7.0
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$100.00
Average Mileage:
100,500 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (6 reports)
- replace bcm (2 reports)
electrical problem
Helpful Websites About 2001 Chevrolet Impala passlock system malfunction
2004Jun 09
Impala 3.4L
- Automatic transmission
- 67,000 miles
tHIS IS REALLY A BAD PROBLEM, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE CAR IS NOT GOING TO START AND GOD FORBID IF YOU REALLY NEED TO BE SOMEWHERE IMPORTANT. WHY DONT GM FIX THIS PROBLEM, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GM AGAIN!!!
2009Apr 01
Impala 3.4L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 125,000 miles
I have no clue what is triggering this. I took my car in to get some work done to it, now the security system is constantly getting tripped. Sometimes comes on steady while I'm driving, sometimes I go to start the car and it flashes with the battery symbol and I have to sit and wait for the damn thing to reset itself.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2002Jun 01
Impala
- Automatic transmission
- 20,000 miles
my security light comes on and stays then two or three days later I go to start the car and it wont start. The first time it happened, I was leaving work, late at night, and it would not start. I left it and returned later with my husband, he thought it could have been the starter, but after about 15 minutes it just started up. This was just the beginning, every five to six weeks it would not start. I tried to recognize some sort of pattern but the only thing I discovered was that when the security light came on, I should prepare for it not starting. This is the only warning I recieved. Imagine a quick 10 minute trip to the grocery store and the car wont start when you're ready to leave. Or try getting the kids to practice on time and the car wont start, the're really impatient sometimes. The worst time was sitting in the car after work in 20 degrees waiting for it to start. not only that, but my job requires that I make bank deposits daily and sometimes at night. It hasn't happen yet, but I don't want to even think about being stranded with the company's deposits in a car that wont start and get me to the bank.
things I have tried.... locking and unlocking the doors with the key..... turning the radio off..... turning the ac off......pressing the brake pedal......profanity, it helped a little.... just turn the key to the acc position and watch the flashing security light until it stops flashing then it will start. I also took it to be repaired or bypass the ignition switch was replaced but only after they repeatedly started the car until it would not start. this caused the starter to really go bad and had to be replaced and then the battery went dead and also had to be replaced. Three months and $450. later I still have to sit and wait for it to start. It's a love / hate relationship with my car.
2008Dec 01
Impala LS 3.8L
- Automatic transmission
- 160,000 miles
My 01 Impala I have owned for over 5 years and has been a great car. Then one day it will not turn over nothing just clicking. I notice the blinking red light on the radio is going nuts but no dash lights except the check engine. after 10 minutes and trying to jump it the damn thing finally starts. now it is happening more often. So I brought it to the dealer and they said that the passlock code comes up but that would enable the fuel system and the engine should still turn over? I have not had the security light come on and have turned off the alarm with the radio control. I can tell when its not going to start because when I click my remote and the lights flash dimly or not at all I know it will not start. I have tried the key turned to acc until the dinger is done and nothing. I love this car and would love to know if anyone has figured out the cure... I have read about the ignition and the BCM being replaced but do not want to sink a ton of money into it. Please helPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!
2005Oct 01
Impala 3.4L
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
What happens with my car is that when I turn the key, the dashboard lights and radio come on as I turn to the Accessories position, but turning the key further to start the engine produces no sound or action.
At first the problem occurred randomly, and each incident was usually months apart. The frequency has been increasing steadily, to the point where it's happened several times in the last few days.
My experience at first seemed to be that a sharp turn just before turning off the engine, or leaving the front wheels turned, seemed to be involved. That's no longer the case.
Also in the beginning, I never saw the Security indicator light up on the dashboard. These days, the Security indicator does light up at random times, but there seems to be no certain connection between that and the failure of the car to start.
The circumstances of each event have led to different theories about what might help in getting the car to start. On some occasions it seemed that getting out and locking the car and coming back in 15 minutes or so would do it.
Other times rolling the car a short distance seemed to work. One time this week I just sat in the car, turning the steering wheel occasionally, until after 10 minutes or so it started.
The one thing that does definitely work is turning the steering wheel back and forth until the car starts. It's still pretty unpredictable as to just when it will finally "catch," but it will eventually work. I don't do it continuously, just a few times back and forth, waiting several minutes between attempts.
I'm angry about this for several reasons:
1. I didn't ask for a security system. I've never needed or benefited from one. (We have some security-system problems, different and less serious, with my wife's Chrysler Town & County, too.) I didn't know the Impala had a security system until this problem began occurring, so the only effect of the system has been to cause a problem. Since I do have one and don't want one, and disabling the system would not created a safety problem, I should be given the means and/or information to do so. I suspect that the information has not been provided because identifying the problem would help justify demand for a recall. (See #3, below.)
2. GM is certainly aware of the problem and would need no anecdotal reports (although plenty are available on the internet) to imagine the problems it causes in the lives of owners and their families. It's at the very least inconvenient, and at the worst, life-threatening.
3. It seems likely GM is refusing to identify the cause of the problem because doing so would make clear that a recall is required.
4. We're left on our own to live with the problem or pay lots of money in the sometimes futile attempt to fix it.
I've owned a lot of Impalas and other GM cars and trucks, and have always believed in GM and supporting the American auto industry. Avoiding responsibility for a problem like this saves money in the short run, but I dare say anyone who's had this problem will never buy another Impala. Too bad.
2008May 10
Impala
- Automatic transmission
- 90,000 miles
Well I have a 2001 Chevy Impala that has quite a passlock problem. I'm taking it to the dealership this week, and I'm hoping for the best. Any advice on getting the proper repairs would be greatly appreciated.
It all started off with the battery light flashing, so I had diagnostics run, and everything came back fine. The light continued to flash, and occasionally the turn signals malfunctioned. I replaced the battery, and hoped that it would work, but no...
Now all of the lights on the dash have quit working, the tachometer doesn't work at all, and there seems to be no gas in the car even though there is a half of a tank left. It is giving me so much trouble.
Wish me luck at the dealership...
2008Jun 19
Impala LS 3.4L
- Automatic transmission
- 92,000 miles
OK been watching this forum for a while to see if it was something I could fix.
Finally after not having AC in the middle of summer in NC I couldn't deal with it anymore . Took it to the dealer told them about the issue also told them about the reading I had done and the bcm well after being without my car for 2 days they replaced the ignition switch. My wife picked up the car and not 5 minutes later... SECURITY ...LOCKED ..... SERVICE ENGINE SOON..... Drove it back to the dealer guess what BCM 2 weeks so far no locked or other issue so far so good
We have partnered with JustAnswer to offer online auto repair help and advice from expert professional automotive technicians. You describe your electrical problem or ask your question and they try to help you figure it out. The fee is typically $9 to $15, but you can offer to pay more for really tough questions. You will usually receive an answer in 10 minutes or less, and you do not have to pay anything unless you accept the answer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Nov 10
Impala 3.4L
Just to give u guess a heads up i had n 01 impala i loved the car always started nothing ever major wrong with it . But i did have a problem with the passlock 2 . But i could take my key out when i was driving . It was like that when i bought it . But the security light was coming on every now and then . I thought nothing of it cause the car worked fine . But then my locks were not working when i pushed the button on the inside . So that was annoying . But i went to the bone yard and pulled a bcm that was in another impala like mine same motor accessories . And i plugged it in my car and low and behold my locks worked . All i did was program my key with that brain box and everything worked and no security light ever came on again . But you can go to your local dealer and they can print out the steps to program it . Go to parts counter . Good luck !
mr.q
Hammond, IN, USA
SEND A COMMENT »