Expert: Todd Puccio - 6/22/2009

Question
I own a 2003 Pontiac Grand AM SE. I have been having issue with my car not wanting to start and once it did not start for 3 days. Took it to a mechanic and the first question he asked me was if I had a factory alarm on the car. I told him yes and he told me that is where the problem was. It was the first time I had ever heard of this issue. He hooked up his computer to my car's computer, reset it completely, my security light was now on steady, then he told me to leave the car ON ACC for about 10 minutes til the light came off. All that happened and my car cranked back up security light off. That was 8 months ago. Now, my car will start and then it dies in less than a minute on. I put my key in the ignition and my locks started going up and down by themselves and don't know what is going on.
If there is a remedy for this Passlock issue that I see online I am not the only one with this problem, do you know of any way to solve this once and for all.
I start my car, leave with it and after a few blocks it just shuts off.
I installed a new fuel pump/fuel filter back in May of 2007, has new wires and spark plugs.
Thanks, any help will do,
CPL Gonzalez, Richard

Answer
Hi Richard:

well if you don't have a security lamp on on the dash or it's not flashing it's not a security system issue. if it does either of those things it is a security system issue. chances are withe the security system it's either the ignition lock cylinder housing is bad or the body control module is bad, which brings me to the door locks. does this car have a sun roof? if so you may have a wter leak into the car and the watre may either be leaking into either side of the dashboard and there are fuse boxes on both sides of the dash if the water is leaking into the fuse boxes it will cause all kinds of wierd things I have seen the leaks so bad that the water leaks into the body control module which is on the right side of the dash under the glove box. take a look at either fuse box and see if there is any evidence of water in them and also pull down the close out panel under the glove box and take a look at the body control module it's a black plastic module with 3 connector going into it. unplug it and see if there is any corrosion ina nay of the connectors. good luck :)