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Crisis Management Squad
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join:2002-02-08
Houston, TX
clubs:
| [Help] Chevy Impala "Security" light
I'm running into a weird problem with my 2001 Chevy Impala with 3.8L V6. Every once in a while, the "SECURITY" light will come on in the Message Center. It doesn't flash or anything like that, it stays fully lit as long as the car is running. Nothing seems wrong with my car -- it starts right back up if I turn it off, and the light tends to stay away for a few days after that.
The manual suggests that there is a problem with the Passlock system, and that I should take the car to a dealer for a service. I'd like to get this fixed on my own instead of shelling our big bucks at a dealership, so I've done my best to troubleshoot this by searching Google. So far I haven't been able to find any real solutions... the sites I've seen have everything from "$500 to fix!!!!! THE SKY IS FALLING!!!!" to "Just had to replace a fuse, you guys are idiots".
I'd like to take care of this as soon as possible so that the problem doesn't get any worse. I don't want to be stuck waiting 25 minutes for the Passlock system to reset when I have places to be.
Any ideas?
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jsbaker
join:2002-07-13
La Porte, TX
| I don't really have a solution for your problem but I went through the same thing with a 97 Malibu. Get in the car to go somewhere and it would not start and then had to wait for 25 minutes for it reset. Towards then end of my ownership of the car it was happening at least once a week. It is especially fun when your job is service and you drove all over the city all day. |
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Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL | reply to removed
Usually something like this is not something that you can do on your own. |
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ObdH
Premium
join:2003-06-11
| reply to removed
make sure its not the ignition module or whatever... alot of cars from 00-03 have this problem
i've had the ignition cylinder replaced on an 03 malibu and its also bad on the 02 grand am (when you pull the key out, it won't register it's removed for 2-3sec)
check for tsbs' and recalls on this.. |
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Boomerang86
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2 edits | reply to removed
get that $500 ready...
The same EXACT thing happened to my 2002 Saturn L200. Eventually, the SECURITY light will come on more frequently, then following that your car won't start anymore. Find someone with an advanced OBD-II scan tool; I'll bet you'll get the dreaded "loss of communication with BCM" DTC.
BCM= Body Control Module, a weak component in the electrical systems of GM vehicles of that vintage. If that's the issue get it swapped out NOW, before you're stranded and in need of a tow. You'll need a GM dealer service department since only they have the equipment to reprogram a replacement BCM. Bring BOTH keyless entry fobs with you since they will need them to sync with the car after the BCM swap.
I had mine replaced once, then the problem started AGAIN after a year. I didn't keep the Saturn long after the second occurence.
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mattmag
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-04-09
NW Illinois
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| reply to removed
Re: [Help] Chevy Impala "Security" light
You have two choices; First is to take it to a dealer who can diagnose the problem and make the repair. It is likely the passlock sensor located in the ignition switch, or the module that controls the system.
Second choice is take it to an independent shop that has a scan tool capable of reading the Passlock system data. Many have that capability, so you are not tied to a dealer. In any case, it isn't something you can easily diagnose by reading Google...  |
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Greg_Z
Premium
join:2001-08-08
Springfield, IL
·Comcast
| said by mattmag  :In any case, it isn't something you can easily diagnose by reading Google... Didn't you know that Google has all of the answers. |
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DNSguy
join:2006-04-09
Saint Charles, MO | reply to removed
How old is your battery? I had a '98 Olds Intrigue that starting doing the same thing, then two weeks later refused to start. The battery was weak, and once it was replaced the security light never came on again. |
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Houston, TX
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| reply to Greg_Z
said by Greg_Z :said by mattmag :In any case, it isn't something you can easily diagnose by reading Google... Didn't you know that Google has all of the answers. Thanks for the helpful tip. The idea here is to attempt to get a better idea of what's going on by searching Google. Nowhere did I say that Google has all of the answers. |
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Houston, TX
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| reply to DNSguy
said by DNSguy :How old is your battery? I had a '98 Olds Intrigue that starting doing the same thing, then two weeks later refused to start. The battery was weak, and once it was replaced the security light never came on again. The battery looks to be pretty old. I've been thinking about getting it replaced soon anyway. One thing I've noticed is that the engine seems to take a second or two longer to start up after the light is on -- like the battery is starting to go.
We'll see if that's it. |
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Mentat
The zeitgeist sucks
Premium
join:2001-02-25
Sugar Land, TX | reply to removed
How many keys on your keyring? Is it relatively heavy?
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Boomerang86
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| reply to DNSguy
said by DNSguy :How old is your battery? I had a '98 Olds Intrigue that starting doing the same thing, then two weeks later refused to start. The battery was weak, and once it was replaced the security light never came on again. That was one probable cause I eliminated, replacing my factory supplied Delco OEM battery with an Optima Red Top. No effect. Crank times to ignition kept getting progressively longer, until finally the engine refused to fire. Still needed the BCM.
If you suspect a weak battery, by all means have that load tested BEFORE you purchase a replacement. You may find your existing battery is just fine.
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Houston, TX
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| reply to Mentat
said by Mentat :How many keys on your keyring? Is it relatively heavy? Three different car keys, a keyless entry remote, MasterCard Paypass, 8 house/misc keys, various shoppers cards, and an orange lanyard (to make this mess of keys easy to spot, since I seem to misplace them a lot). Also, a USB thumb drive.
It has a little bit of weight to it. Too much?
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Mentat
The zeitgeist sucks
Premium
join:2001-02-25
Sugar Land, TX | Its possible.
Long term weight pulling on your key while in the cylinder can wear out components, its not out of the realm of possibility that this is the case.
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THUD300
Part Of A Complete Breakfast
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Decatur, IL
| reply to removed
The PayPass might be the culprit here.
If it's a transponder (a device that emits a signal when excited by a field) it could skew the voltage off the Passlock sensor, which is a hall-effect device that surrounds the lock cylinder.
The off-voltage would then set a code for "incorrect but valid" sensor voltage and the system would allow the car to run in 'fail-enabled' mode, in other words the system detected a malfunction rather than a theft attempt.
Try removing the PayPass from the keyring and see what happens. I think there is a TSB on this.
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This is pretty weird. I haven't made any changes but the problem seems to have gone away -- at least for now. I don't think I'll be able to figure out what's causing this unless I start seeing this problem constantly...
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jsouth
Jsouth
join:2000-12-12
Wichita, KS
| It will be back. Probably won't let you start your car either. That is what happened to me. I have an '02 Impala. Turns out that the Passlock chip in the BCM was going bad. I would have your codes read asap.
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ObdH
Premium
join:2003-06-11
| said by jsouth :It will be back. Probably won't let you start your car either. That is what happened to me. I have an '02 Impala. Turns out that the Passlock chip in the BCM was going bad. I would have your codes read asap. talked to my boss ('02 impala 162k miles) just replaced his BCM 3 months ago... Dealer only he claims, and also about $700! |
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Boomerang86
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| reply to jsouth
said by jsouth :It will be back. Probably won't let you start your car either. That is what happened to me. I have an '02 Impala. Turns out that the Passlock chip in the BCM was going bad. I would have your codes read asap. Agree, this issue will NOT stay away. Next time you could be stranded, and no battery boost on earth will get your Impala running. BCMs are fragile, you will see the SECURITY light return soon and when it does, be ready.
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TheHarvester
Premium
join:2006-08-25
Dana Point, CA | reply to removed
The first thing to do would be reading the codes. Everyone can guess at the possibilities and one may be right. |
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