Starts and dies

755

Asked by Hdel Sep 22, 2013 at 10:12 AM about the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am SE

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Why would my sons 2001 Grand Am start for a second and then die? I disconnected the negative side of battery and waited about 10 mins. Reconnected battery and it started. Ran for 4-5 mins, shut it off and attempted to restart only to have the same thing.. starts and dies. The only way to start it and keep it running is to disconnect the battery. Security light is on, but not flashing. Abs, check engine, and traction lights are also on when the vehicle was running for the 4-5 mins. Can anyone help? Thx, Hdel

35 Answers

755

Used two different keys, both from the dealer back in 2001

10 people found this helpful.
755

It does say LOCK on the radio display thou.

7 people found this helpful.
755

Ok I'll give it a try. Keep you posted. Thx Jim

2 people found this helpful.
755

Ok Jim I'm back.I had to jump the car. I'm been gone for a week and unable to look at it. When I was in the process of jumping the security light is flashing and there is a chime coming from the drivers side radio speaker. It chirps 3 times, then ten seconds later 4 chirps, another ten seconds 1 chirp. Then it repeats itself. Have not attempted to try to start it yet.

11 people found this helpful.
755

The security light just went off. The vehicle started right up. The chirps are still coming from the speaker thou. What's causing that? The vehicle is still running... afraid to shut it down until I hear from you.

11 people found this helpful.
755

No I don't.. but the radio appears to be fine now that the vehicle is running.

1 people found this helpful.
755

I noticed the day time running lights aren't working.

2 people found this helpful.
755

Also the power door locks stopped working.

3 people found this helpful.
755

Ok, I'll look into that this coming week. Thanks for all your help Jim. Appreciate it.

3 people found this helpful.
965

I can help with the security issue once and for all! Im a grand am specialist and have devised a permanent fix for the no start issue. If interested.. let me know. good luck and good day. :)

64 people found this helpful.
755

I'm interested for sure... vehicle is running as I speak but I'm doing a 24 hour shift today til 8:00 tomorrow am. Unable to look at it til after that. My concern right now is the chiming from drivers speaker. No power door locks, horn, or daytime running lights.

6 people found this helpful.
40

I wanted to say thanks to Hdel and Jim for their back and forth communication. I was able to use the suggestion to get my daughter's car finally running again after a very frustrating month of the same crap with no results. Thanks so much!!

4 people found this helpful.
160

I have a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am also. I have had the ignition system replaced and the BCM box replaced, but the car still will start sometimes without any problems, but other times, it starts and then immediately shuts down. Please help!!!

16 people found this helpful.
60

I been having some issues with my 2001 pontiac grand am also. I replaced the factory radio in the car because the cd player didn't work. Now some days the security light will come on and if you switch car off it will go out sometimes. Well today i went to start my car and it will switch on but sounded like it wasn't getting gas. Had car push to auto store and put on machine and the code said something theft fuel system. Please help

6 people found this helpful.
140

I had the same problem in my 2002 Pontiac Grand Am SE1. The problem is the Passlock chip located in the ignition sw. I was able to fix the problem by bypassing the Passlock system. You can do this by inserting a 2200 ohm resister into the circuit which takes the place of the faulty chip. Checkout this excellent write up on how to do the procedure... http://www.bergerweb.net/grandamsecurityfix.htm

14 people found this helpful.
20

my daughter is having the same problem with her 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix - car starts then dies.....I will do the battery/security light thing. Hope it works! dc

2 people found this helpful.
120

My 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix starts and then within 2 seconds it shuts off and it keeps doing it. I got the regulator changed cause that was what they said it was. It started and then a few days later it does the same thing again. Need help cause i'm getting frustrated and ready to scrap this piece of crap.

10 people found this helpful.

Are you using the same key every time you try starting the car? If not, try using the original key...see if that helps;)

120

I have tried everything . I finally took the car to an electrician who changed some kind of ignition module and reprogrammed everything it cost me $200 but the car has been working perfectly ever since. Thank you.

2 people found this helpful.
40

I have a 2001 grand prix SE and I have never changed the keys. It will start for a couple seconds and then shut off with security light blinking. It's at a shop right now and they have no idea when why it's doing this! It just started giving me problems I bought it in July, Please help!!

