Won't Start

[suzieq]

I have a question I'm hoping someone has an answer for.
My car has run wonderful, had it for 5 years now. But today, after driving it around all day, I get in, turn the ignition and nothing happens.

Well let me rephrase that....the dash lights come on, along with a SECURITY light I've never seen, I hear the fuel pump start up, but nothing else happens. No clicking, nothing.
Sooo, I had the battery checked, it's fine. But after making sure it has a full charge, when I turn the ignition to start the head lights go dim.

Does this problem have to do with the ignition switch, the safety switch on the brake or the fuses?

Could really use any answer, don't have the money to buy electrical parts ya can't return.

[2K SE]

The "security" light is the problem. Get out your owners manual and find "passlock". There is a 10 minute procedure to reset the security system then you should be good to go. What you are experiencing is very common in these cars and will eventually lead to having to replace the switch. Big bucks so maybe start saving now. Hope it works out for you.

[nlm612]

This happened to me....what u do is you put your key in the ignition and turn it to on and leave it there for 10 minutes (no more then 15 minutes). Then after the 10 minutes you turn the key to off for 3 seconds....then try and start the car. That should reset the passlock...or if that dosent work try and disconnect the battery then try again. Hope that helps.

[Matt95GT]

You didn't mention if the starter turns the engine over or not. Passlock (security light) will not prevent the starter from turning.

[rixGAphx]

You didn't mention if the starter turns the engine over or not. Passlock (security light) will not prevent the starter from turning.She has an '03.

We have anecdotal evidence, and one absolutely-confirmed case from about 6 months ago in this forum, that some specific glitch of the '03 Passlock DID INDEED disable the starter.
* * *

But that's not here problem.

The key is: "I had the battery checked, it's fine.
But after making sure it has a full charge, when I turn the ignition to start the head lights go dim."

The ignition switch is fine, it's sending signal to the solenoid.
The solenoid is fine, it's moving and connecting the hot battery lead to the starter motor.
The current is going through the starter motor, but the motor isn't turning.
Why not?
There isn't enough power going from the (tested good) battery o the (presumably-good) starter.

Classic symptom of fualty positive battery cable, and 5-yrs old is just about time for this syndrome.

Susie, do the Battery Cable Service indicated under the FAQ tab of this webpage's menubar:

Battery cable ends must be clean and tight and shiny bright.
Even the best new alternator and the best new battery can't provide adequate power (volts and amps) if the connections are so dirty/loose/corroded that power doesn't flow through them.
Bad connections will also kill both the alternator and the battery very quickly.

So, inspect/clean/repair/replace/tighten both ends of both cables to provide maximum flow of electrical power. Disconnect cables: NEG (Black) first, then POS (Red).
Cut the molded rubber boots from the battery connections, since water seeps thru them and corrodes the copper wire into useless powder.
(This step is VERY important. You can't just look at the outside and think, "They look alright".)

Dissolve corrosion with a paste solution of baking soda and water, applied with an old toothbrush.
Scrape/sand/wire-brush all the metal (cable ends and batt terminals) to shiny metal.

Pay attention to the Body Ground: This is a smaller Black (Neg) wire that comes from the battery terminal and attaches directly to the bodywork, somewhere near the left (Driver) side hood edge.
This is a source of rust, and must be kept clean and shiny.

Reconnect cables: POS (Red) first, then NEG (Black); this is OPPOSITE of the way you disconnected them.
Replace the cut-off boots with new aftermarket slip-on rubber boots to protect against short-circuiting while allowing for future inspection and service.

Weird things happen to GA's when the cables aren't in pristine shape.
The above procedure is necessary and cheap (or even free!), so there's no downside to servicing them immediately.

This will *prolly* be the problem, and the solution.
If not, this is still a necessary step in the diagnosis.

Hope this helps,
-Rick

[suzieq]

You guys are so schmart.
The passlock was the problem, and here I was up all night having nightmares about tearing out the ignition.
And to answer the question....no the engine was not turning over.

I am so glad I found this site, has saved me bucks and time.

Thank you again for your help
Suzie

[suzieq]

Rick,
The very first thing I did was break out the baking soda, water and wire brush. Things really were not that dirty but cleaned em anyways. But thank you for the info.
Have a great day,
Suzie:)

[rixGAphx]

Rick,
The very first thing I did was break out the baking soda, water and wire brush.Smart lady, my kind of woman ;)

[CrzyGA]

My wife had the same problem with her GA yesterday. Thanks to everyone on here we tried the security thing and it worked. Thank goodness because her car is in the basement level of a parking garage and could not be towed out. Thanks again.

