Hey, I just bought a new 1996 grand am GT 4 door from a auction. It has a keyless entree system that works, and I also noticed when I turn it on a THeftSYS light brightnens up. Also below the CD-player it says something liek THEFTLOCK with a little LED. Does my car have a anti-theft system ???? How does it work? Is there any sirens if so?
-Dan

Also, the Check Engine light is on, but the car drives fine and has'nt stalled ever. What the hell does the Check Engine sign mean? I hear it might be oxygen sensors .. how can I know?

mine is a 99 grand am and the security light is on too. we don't know how to get it to go off. my cd player also says something on it sometimes. i could never see it in time to read it though.

mine is a 99 grand am and the security light is on too. we don't know how to get it to go off. my cd player also says something on it sometimes. i could never see it in time to read it though.
ok.. doesnt answer my question but do u know anything about the Check Engine light?

ok.. doesnt answer my question but do u know anything about the Check Engine light?Check engine light (if really the engine symbol) is turned on by the Powertrain Control Module in vehicle. You would need to have someone read fault codes from the module to know why the light is coming on, there are many different reasons (including Oxygen sensor). Perhaps someone else knows how to do this. I am sure there are better places but http://www1.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/0e/57/83/0900823d800e5783.jsp

Autozone has a nice Website describing this stuff. I don't know how much it might cost for them to read a code for you.

About the ANTI THEFT thing near your CD player, it is an anti-theft feature for your car stereo. Stock CD players on Pontiacs are actually worth quite a bit of money because they last a long time and are of very good quality, so people like to steal them. Read your manual on your grand am, and it will teach you how to set this feature on and off. Another thing with the check engine light...Auto Zone or Advanced Auto will more than likely read your codes for you for FREE! Hope this has helped.

got any idea on where i could get a manual for it? I did buy it at a auction afterall, no manual included. yes you did help, but I already payed pontiac dealership 35 dollars of my birthday money to tell me the code meant EMMISIONS ERROR or some crap.. no big deal ... grrr

Probably someone on eBay. If you went to the folks that make them it would be another $30 for the whole owner portfolio package unless you know French because it looks like the French language version of owner manual itself still available for $20

Also a local library might have a copy you could look at.
http://www.helminc.com/helm/Result.asp?Style=&Mfg=GMC&Make=PON&Model=GDAM&Year=1996&Category=2&Keyword=&Module=&mscsid=AVRXFK3988568MWK4L2M27S2G3TUAV5F

the check engine light coming on means that a component somewhere in the engine controls system is not performing properly either due to wear or damage and the only way to narrow it down to the system at fault is by reading the stored trouble codes in the ECM with a scanner tool.

this will narrow it down to the system with the troubled component involved. from there you would need ot test any components in that system to find the problem/cause in order to repair it,.

you would at very bare minimum need a handheld scanner tool for the ALDL connector at base of the dash driver side rectangle black plastic shape with contact pin holes in it, but you can do with a paper clip instered into the proper two holes and turn the ignition on with dash light son but engine not running to read the check engine light flashes, 12 code will flash twice first and then any stored trouble fault codes will flash after that, and then it will repeat the sequence of codes until you turn the key switch off or remove the jumper wire/clip/scanner tool

a haynes manual or chiltons manual will show you what codes are for what systems, or you can post them here and we can tell you what systems it is pointing to as the culprit, and thne you can start having components in those systems tested to find the cause, or it might not even be a component, it could be a loose plug or cut wire or shorted wire, etc,
if the car runs fine then you might want to just not worry about, because usually trying to troubleshoot this stuff in the backyard or driveway fails, and you will just be guessing and replacing parts in hopes of it solving the problem without knowing what the actual problem component is




good luck