3 people found this helpful.
50

I've changed all the ignition on my 01 grand am and still does the same "thinking its being stolen" bull crap! How do I program the new keys that came with the new ignition? I went step by step but that hasn't worked...really love my car but have been fighting this crap for over a year. Poor thing is a pasture pet right now till someone can give me a bit more insight....please help!

5 people found this helpful.
40

Well mine is all fixed and brand new. My computer went out in my car. So hopefully yours is easier to figure out then mine was.

1 people found this helpful.
70

I have a 1996 Pontiac Grand AM SE 4dr. I brought the car off someone about 3 months ago. It do not have the ordinal engine , its 2.4L and the check engine was on when I got it. However, just a few weeks ago it starting shutting off. I will start and than it will shut off. It is also reading 28 different codes. What could be the problem. I really need help?

7 people found this helpful.
755

No. I checked all the fuses and found that when the BFC BATT (Body Computer) fuse was removed the chiming stopped and the security light came on. Replaced with a new fuse, restarted the vehicle... security light off, chiming returned.

4 people found this helpful.
20

I am having a similar issue trying to help my brother in laws 1999 trans am. I have tried disconnecting the battery and I got a new key made with the matching chip number. I am not sure what to try next. It doesn't have a radio so in wondering if that affects the security system in any way? I need our help!

2 people found this helpful.

If u do get the theft light out but u cant stop the chiming u can always get a cheap radio installed and just not replace the chime module and just use a standard harness 70- 2003 which does not have the chime !!!!! But u will have to run ignition wire which is included with harness thanks guys new to site here !!! Remote starts alarm and some mechanical and stereos !!!!

10

I have an 05 an I plugged an air compressor in my cig liter an the dash starts smoking found under the hood sum1 crossed the fuse with a wire so it fried the wire from the box to the plug now the service vehicle the security an brake lite is on the stereo says loc an door locks don't work, I drove the car around the corner an it did fine but scared to go anywhere now any 1 help !???

1 people found this helpful.

If got more than the ignition key in the ignition, u gonna have a mess of sec probe. The weight of a bunch of keys and whatever else on ur keychain, ii's killing the module I'm ur ignition. I got one key stays in ignition all the time. Looking for 03 grandam parts.. motor. Driver fender

10

My car turned on and was ideling low then car shut off, I try to start it and it wouldn't turn on car it jus clicks. My lights are bright and everything, gave it a jump An still nothing. What can it be?

1 people found this helpful.

I changed wires and plugs and found out it was the key I had one made at Home Depot so when I used that one it shut off but with original key it ran fine I figured it out after reading this post thanks everyone

10

i have a 1999 grand am se and it has been wrecked, the ignition switched locked up and i got one off a junk grand am and put it in, the security stopped it from starting on several occasions and i ended up cutting a wire on the computer under the passenger dash. the secutity light is always on (not blinking) and has not really had any problems starting except for every now and then. the dash lights dont work except for signal's, gas, service vehicle soon, etc its the lighs that illuminate the rpm, temp, speedomiter, and gast that dosent work i replaced the fuse once and it just blew instantly even after trying a higher fuse. i dont really have the money to take it to a shop but i do have access to junk grand ams for parts. most of the time the car starts and runs just fine but every so often i go to get in and start it and it starts and dies within 1 second and wont start for a few attempts and sometimes i try to start so much i have to get a boost. i have had everyone i know try and figure out whats wrong with it and everyone keeps giving different answers please help i use this car for work and i dont have the money to buy a new one

1 people found this helpful.

my 2002 started sometimes but other times it would start and die i changed my cam shaft sensor and crank shaft sensor now it runs great

Your Answer:

Grand Am

Looking for a Used Grand Am in your area?

CarGurus has 6 nationwide Grand Am listings and the tools to find you a great deal.

Postal Code:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    tenspeed
    Reputation
    10,950
  • #2
    james sparrow
    Reputation
    2,360
  • #3
    John Saffrahn
    Reputation
    2,280
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Pontiac Firebird
18 listings
Used Chevrolet Corvette
21 Great Deals out of 605 listings starting at $10,989
Used Chevrolet Camaro
19 Great Deals out of 513 listings starting at $11,500

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.