2001 Grand Am Wont Start

My neighbor has a 2001 2.4L Grand Am. The car will not start. It turns over fine, but it just will not catch. She said this was the third time since Nov 02 that the car has done this. I did a little of research and saw that there was TSB out about 2001 Grand Am, intermitent no crank/no start. Is it the injectors? or could it just be fouled plugs? If it is plugs, where are they. I look briefly under the hood and there is so much extra covers over everything I didn't even see the spark plugs... Any and ALL Help would be greatly appreciated.... Thanks

it could be the key...the newer cars if the chip in th key isnt the original..the car will turn over but wont crank. if it's not that..find the spark plug wire an pull it off the spark plug about an inch and have someone turn the key..if u see a spark and hear ticking it's not the ignition..i doubt a fuel rail would go bad on a 01...could be a dirt fuel filter..good luck

Do you hear the pump for 2 seconds when ignition is turned on. If you do, the the pump is okay. If not, look for power at the pump/pump circuit or it could be a defective pump.
If pump is okay, then remove the top cover on the engine, 4/6 bolts hold it down. Lift the cover up carefully and below it you will find the spark plugs and boots. Remove the boots and hold the whole cover close to the head and get someone to crank the engine to check for spark. Is there spark? If no spark then it could possibly be a module.
There are a few things that can go wrong with these vehicles. Coolant sensor, module, coil housing can cause a no start situation. Scanning the system would eliminate the tps and coolant sensors.
I wish you luck.

When it doesn't start, does the security light stay on? Then after 10 minutes the light will shut off and you can start it? If this is what is happening, it is a bad passlock module. If it is still under warranty get it in the shop. I had this experience off and on. The dealership was able to figure out what the problem was and it's been fixed (at least I hope).

My wifes 2001 Grand Am 2.4 L DOHC is doing the exact same thing. I wanted to know what your results ended up being?

white
I own a 2001 Grand AM . I bought it used and its a piece of garbage. Sometimes it wont start. Have had in dealer multiple times. Nobody cares they say they dont know whats wrong. ALL THEY EVER DO IS TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION FOR 15 MIN EXACTLY THEN PULL OUT AND STARTS. Now there is probs. The turn signal wont work 85% of the time . Oh and when it rains it leaks in the back seat floorboard. I have contacted Gm and they wont issue recall. Everyone who has this problem please report it to them. There is an 800 number in the back of the book . Please emai me if you have probs lets compare. my email is ownalemon@wmconnect.com

Wow, yea, my turn signal only works part of the time as well.
I haven't tried that key on for 15 minutes thing. Does anybody know what that might mean? I don't have the water in the floorboard problem though. I'm going to e-mail you.

I have the exact same problems. I tried the on for 15 minutes trick and that seemed to work but how long does that work? Also the turn signal problem is annoying the hell out of me. I can hit or just touch the hazard switch and get them to start working sometimes.

white
I own a 2001 Grand AM . I bought it used and its a piece of garbage. Sometimes it wont start. Have had in dealer multiple times. Nobody cares they say they dont know whats wrong. ALL THEY EVER DO IS TURN THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION FOR 15 MIN EXACTLY THEN PULL OUT AND STARTS. Now there is probs. The turn signal wont work 85% of the time . Oh and when it rains it leaks in the back seat floorboard. I have contacted Gm and they wont issue recall. Everyone who has this problem please report it to them. There is an 800 number in the back of the book . Please emai me if you have probs lets compare. my email is ownalemon@wmconnect.com


A soon to be announced recall will cure your turn signal problem, All you need is your hazard switch replaced and that will fix your turn signals.

As for the 15 minute procedure if you have to do that to get it started then I suspect a bad BCM module. I have had a couple of GA's with this problem and the BCM fixed it.

Pontiac Grand Ams don't have chips in the keys....I have an 03, and sometimes when the fan is left on when the car is turned off, it hard starts

The 15 minute key trick fixed my wifes car. That was very upsetting. I could have replaced every part on that car and it wouldn't have fixed it.

I'm betting it was a bug in the PCM (Went into an infinite loop or something.) Who knows, but you shouldn't have to do this. There was nothing wrong with the car. That key thing fixed it though. What a big bug!! Or whatever it is, they need to fix it though. The car runs great now.

