I got in my vehicle one day to go to work, and my vehicle wouldn't start. I have one of those pass times on my car, so if I don't make my car payment it won't start.. I knew I had just made my payment, however I called anyway to be sure everything was okay. The dealer, of course, immediately said it was my alternator and to bring it in, so on and so forth.. I do not like to just fork out money for no reason, so I looked online at other possible reasons for this problem.. I found a site where other people had stated they had the same problem (they also had put a lot of money into the problem). Come to find out, the security system was draining the battery to the point where the vehicle won't start. I just pulled the cover off the dash (also looked up how to do this part), got under where the steering wheel and the spot for the key hole, snipped a wire, and my security system was disabled.. My vehicle started right up, and I have never had a problem starting my car since.

Well ! It's a deep subject Right? Wrong ...

The car is actually my daughters. I bought it for her 2 years ago I paid $6000.00 Cash + traded another piece of crap for it. Now we're talking about the 2002 Alero it's a real agravating situation, My Daughter stopped to get gas,,,You Guessed It THE DAM CAR DON'T START... She called me, I show up look things over, Cuz I'm Wicked Smart... Of coarse there's gas in it she just put it in. the engine just spins, not a dead battery or the engine woudn't spin stupid, jump it anyway ... Right, Call the dam tow truck,get it to the house . I can't start it,The tow truck driver can't start it, Sooo there it sits for 2 months cuz I just don't have $125.00 per hour for diagnostic work that leads to more Failure .

So in the mean time I'm asking every mechanic and parts guy I know if they have heard of such a thing, as I'm replacing the fuel filter checking fuses you know all the usual suspects. Then out of conversation with a parts guy he gives me his friends phone number and told me that he used to wrench for an Olds - Cadillac dealer, so I called him.

He asked me it the security light was on,which it was and I never noticed it you know how all the dash lights come on, it was the only one that stayed on. He already knows what's going on.Now mind you this guy don't know me from Adam but he tells me about leaving the key in the on position for 10 minutes and shutting it off for 10 seconds. Sure as Shitte the car starts. Unbelivable...Then it did it again and again and again... ENOUGH already, I called him back,we talked ,He told me about all the O.B.C.'s (on board computers) and how the 10 minute key thing allows them to read each other thats all they are doing, that is how your clearing out the codes and allowing the car to start.

Here's The Rub , sshhh don't tell anybody it's the PASSLOCK SENSOR it's on the end of the ignition switch into which you put your key... you have to disconnect the battery take out the dash board to get at the end of the ignition switch take off the clip remove the sensor reinstall the new sensor reassemble the dash and reconnect the battery and hope every thing works and the car starts . How do ya like them apples I say to myself.

So I thanked him most gratiously and I have yet to replace the PASSLOCK SENSOR...

I picked my friend up from the airport one evening and when I stopped at a gas station I did what I always do which is to turn off my car. When I went to start it I could not and the security light was flashing. I then in an effort to try to solve the problem myself checked all fuses and also shorted my starter. The engine attempted to turn which was more then what the ignition was doing for me but as I was at a loss I called a couple garages for their input. I was told it was the battery but that didn't make sense to me as I had interior lights, headlights, etc. I went and purchased a new battery anyway just in case and still the car would not start. At this point I was frustrated enough to call a tow truck and have it towed. The garage put my key in the ignition for ten minutes and the car started. Then they informed me that I would have to change my ignition in the future but after reading all of this I'm concerned that like so many others I might end up wasting my hard earned money. Chev/olds whatever needs to find a solution to this problem and offer a recall on it.

Okay I have had my Alero since 2007, no problems at all. All of a sudden, the car won't start. I have had a new fuel pump, new relay switch, and a new ignition switch.....to find out that NONE OF THIS WORKED! NOW i am being told that MAYBE the fuse box that the relay switch goes into is bad. So far,I have spent over $1,000 taking the car to dealerships that cannot figure out what is wrong. Then to see all of these identical complaints makes me even more furious! I contacted GM who wants me to pay for ANOTHER diagnostic test before they MIGHT help me pay for more repairs. I have read about all of the recalls on the 02 Alero, and I think GM owes all of us another one. I am not satisfied with GM's "resolution" to my problem, and am considering seeking legal action. I am a law student and I know my rights. GM needs to own up to this malfunction.

