"Unknown driver" car will not start

MISSBRIFACE

MEMBER
2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA
6 CYL
AWD
AUTOMATIC
180,000 MILES

I have a 2002 bravada, it died the other day, I jumped it and it worked fine.
The next day I went to start it, it was dead and the key wouldn't come out.
Jumped it later on in the day, got the key out, it has juice but the car will not start.

We have ruled out the battery, alternator, starter, ignition switch and fuel pump.

The locks and windows won't work but everything else electrical will and it is saying "unknown driver" on the dash which it has never done before.

I'm hoping this is as easy as unplugging the battery and plugging it back in, please let me know what I should do.

6 Replies

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

Maybe the system went into theft-lock for some reason? Does it crank ok? Some makes and models, the vehicle can go into theft lock, if battery voltage is lost. If the battery--alternator--wiring circuits and everything is good, why did you have to jump it?

If it cranks good but won't start, have a helper crank it, while you visually check for spark at the spark plugs. If you have spark everywhere, check fuel pressure. Also, check for injector pulse, engine cranking.

Check for applicable trouble codes. To check codes yourself, at the least, you need an obd2 code reader. All I can do is suggest things for you to check. You have to do the testing.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Thursday, February 13th, 2014 AT 1:17 PM

MISSBRIFACE

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Yes I'm 100% positive that it is an anti theft issue, my car is under the impression that it has been stolen. Everything has been checked, I feel like I've exhausted all of my options, I just need to know how to notify my vehicle that it has not in fact been stolen. The only way I can think of to do that is to unplug my battery and plug it back in and hope for the best.

The vehicle was dead from the cold and possibly left a light on, this is why we jumped it but the reason it isn't starting is because the anti theft disabled the starter. I really need to find out how to enable the starter?

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Thursday, February 13th, 2014 AT 2:22 PM

JDL

MECHANIC
16,098 POSTS

You can try the 30 minute relearn procedure. It's a shot in the dark.

You try to start, leave the key in the on position, watch the security lamp on the dash. It may flash or stay on for about ten minutes. When it goes off, turn the key off, for 5 seconds. Go through the ten minute procedure twice more for a total of thirty minutes.

The next key cycle from off to start, if your lucky it relearned. If not, check trouble codes, and try to track it down through the codes.

Make sure the battery has a full charge.

Those security systems can be a pain to deal with.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Thursday, February 13th, 2014 AT 3:20 PM

MISSBRIFACE