[2K SE]

You are welcome sir. Glad you got back on the road quickly. Passlock had me stopped 2 times before I got it figured out.

[rixGAphx]

Thank goodness because her car is in the basement level of a parking garage and could not be towed out.Don't you just HATE having to hire 4 streetbums to push the car up 4 flights of ramps??? :banghead:



:D :D

Actually, this is quite a common problem, and the world has figured it out.
As architects, our company specializes in transportation facilities, including parking garages.

Every garage manager knows somebody who has a Ford F250-based service truck with jumper/lockout/flat tire/out-of-gas service, which are the most common problems in garages.
The trucks are small enough to go under the lowest beams, and turn within the tightest corkscrew ramps.
Public garages at airports offer all these services FOR FREE!
In a private garage, AAA may or may not be able to service you; I know in Phoenix, they hafta hire this out to a specialist but it's still covered under my AAA membership.

These 'specialists' charge a pretty penny for their services, and if you're in Chicago or NYC or such I'm sure there's a kickback to the garage manager involved.

These same trucks have dollies that can be jacked under the front tires, allowing the GA to be 'flat-towed' out of the garage until it can be actually lifted.

But yeah, discovering this Passlock trick is definitely helpful.
Your problem is going to get worse, until finally you have complete failure.

Plan on one or more of the preventive repairs in the near future.
I'd start with a fresh factory VIN-based key, as well as a good lubing of the cylinder with spray graphite powder.

Glad you're on the road again!
-Rick

[tigerlily43571]

I have an 01 Grand AmSE, and had it towed today. It turned, but would not start. I tried a little while ago to do what you all said, about the security resetting, it tried to turn over once and stalled back out. I did find out, that my gas cap was loose. Any more ideas? Will taking off the battery cable and reconnecting them, do the trick?

[rixGAphx]

Karen-

Do the full battery cable service listed under the FAQ tab of the menubar at the top of this webpage.

Other than that, does the engine CRANK (turn-over) strongly but not fire, or does it fire but not stay running, or does it not even crank-over (turn) strongly?
If that's your factory 7-yr old battery, it has had it.

[CrzyGA]

Thanks Rick,
I had actually thought about hiring a few street corner weights to help push the car out......funny. So how expensive is replacing the ignition cylinder? Her car is back on the road (thanks to you all) but she does get the security light periodically, mostly when she uses cruise control, but the car still starts, runs and drives as usual. Do you think these two are connected or just a coincidence?

[rixGAphx]

Thanks Rick,
I had actually thought about hiring a few street corner weights to help push the car out......funny. So how expensive is replacing the ignition cylinder? Her car is back on the road (thanks to you all) but she does get the security light periodically, mostly when she uses cruise control, but the car still starts, runs and drives as usual.
Do you think these two are connected or just a coincidence?What 'TWO':
* The prior 'no start' incident; and now,
* The security light comes 'on' occassionally, which means 'Passlock' is detecting goofiness in the electronic signal?

They are indeed related; both different sides or the same coin.
'Passlock' is detecting an irregularity between the signal it expects to see (when a good key is being used) and the signal its getting.
It won't shut the engine off if the car has already been started (when the key is in 'run').
But it will prevent the engine from starting if it detects similar goofiness at the time the key is turned to 'start'; it's just a matter of time.

IIRC, new cylinders from NAPA are about $150; I wouldn't trust one from Checker/Autozone/etc.

Personally, I think your cylinder is prolly fine, mebbe needs a little lubing with special dry graphite powder from Ace Hardware specially-made for locks (so it doens't gum-up the works by attracting dust and lint as oil or WD-40 would).

But your key is prolly old, worn, mebbe a copy-of-a-copy, and possibly bent.
Get a brand-new key from a GM dealer, freshly-cut based on the VIN and GM's records based on what left the factory.
When the new key is inserted into the existing cylinder, the signal detected will be exactly what the system has been expecting for the past 6 years.
A new VIN-based key should be about $10-25; GA keys use 'normal' metal blanks, with no embedded chip or encoding required like on Fords or some other makes.

Good luck,
-Rick

[CrzyGA]

Thanks Rick,

She is the original owner and has used the same key since it was new. I did tell her to use her spare since it is basically brand new and see if that helps. The two items I was referring to was the cruise control and the security light. She said that she has seen the light com on more often when the cc is used.