Fixing (not disabling) the Pass Lock System

[susiecats]

Hello everyone,

I have a 2001 Grand Am which I bought a few months ago. Three times I have had the problem where the car won't start and I have to wait about 10 minutes with the key on for the secuirty system to reset itself. My mechanic who I bought the car from knew of the problem, he told me to bring it in today and he would look into it.

I checked this forum last night and saw where you had a post about disabling the pass lock system. I kept googling and found this answer someone wrote in on another site with the same problem I was having - this is the answer he was given:



I am aware of one common problem and I am not saying that is what is wrong, but this operation has fixed many a PASS LOCK systems.
Contact your local automotive locksmith. Have the ignition lock removed. Use brake cleaner on the lock assembly. Then have him clean the ignition lock housing real good. Re install the ignition lock cylinder.
When these locks are assembled new they have graphite grease. After a period of time rotating the lock, the grease sprays onto the inside of the housing covering the magnetic field needed for the vehicle's computer to sense the rotation of the lock for the engine to start.
This problem rarely shows a code and yet, I have seen this situation many times.

Good luck and I hope this fixes the problem.


I printed this out and bought it to my mechanic this morning ...he did just what this guy stated. Now I am crossing my fingers.

I was just wondering if any of you have tried this and if it has worked or is this something that has to be done every so often??

Any answers would be most helpful.

Thanks,
Susan

:)

[rixGAphx]

Had never heard that before.

Seems to make some sense.

I question the 'graphite grease ' part of the reasoning, since
1) Graphite is NOT a 'grease', it is a pure powder form of the graphite that you scrape off a standard wood desk pencil; and,
2) Graphite lubricant is all that EVER should be used on ANY lock cylinder; Ford to GM to Ferrari, and school locker to your own front door.
3) Graphite is pure carbon.
Just like a diamond, but not in crystalline matrix. Anywho, it is completely non-magnetic but an excellent electrical conductor.

So, why would graphite cause a problem for GA's, and not every other vehicle with similar technology?

But beyond the graphite/magnetism reasoning, just a good cleaning of the pins and springs in the lock cylinder (the brake cleaner) might be effective at reducing the GA's sensitivities and un-necessary PASSLOCK deactivation.

Good luck.
-Rick