'97 Cav - Passlock/PCM problem, won't start! =*(

[Sunshyne276]

Hello.. I'm new here.. And, hoping someone can help me!

I have a 1997 Cavalier, automatic, 2.2 engine.

I had trouble almost a year ago with the PCM/Engine computer, and bought a new one from Autozone - they ofcourse sent it out to have it flashed for my specific VIN. After replacing the PCM, and doing the "Turn the ket for 10 minutes, then start" thing, it started, and everything was great!

Until one day, driving down the road, the PCM literally fell out of the car, and was ran over, twice. =/

I had the most difficult time ordering a new PCM from Autozone. First, I had one on order, had to borrow a car, and drive 50 miles to pick it up - only to find that the part was somehow not shipped, the order wasn't completed! So... I called another Autzone, in another town, and before going to pick it up, I called ahead, and again.......it didn't come in. So, finally... The part came in at the original store, and I got another ride to go pick it up.

The PCM was hooked up, along with the wiring harness that I had to buy at a salvage yard (the original snapped when the PCM fell out - and the only place to purchase new is dealership, at around $1200!!!).
The OBD II was reading "P1336", crankshaft relearn required? So.. Tried everything, nothing was working. The car would turn over, but not start, not even for a second or two. The anti-theft light would come on - not flashing, just staying on steady.

I then took this PCM back, thinking it may have been defective. This PCM has been hooked up.. The OBD II no longer reads "P1336". It finds no trouble codes at all... But.. The anti-theft light is still staying on steady. Now, the "check engine" light is also on.. And same deal, it turns over, with no start!

The "turn the key to ACC for 10 minutes, try to start" has been tried.. I'm so lost.

Can anyone give me any new ideas?

This is my only car, and it's been sooooo difficult being without a vehicle!

Thanks in advance!!

~Sasha

[Spyder3K]

Believe me, I know the troubles of having only one car, and it has to be a cavi, and the cavi has to be having a bad few months.

Since the engine light is back on, I'd find the trouble code on that asap to see what's acting up now. As far as the anti-theft, I'm not certain on this, but I'd say that someone like the dealership would have to reprogram the PCM/EPROMM because the anti-theft is being geh and saying that since the computer was changed out, that this isn't right and nobody told the anti-theft about it.

PCM's can be very difficult to do, since it's the brain to the computer, and these anti-theft systems are geh. Mine was geh when my car was bad years ago.

So, that's where I'd start. I know it's not much, but it's a start at least. I hope any of my ideas help a little.

[J-Ri]

Do check for codes first.

Most of the time a passlock problem is caused by the key cylinder, when it is, you can cut the wires from the BCM and solder in a resistor, then do the relearn procedure. You won't have passlock, if that's important to you.