the problem and don't know where or how to check it out.

I had the opportunity to check a couple of things the other night when it did act up. Usually it starts after a number of attempts and allowing to set 1-30 more minutes. The ign key isn't on the column, it is on the dashboard to the right of the column.

The car never stalls.
The fuel pump did run every time the key was on.
There was spark.
The theft light was not on or flashing.

Any ideas? I'm still thinking something is telling the injectors to stay turned off. What has been tried so far was to switch keys, verify spark, fuel pump, and it always cranks well.

Thanks for the input, it is no hurry as the car isn't in my possesion yet. Give me a few things to try, including how to force the no-start condition.

The key doesn't have the square pellet resistor in it like in many of the passkey I and II posts.

Driver has narrowed it down to acting up when sets 30 minutes to 3 hrs. Leaving the key on for 11 minutes seems to make it start most times. (without turning the key off)

It sounds like it might still be a passkey or ignition switch problem.

I'm still not convinced that it isn't the theft system. I was sur until I read the manual and it stated that if the light was not on or not flashing then the system was not acting up.

Is there perhaps an easy way to identify which system I have and then temporarily or permanently bypass it?


When we did get it to act up and found it had spark and fuel pump did run kinda pointed me to the injectors not being turned on and the theft deterent system.

I believe you have Passlock II as does all 1st generation FWD Malibus. When I said you might have an passlock or ignition switch problem I was throwing a lot more in there than just the theft deterent. But anyway you should check fuel pressure, then maybe try unhooking the MAP, check fuses, then check for injector pulse at the 10-way injector connector on PCM side with a test light hooked to battery +, then check the cam sensor.

Is there any way to disable the passlock II temporarily so owner could try it for a month? I'm still getting feedback that it will not start up to 10 minutes, yet at 11 minutes it will. I will re-read the brochures on the systems again.

Yeah if you check the Passlock thread, there is a procedure where you unhook or cut the theft deterrent wire while the engine is running and it goes into fail-enable mode and bypasses the Passlock.

Thanks, I'm going to try to verify that it is actually passkeyII and if so then I'll look for theat yellow wire and cut it with engine running.

Thanks, I'm going to try to verify that it is actually passkeyII and if so then I'll look for theat yellow wire and cut it with engine running.


OK, but I think you meant PasslockII and not PasskeyII, as I think all 97-03 Malibus have PasslockII. Anyway cutting the yellow wire with engine running is the procedure if I'm remembering right.