97 gran am

GM anti-theft systems are real effective at keeping owners out of their cars. You can try the 30 minute relearn sequence.

30 Minute Re-Learn Procedure
1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
2. Attempt to start the engine, then release the key to ON (vehicle will not start).
3. Observe the SECURITY telltale, after approximately 10 minutes the telltale will turn OFF.
4. Turn OFF the ignition, and wait 5 seconds.
5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 two more times for a total of 3 cycles/30 minutes ( the vehicle is now ready to relearn the Passlockâ Sensor Data Code and/or passwords on the next ignition switch transition from OFF to CRANK).
Important
The vehicle learns the Passlockâ Sensor Data Code and/or password on the next ignition switch transition from OFF to CRANK. You must turn the ignition OFF before attempting to start the vehicle.
6. Start the engine (the vehicle has now learned the Passlockâ Sensor Data Code and/or password).
7. With a scan tool, clear any DTCs if desired (history DTCs will self clear after 100 ignition cycles).

If this doesn't work, suspect broken wires in the steering column or a problem with the sensor in the lock cylinder.

Hahaha. Caradiodoc just hates anything that isn't a Chrysler. Try the relearn that doc suggested. If it works temporarily, then you may have a problem with the ignition lock or wires going to it. I can give you a way to bypass the ignition switch only or you could just replace it, assuming that is the problem. If the issue is coming from elsewhere in the system, then that will have to be repaired because the system HAS to be operational.

Hi Wrenchtech. You're close to the truth. It's the OLDER Chryslers I like because everything was simple, easy to repair, and lots of stuff interchanged between models. That just made sense but a lot of people looked down on that. I hate the engineers that design computers to do simple things that later cost owners lots of money. Remember the board game "Mouse Trap"? GM has a lot of customer-unfriendly business practices, but unfortunately, whatever they dream up, other manufacturers copy a few years later. That's why my newer cars and vans sit and I take my rusty trusty '88 Grand Caravan on 3,500 mile cross country trips. No anti-theft system to strand me. No computer-controlled transmission to let me sit. Wipers, power windows, power locks, gauges, interior lights, and heater all work fine without a single computer. I'm not so lazy I can't be bothered to pull a sliding door closed, and I'm smart enough to reach the few inches to push the lock button when I want the doors to lock.

Sad news is no matter how much I preach my views, they're going to keep building the same technological nightmares as long as people keep buying them. Oh well; that means more work for you and me. It's hard to imagine what nonsense will be coming next but you can be sure it will be expensive to fix.

Oh well. Carry on, MR. Wrenchtech, buddy, SIR! :)

Hahaha, it's only going to get worse too. Personally, I prefer GM to Chrysler. They just seem to have no logic to the way they do things.