Car Won't Start

[tsmitty025]

So, my car won't start, it just turns over and every once in awhile it putters like it's going to start but it doesn't... Sat out there for 5 minutes trying. Anyone have some ideas? I'm the only one home right now and I have two tests today. My gas is low, but not low enough for the gas light to be on. It drove fine yesterday, I put some new windshield washer stuff in it yesterday when I got home...

[Gr1m]

security light on? leave the key in the ignition and turned to the ACC position and let it sit for about 10-20 minutes, go out there and try it again

[tsmitty025]

Okay, just put the key in... The security light flashes while it's in the ACC position. What does that mean?

[Gr1m]

yep its your passlock, it wont let you start your car with that light flashing, just leave it for about 10 minutes and go see if the security light is off, if it is the car should start normally, if its still flashing let it sit for another 10 minutes and check it again

[Gr1m]

good luck with it but i have work now, but that should solve your problems, and if you get stranded somewhere else your going to have to do the same thing

[tsmitty025]

Thanks for the help. This is ridiculous though, I don't even know what the point of passlock is... what was GM thinking? Is there any way to bypass it?

[jayson_waltz]

There is a way to bypass i've read, but it isn't a easy snip a wire and go type thing. Btw, when its sitting waitng, leave the key in the fully on position for at least 10 minutes. if you try to start it before the 10 minutes is up, even like 9.9 minutes, you have to start the process over.

[Kilroy]

Here is a dumb question, but what exactly does the passlock system do?? I realize it is supposed to stop the car from being stolen, but how exactly does the passlock system think the car is being stolen?? If you are using a key, one would think it's not being stolen??

[cherrington17]

if your using a key thats slightly different... it'll prevent starting.... i think

[Kilroy]

Originally Posted by cherrington17

if your using a key thats slightly different... it'll prevent starting.... i think

You mean like if your own key starts to wear down?

[AndyT3]

The way PassLOCK works is as follows. The ignition lock cylinder is programmed to look for a certain voltage, lets say 2 volts. When you take your key and put it in the ignition, your key is programmed for 2 volts, so with the key in the ignition, it completes a circuit and the car starts. If you take a key that fits, but is not programmed to the correct voltage, that circuit is not complete, and thats how PassLOCK knows you don't have the correct key.

[Kilroy]

But the key is just metal? Would an non-factory key that was recut create havoc with the passlock system then? Does this mean one should ONLY use an original GM key blank??

[cherrington17]

Originally Posted by Kilroy

But the key is just metal? Would an non-factory key that was recut create havoc with the passlock system then? Does this mean one should ONLY use an original GM key blank??

my spare (given to my by the dealer) is just a plain blank cut key. Not GM in anyway... it works fine.

[jayson_waltz]

Originally Posted by AndyT3

The way PassLOCK works is as follows. The ignition lock cylinder is programmed to look for a certain voltage, lets say 2 volts. When you take your key and put it in the ignition, your key is programmed for 2 volts, so with the key in the ignition, it completes a circuit and the car starts. If you take a key that fits, but is not programmed to the correct voltage, that circuit is not complete, and thats how PassLOCK knows you don't have the correct key.

wrong. Alero's don't have chips in their keys. Passlock just make the car touchy about worn out keys and locks up the radio if it's taken out to the point that a dealership unlocks it before it will work again

[2004alero]

i had the same issue but i was told it was because if the spare key isn't the exact match to ignition then the pass lock detects it. i ended up going to junk yard paying 10 buck for a different ignition switch and 2 normal keys.

[lord2heart]

i didnt know you had to leave the key in the ignition on the on position or acc. whenever it happends to me i just take the key out, go inside my house, kill time, go back out and it'l start right back up. is it not suppose to do that?

[AndyT3]

Originally Posted by jayson_waltz

wrong. Alero's don't have chips in their keys. Passlock just make the car touchy about worn out keys and locks up the radio if it's taken out to the point that a dealership unlocks it before it will work again

Yeah now that you mention it. What system am I thinking of then? I've watched my dad (GM Master Tech) service quite a few of them at the Chevy dealership he works at. Sorry to the OP for the confusion

BTW, the feature your thinking of on the raido isn't PassLOCK it's TheftLOCK

Edit: I remembered the system I was thinking of, its PassKEY, not PassLOCK, sorry.

[mystery]

I replaced the switch interrupter commutateur and my alero starts up more flawless then before so don't jam the key when you crank the car other wise you will spend three hundred bucks.

[AleroDrime]

im lost how was the key/ignition peice 200 picks, ive replaced two in two different fords, the peice is like 15 bucks autozone and about a 10 min ordeal if you take your time, as eazy as it is to get the guages and stuff out of the alero so you can reach in that area, how is it 300 bucks

[alero_bmxer]

because its a ford