My car would just quit running in mid driving, or wouldn't start period. The security light would flash, and as long as that was on, it wouldn't start. As soon as the light went off, it would start. It got to where the light wouldn't go off. I took it in to the dealership and they reprogrammed it for me. That worked for a while, and then it started back, I took it back to the same dealership, and they had to replace the computer. It has done fine ever since, and have had no problems with the security system.

wow, had no idea so many had this problem....security light on most of the time, won't start and have to wait the 10 minutes whenever it feels like doing it....sometimes months go by, and sometimes does it several times a day!!!!! This is annoying, there should be a service recall on this, however, my dealer wants to charge me $200 just to "diagnose" the freaking problem!!!!! They sure know how to rip everyone off....guess they have to sucker people even more with the economy the way it is!!! I am trading it in!!!!! I also had to replace my fuel pump and the car still sounds like it runs like crap!!!

our cars security light came on a few times while we were driving... nothing major. Then this morning the car wouldn't start, although it was turning over. i tried to diagnose it as the engine light would stay on when it was trying to start, however, there were no codes stored.. i noticed the security light was flashing...

so we looked online and it said that when the security light flashes, the car thinks you are trying to steal it... so there is a quick fix that worked for us!! turn the key "on" and wait 10 minutes... the security light will stop flashing, then you car will start!!!! sounds simple eh??? this is only a quick fix and you need to replace your ignition swich (the part that the key goes into)... otherwise you will end up waiting 10 minutes everytime you want to start your car...

this has worked for many people and it may work for you!!

try it!

The car was broken into, so the garge replaced the drivers side window, door panel, drives seat and steering wheel. Thats when the problem started. We got the car back with the locks messed up , they won't unlock lock themselves.. ect.. Then it started , the secrity light came on.. but the car still ran. Then it needed a boost to start, it started no problem. A few HOURS later I went to start the car ... and it wouldn't start?!?!?!?!?!? Not even with a boost. so I called around and I was told if I leave the key ON just past ACC to "ON" for anywhere from 10-20 min., the computer will reset itself and should start No problem. But it didn't work...

Long story short I had to get it towed to the GM garage. They replaced the battery, it cost $300 they had also Flashed the E. P. C and the C. P. C so they told me I was good to GO..... SO I headed out. About a week later the problem was BACK. So I was in the middle of towing it to the garage with the key to "ON" for lights and about TEN MIN. down the road the security light went OFF!!... I got my buddy who was towing me to pull over.. I tried to start it and NO PROBLEM it started. So NOW I"m having it out with the Garage because the money I paid never fixed the problem ... and it's STILL not reliable.... GRRRRRRRRRRRRR this should be a recall ....

I have been stranded many times now and have always been able to just let it sit for an hour and then it will get me home. This time it wouldn't start when I went out to start it for work. It has happened daily-several times a day for over a month now. I am fed up. I have had multiple garages tell me different things that need fixed. One was to replace the fuel tank, which I find stupid, as it runs fine-well ok-when going down the road. Poor thing is shot, but it needs to last me another year. Don't know squat about cars.

I being told by the dealership that my BCM (body control module) needs to be replaced and they are estimating it to cost $698. I cannot believe it. I paid out $750 two years ago to have the computer module replaced on the engine due to the Security light flashing and now it's happening again but this time they say it's the BCM? How can anyone afford to have $700 to pay out on a car every 2 years? Plus I get stranded in the meantime only to find out that other people are fixing this issue with turning the key on and waiting 10 minutes for the Security light to stop flashing. The dealership says that they have attempted this fix but it doesn't work. The BCM part costs only $100 thru Napa and the rest is labor? How is that even possible? And there is ONLY a 1 Year Warranty? I am going by the dealership tonight to test a few things that other people swear fixes the problem on this same car before I go ahead and spend ALL of my paycheck again on a car that obviously needs to be recalled. This is the first brand new car I have EVER owned and I loved it until all of the crap started happening...but this isn't worth it... GM needs to hear the people out there and RECALL the ALERO 2001 thru 2002 models to make it right for those of us who have paid for this car.

