2003 Pontiac Grand Am SE from North America - Comments

I have a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am with 150,000 miles. Great car, but the security light came on & now it won't start. Any suggestions? Never had any problems with it, until now.

We recently bought 2003 Pontiac Grand Am. After about 5 weeks we started having problems. Went to leave a friends house and it would not start; had to take it to two different GM certified dealers to fix. They say it was the PCM, the computer. $800 dollars and two weeks later, same problem, now they are saying it is the security system after all and cannot quote me a price. It really sucks because in these cars you can have the security disabled.

NEVER WILL BY ANOTHER GM AGAIN. We are currently waiting once again to get it fixed, they have no idea for sure what is wrong, or when they will have it done. Thanks for nothing GM!!!

I have a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am and just had the "security" issue happen to me. I checked the battery, the starter, and all the fuses and since all that stuff was good I started doing some research. Luckily I came across this message board and was able to do the "wait 15 minutes" and the car started right up. From the sounds of it though my problems probably aren't over. At least now I know what to do when I get stranded somewhere. Today only cost me a days work, I guess I'll consider myself lucky. Thanks to everyone that left information about the problem. It saved me a lot of money and time.

TRY GOING TO THIS LINK. I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CAR NOT STARTING AND WAS TOLD IT HAD TO DO WITH MY REMOTE STARTER. AFTER READING ALL OF THESE I BELIEVE IT IS THE PASSLOCK.

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0f6220/0

Look at postings 21, 22 & 23 as well as #504.

I AM GOING TO HAVE MY HUSBAND DO MINE THIS WEEKEND, IF IT WORKS I WILL LET YOU KNOW.

I just had this happen to me yesterday after getting to my child care provider's home to get my kids. We all got into the car, and I went to start it and noticed it wasn't going the way it should. I thought "Oh No!", and no one around could figure it out either. I got a tow to get it home, and today took it in... $280 for a security system glitch. Now that I have read about others having this same problem... I am worried. Security is nice, but come on... all these comments about this happening... something needs to be done.

Thank you 11:51 for this information. We all appreciate it. I haven't had this issue yet, but it's nice to know about possible fixes.

I have a 2003 Pontiac Grand AM SE1 and today I had the first problem with the car not starting.

I got a ride home from work, went on-line, found this site, got a ride back to work, did the "15 minute wait" (it ended up being a ten minute wait only, but then the car started up fine.

Thanks for posting the tips - saved me the cost of a tow.

I just recently purchased a 2005 Grand Am. My keys got stuck in the ignition about three months after I had bought it. I took it to the dealership to be fixed, they said something about my shifter stick being too long, blah blah. Anyhow, the total was around $460 to fix it, luckily I had a bit of a warranty left and only had to pay $100. Now it's about two and a half months later, I'm having the same issue. I arrived at work last night, couldn't get my keys out... Worked, drove home, obviously had to leave my keys in the ignition, woke up, and my battery is drained... This issue is irritating me... what do I do?

"I just recently purchased a 2005 Grand Am. My keys got stuck in the ignition about three months after I had bought it. I took it to the dealership to be fixed, they said something about my shifter stick being too long, blah blah. Anyhow, the total was around $460 to fix it, luckily I had a bit of a warranty left and only had to pay $100. Now it's about two and a half months later, I'm having the same issue. I arrived at work last night, couldn't get my keys out... Worked, drove home, obviously had to leave my keys in the ignition, woke up, and my battery is drained... This issue is irritating me... what do I do?"

Next time the keys stick in the ignition, try holding the shifter and putting a little pressure on it in one direction and then the next as you try to turn the key. There is a rod that locks the ignition when the car is in park. Sometimes it can stick and you can get the keys to release by shoving the shifter a little backward or forward as you turn the key. LOTS OF LUCK!!

So far what I've learned when the security light is flashing, the car won't start. Well my dealership told me that when you stick your key in and try and start it, it would send an electric signal to the key and back to the computer. Now this is important, you can't have any electrical devices within an inch and a half away from the key cylinder, because it mixes the signal with the keyless entry system, and will cause your security light to illuminate and car not start.

Love my 2003 Grand Am BTW...