We have a 2000 that was doing that.
We tried everything,It turned out to be the fuel pump even though it was coming on n you could hear it it was not pumping gas.
We replaced it now its running fine

disconnect from the fuel filter and see if its pumping gas.
If its coming on but not pumping then its the fuel pump.

I have this problem with my '97
the key for 15 min works
so the question; is it the passlock module, the ECM? It is not the crank sensor, or fuel pump, I also had the computer scaned and it does not show up
And/or could it a short somewhere that arcs when the ignition is left on.

Would be nice to get to the bottom of this one, has anybody had any other solutions from GM?

The exact same thing happened with my 1999 GA. I noticed that this was happening in the winter time (whenever I use my automatic starter). I contacted the shop where I had purchased my starter two years ago. They where not surprised to here about this problem. Apparently over time the "security codes" scramble and therefore conflicting with the Security module on the car. They replaced my starter at no cost and I never had any problems since.



When it doesn't start, does the security light stay on? Then after 10 minutes the light will shut off and you can start it? If this is what is happening, it is a bad passlock module. If it is still under warranty get it in the shop. I had this experience off and on. The dealership was able to figure out what the problem was and it's been fixed (at least I hope).

I was having problems with the passlock as many others have been having as well. I took the ignition cylinder out and took it apart. To remove the ignition cylinder you have to press in on a pin that is on the back of the ignition cylinder with the key in and turn it and pull and it will pull out. To take the cylinder apart you all you have to do is line up the end with the groove on the inside of the cylinder, the part the key is in, with the channel on the outside of the cylinder and depress the part with a paperclip and slide it apart. There are a few small pieces and springs so be careful!! Now you just have to clean the contacts and reassemble it. That little cleaning saved my at least $300. I hope that this helps some with their problem!!!!!!!!!!!!

You may even try just cleaning it with carb cleaner and turning it without taking it apart and then blowing it out with air. I had not thought about that but looking back I think it shouldwork as well. TO lubricate it use graphite powder and your hopefully up and running

Can you replace thepasslock module at home or is it something that has to be taken in to the shop?


When it doesn't start, does the security light stay on? Then after 10 minutes the light will shut off and you can start it? If this is what is happening, it is a bad passlock module. If it is still under warranty get it in the shop. I had this experience off and on. The dealership was able to figure out what the problem was and it's been fixed (at least I hope).

Turned out it's not the pass lock it is the ignition switch that is bad. You can take it apart like the last guy said and try that. Our's was under warranty so they replaced the switch.

Well i have a bit of advice. I had the same exact problem about 8 months ago. I was tearing my hair out because my 01 grand am would start only when it felt like it. I read all the posts I could find on this site trying eveything from leaving the key on for 10 minutes to changing the fuel pump. After taking it to 2 garages and changing the bcm and the fuel pump the darn thing would still act up. Well I finally decided to take the car to a dealer fearing the high prices they charge, and after 4 hours they called me and told me that it was the ignition switch. I have not had any problems since.(knock on wood). Do yourself a favor save the aggravation of dealing with these piece of #### cars and take them to a quailified pontiac dealer because trust me the aggravation of trying to figure out the problem will drive you insane. By the way it cost me $250 for the testing and the installation of the part. Not bad in my eyes because I definately feared a much higher bill.

I took the dash board apart and pulled out the ignition switch and sprayed some contact cleaner in it. Then I used a Q-tip and cleaned the contacts and haven't had a problem since. It took me about 2 hours total pretty easy fix once you know what it is. Thanks again.

HI,
I am having similiar problems with my car and was wanting to ask you a few questions about your fix for your problem...plz e-mail me at justalways24@yahoo.com... I would greatly appreciate it !!!

Thanks,
Alicia



QUOTE=DJ21]I took the dash board apart and pulled out the ignition switch and sprayed some contact cleaner in it. Then I used a Q-tip and cleaned the contacts and haven't had a problem since. It took me about 2 hours total pretty easy fix once you know what it is. Thanks again.[/QUOTE]

the way to do it is to see if the vehicle's security light is flashing while attempting to start the vehicle and it wont catch. if it is flashing, turn the ignition to on without attempting to start the vehicle. wait for the security light to stop flashing and in some cases might disappear. once it has done that, turn the ignition to off and the proceed with starting the vehicle. the vehicle should start right up. if this is the case then there is something wrong with the ignition.