My 2002 Olds Alero began to display the security light almost 2 years ago. Before I was able to bring it into the dealer to be diagnosed the engine locked. It would not start and I was forced to have it towed. The light went away and I was told to replace the battery. I tested a new battery and tested the old battery. They were both good batteries.... The problem went away temporarily. The same thing happened again; therefore I had it towed back to the dealer. They charged me to replace the battery and sent me on my way because they believed the problem was fixed. Not too long after, it happened again. This time the vehicle was out of warranty. Now they came to the conclusion that the starter and the ignition lock cylinder needed to be replaced. They said that it was considered normal wear and tear. Bullsheet!

Time passed and I thought the problem was fixed, aside from the new problem- a delayed start. Then out of no where with no light my engine locked and would not start. Once again, I had my vehicle towed. They said that the ignition lock cylinder was a faulted part and they would replace it under warranty. Since it left the dealer, it continues to have a delayed start. Sometimes it grinds or takes more than one try to get it started.

I brought it back to the dealership gave them a chance to fix it. I even offered to supplement my own transportation so they did not need to put me in a rental. The service writer told me that they heard the problem but they did not know how to fix it. Therefore, he suggested I drive it until it got worse. That is where I am at now... any ideas as to what is next???

Update from Jun 26, 2009: GM has agreed to reimberse me for all of my money spent on trying to resolve these issues since it was never properly fix prior to going out of warranty. Lets just hope its fixed this time.....

OK SERIOUSLY ....this is just ridiculous !!!! I don't drive but my husband does .. this week are car had the same issue security lights going on and the car's Not going no where !! so what do you do call the tow truck of course , BUT NO WE didn't well not just yet ..

about three months ago the same thing happened on a Friday got up car didn't start ! tow it pay 366.00 to repair god knows what . pick it up Friday night , Drive all weekend long its great hahahha till Monday morning OH what do you know that dam peace of sh*t didn't start again . what does my husband do ??? yup tow its again to the the same dealership what do they say YUPPERS you have to change your ignition switch so 800.00 later and rent over due ... we are still in the hole !!! 200.00 .. Now its july 1st things are great go out driving around come home OH JUST WONDERFUL !!!till the morning when we decide to get up again of course this time we are on holidays you know suppose to be doing stuff with our kids .. but no way car doesn't start again ,, I say honney call the GM they say oh its your security system telling you that some one tryed to break in your car !! were like ugh !! ok so we call the dealership where we got the repairs done the last time they say the same thing and say will you have to bring the car here to get it reset !!! I'm like ya ok so i don't drive i know jack sh*t about cars . But what i do know ??? yea i know when some one is f*cking with my paycheck and its not going to happen again.... I decide to have a talk with my husband i say hey two places that we called said that some one is trying to break in our car so why not call the insurance company and tell them that .. so we did they were great called a tow truck and every thing ..even called enterprise and rented us a car i thought GOOD finally a break !!!! BUT yea what do you know the same people who said yea you just need to come reset the car tells the insurance company that oh now its the starter so yea we are stuck with all the cost of the rental and tow truck not even including the cost to fix it ..... so as the car sits at the dealership we wait and figure out what to due because of course we just move and rent is due we are suppose to go camping with the kids ....I say no leave it there for a few days and see what happens ,

so we did just that its now a week later and i decide to play stupid i call the dealership and start asking questions and getting detailed answers an dyou know the guy tells me oh yea you can come pick up your car its ready we didn't change the starter though but its starts again we just hit the starter with a hammer a few times and its started ..... I WAS LIKE WHAT ARE FIGGIN SERIOUS ... i called my husband and said you know what no way we are not putting any money into that thing again ...i said i looked up at this web site and they have some sort of small quick fix ..... this 10 minute thing ... i haven't tryed it yet cause the car is still at the shop ..BUT i'm not putting any more good dam money into this stupid thing .... my husband wants me to learn how to drive I'm like no way are all companies like this one ??? so does any one have any ideas on buying a better car USED for me ??? because there s no way my husband is picking out another LEMON ..