Passlock System

[kmart]

Thanks folks, most especially Ray Corri and Poncho. I read EVERY SINGLE POST on this thread before tackling the task at hand, resistorizing my '01 Grand AM passlock. Thanks for all the helpful advice, took about an hour including a trip to Radio Shack for resistors. The car started with the first turn of the key and the SECURITY light is off. Couldn't be happier!

Advice to everyone: Don't hesitate, spend an hour and solder in the resistors. It's not hard, JUST DO IT.

[ponchonutty]

Glad to hear another success!!!!

[serski]

Poncho, sounds like you know what you're talking about... Thanks for sharing this very useful information about the resistors... I am taking the task on this weekend to add the resistors to my 02 Impala. I have had this problem I'll bet for a couple 2, 3 years. Every summer it seems like for the past 3 years my wife would call me and say the car wouldn't start, I had no clue until recently reading these posts. Needless to say it has gotten way worse, and heat and humidity in my opinion do very much have an affect on this problem. I was reading the earlier post and tried cutting the yellow wire, splicing in the toggle switch. This has worked fine for about the last 2 months, but the wife got locked up this week at the doctors office. It was 90 degrees and super humid. I went to pick her up, car had no dome light, no radio display at all, no air (sweating bullets). What I did was unhooked the battery for 5 minutes, hooked it back up, car started, still no air, no dome light, and no radio, display read "LOCKED". Well, I drove it back to work to finish the day, and same thing happened again, I had to unhook the battery just to get it going to get home. I planned on taking it to the dealer this morning, car did not start, had to unhook the battery, then it started, only the weather has cooled right off to around 65 and rainy. So I now have a cleared computer with no issues at all. I can't take that to the dealer because they won't be able to tell what is wrong with no light on. I was lucky enough to find this thread I guess, I'm going to give her one last shot with your resistor method this weekend. I was just about ready to go buy the ignition switch and change it out. Do you recomend that I still change the ignition swith? Or will I be okay if I follow your instructions with the resistor method? Thanks again for all the useful info...
Scott...

[ponchonutty]

It doesn't sound like a PK2 problem with what you state. To me it sounds more like a problem with your battery cables or maybe the ignition switch itself. Usually if it's a PK2 problem the security light will come on while driving. Now, it also could even be a bad BCM too.

[serski]

Poncho...

Thanks for the input... The more research I do, the more I have been assuming it may be the BCM. It only acts up when it's hot out. Like I said, winter months are fine. My car is black, and I'm wondering if the body is transferring heat to the BCM causing it to act up on these hot days. I've had a guy from Arizona tell me that this was happening to him, he actually went and did a test when his BCM failed on a hot day, he pulled it out and threw it in the freezer, took it out, reinstalled it, and the car started fine. It has been mid to low 70's everyday for the past week, and I have had no problems at all. Even when I drive to the gas station, turn it off for 5 minutes and try to restart, no problems now the weather is a bit cooler... I'll keep you posted, I may go to GMpartsdirect.com to purchase a new BCM and have the Stealership reprogram for me.

Thanks for the help...

[devunn]

I've been having this problem with a 98 pontiac grand am. The car will no longer start though. Is there any way to fix this since the car wont start? I really dont have money to buy another car and need this fixed.

[ponchonutty]

serski, it can also be corroded prongs going into the BCM as well.

devunn, you gotta make sure the security is actually the issue. Will it crank over? Is the security light on? If so, I'd try adding an extra ground wire to the ground wire to the PK1 system.

[devunn]

I'm pretty sure that the security is the issue. I replaced the ignition switch on this car and right after that the theft system light has come on and will not go off. When I try to start the car all power is turned off and if I hold the key in the ignition position it blows my ignition fuse.. or alteast it has 2x now.

[ponchonutty]

If that's the case then that sounds like an ignition switch issue. Even if the PK2 is triggered so it won't start, it shouldn't cause the fuse to blow. The reason is that the PK2 kills the fuel injection and nothing else. If a fuse blows or if it won't even crank over you've got other issues like a switch or even something simple like a bad starter.

[GmCat]

Hi All,

Yup, i have a 99 grand am and i am having the same problems to start it, the first time i was really lucky, it would not start, and i left the car alone while talking with a friend about giving me a ride or calling someone. So i went to get my stuff out and i noticed the security light was out, so i tried it again and this time it started just fine. After a few months it happened again, but this time i knew to leave it alone for a little while, later i figured out it needed 10 min to start. Lately its getting worse, it took me about 45 min to start it the other night. I took it to the dealer and they told me it would cost around $500 and it would take about a week for the parts to arrive. So i left, started to google, i knew there must be a cheaper way, and i found your link, i will try the toggle switch method, makes sense. Going to let you know how i did.

Thanks for your insight,
Not so proud GM owner

[ponchonutty]

The toggle switch method isn't recomended unless you plan to NEVER have to unhook your battery or have it go completely dead.

[kmart]

For GmCat:

Dude, if you're gonna take the time to tear it apart, spend the extra five minutes and install the resistors. Then it's done forever and no SECURITY light glaring in your face.

Listen to those who've done the modification, resistors are the only way to go.

[GmCat]

Hey,

I have not done anything to the car yet, i usually do a little more research before taking a dive. I did not notice till today that this thread is very long, i had only read the first part. So now i have some reading to do, but i guess the resistor way is the best option. My CD stopped working a few months ago, but the radio is fine, so i figure i will find a decent stereo shop to have it repaired and have them help me with the resistor thing. They have all the equipment on hand and they know more about resistors than i do. Besides, they dont give a hoot about GM Anti anything, no pressure there. I will do the research, translate it to Spanish and show them what i want.

By the way, i live in Hermosillo, Sonora, México, where its pretty hot, and recently humid because its the rainy season. I got the car 2 and a half years ago, 2 previous owners, loved it the very first day i drove it.
But talk about a lemon, man...

First problem automatic transmission failed, had to get a rebuild, next the power steering pulley broke clean off, later the power steering pump, and after that the rack. During all this i had to keep an eye on the temperature gauge, had problems overheating. Changed the radiator, the pump, the fan, the reservoir and about six radiator caps. This followed thru for the second year, and just when things starting working fine, electric windows problems and now the security issue. I need to get things working so i can sell the car before i go broke..........

I also have a Mercury Grand Marquis 1983 that i bought in 1994, after 1 year i had the engine overhaul, changed a few pumps, put in a lot of miles, and for the life of me, i never had any problems in such a short time span. I am seriously thinking of selling the Grand Am cheap, and fixing up the Mercury, all it needs is a new engine and a little TLC. The reason i stopped using the Mercury and got the Grand Am was to say money on gas, 6 cylinder vs 8 cylinder. Boy did i screw up! With the money i have spent on this car i could have fixed up 2 Mercurys and still have some money left over.

Thanks,
GMCAT

[jjac4776]

I ran a wire from the battery to a 60 amp starter button under my dash and then staight to the starter. Has not fail to start since. The only thing is you have to try to start it first then hit the button so that the fuel pump and eveything else is engaged.

[ponchonutty]

Originally Posted by jjac4776

I ran a wire from the battery to a 60 amp starter button under my dash and then staight to the starter. Has not fail to start since. The only thing is you have to try to start it first then hit the button so that the fuel pump and eveything else is engaged.

I don't think you understand the meaning and design of the PK2 system. Doing what you did won't help anyone with a PK2 failure.