Ok, so I go to start my Monte Carlo one day But when I turned the key, nothing. But the battery signal thing was on steady, so I think, dead battery. But you won't be able to use the radio or horn right? My battery and security lights come on when i put it on accessory and all my windows and lights work. My locks won't but everything else does. So if that is not it I am thinking, bad starter? I've replaced the starter twice now and even the battery and it still won't even try to turn over. After i replaced the starter we tried jumping it off the solenoid and it started and then died multiple times. It makes a clicking noise but I have to listen really hard. I don't know what else to do!
Ignition switch, passlock or BCM. Those are my guesses.
Seen the same symptoms before and seen different causes, all of them are listed above.
Jumping at the solenoid bypasses the electronics and the car wont stay running. Even if everything was in perfect working order.
Ignition switch - each part of the switch controls a different function, OFF, RUN. START, ACC. If the START portion is corroded or not making good contact, it wont start but other functions may work.
Passlock - similar to the ign switch where car wont start but other things may function.
BCM - If the BCM is fried, it wont relay the VIN to the PCM and the car wont start. (just one of the many symptoms a fried BCM can exhibit)
I would try some contact cleaner with the ign switch before throwing more cash at it. The switch can also be tested. Id start with a continuity test for all functions. Beyond that, I cant help any.
We're pretty sure it's the bcm because my dome lights don't work when it does it and neither do my door locks but it only shuts down everyonce and a while it started at 10 yesterday morning and we i got there at 12 it wouldn't and it started again this morning as well
when you turn the key, does the check engine light go on & security light flash? If it does its the bullsh** passlock system. The only way I got out of being stuck from it was wiggle the key in the ignition till it kicks & use the fob to lock & unlock to doors.
Then its just the chip in the key, the passlock system isn't recognizing it. Whenever it gets me stuck I usually insert the key and remove it a couple of times, & turn the key all the way to the 'start' and jiggle it a bit. I've been told you need to go to a qualified GM mechanic, they need certian tools to read the passlock system. Usually once I get it to start the security light doesn't come on for a while...but when it frequently comes on I usually will get stuck within 4-6 startups. If yours has the same thing, then atleast its a good idea when your going to get stuck again.
Try unlocking & locking the doors with the key and with the inside buttons, or just do the above till you start.
If you want to give this a shot to bypass the problem, go ahead:
(copied from montecarloforum.com)
Spoiler
Remove the Dash
1. Take the side panel off the dash (one by the door on the end of the dash) remove the screw. 2. Remove the lower most panel on the drivers side foot well. watch the wires for the trunk release. 3. When you get that one, the next one just snaps out, pull up on it. 4. There is a screw in the end cap, the one in the glove compartment and one in the lower part of the dash by the gauge cluster you need to remove. 5. Now take your key off the key ring. (This is so it can go threw the dash with out breaking anything and also with out hurting the ingnition switch) Take the ignition switch ring off. It just clips in, use a small screwdriver to remove it. 6. Put your key in and set the parking brake. 7. Tilt the wheel all the way down. 8. Put the car in to low 1 gear with the car still off. Now grab the lower part of the dash on the passenger side with the glove box open and pull hard on the lower part of the dash but don’t let it go too far out . 9. Disconnect the hazard switch wires so that you can get the dash apart. (it should pop lose for you. Now it is just a matter of spinning it in the right direction to get it over the steering wheel etc... ) 10. Put the car in gear and turn off the switch.
Bypass the Passlock
1. Disconnect the Car Battery! 2. Remove the ignition keyswitch. Unscrew the two screws holding in the ignition. Wiggle the ignition out of its place and down toward the drivers side as best as you can (This will really take some effort to get it out so that you can access the wires behind it). I initially tried removing the radio to get behind the ignition switch but it is not possible due to a metal plate separating them. 3. (See Picture Below) There will be 3 wires in a black sheath coming out of the ignition. The wires are Black, Yellow, and White. You will need to cut back the black sheath to get to them. We will only be working with the Black and Yellow wires. 4. Cut the yellow wire. Leave enough coming out of the ignition that you can get to it later or reattach it if you ever want to. Leave enough coming from the car that you can solder to it. Strip back both ends of the yellow wire about 1/4". 5. DON'T CUT THE BLACK WIRE. Strip about 1/4" of the insulation off of the middle of the black wire. Do this in a place where you will be able to solder to it later. Again, use the razor. 6. Make sure that none of the bare wires are touching each other or bare metal and RECONNECT THE BATTERY. 7. Following the multimeter's instructions, connect one lead to the black wire. Connect the other lead to the half of the yellow wire that is attached to the ignition (not the half going to the car). It will be much easier if you have alligator clip leads for your meter. Insert your key and turn it to RUN but do not start the car. I did not get any reading at this point. Try to start the car. It should turn over and run for a second but then die. Read the value on the meter. I believe I was getting around 1.8k ohms. Your car will likely have a different value, so you have to measure it. 8. DISCONNECT THE BATTERY and the meter. Make sure the wires are not touching. 9. Use a combination of resistors to come up with a value as close to the value you read as possible. If you put the resistors in series just add the values for the total resistance. If you put them in parallel you will need to calculate it, if your using 2 resistors with the same value you can just divide that value by 2 for the total resistance. I believe I used two 3.6k ohm resistors in parallel (twist the ends together) to equal 1.8k ohms. Found this good online calculator for calculating resistors in parallel, http://www.1728.com/resistrs.htm 10. Use test leads (wires with alligator clamps on each end) to connect one end of the resistors to the black wire and the other end to the yellow wire that goes to the car (not the yellow wire to the ignition keyswitch). Make sure that none of the wires is touching another wire or bare metal. 11. Reconnect the battery and attempt to start the car. It should start normally. If it doesn't, I would guess that your resistors are not of the proper values. Mine started, so I didn't get into troubleshooting. 12. DISCONNECT THE BATTERY and the test leads. 13. Solder 2" or so of 20-22 gauge wire onto either end of your resistors. Make sure the joints are very secure. If a resistor or wire becomes disconnected YOUR CAR WILL NOT START. 14. Tape off the yellow wire coming from the ignition switch. This wire is no longer used. 15. (See Picture Below) Slide shrink tubing over the yellow wire coming from the car. Solder one of the wires attached to the resistors to the yellow wire coming from the car. Slide the shrink tube over the joint and shrink it. I used shrink tube but I know not everyone may have easy access to shrink tube and a heat gun, wrapping it up in electrical tape also works. 16. Solder the other wire that is attached to the resistors to the stripped area of the black wire. Using good quality electrical tape (3M), tape this joint so that it is insulated and so that the tape supports the solder joint. 17. Reconnect the battery and try to start the car. It should start. 18. Slide the anti friction sheath back down over the wires if possible. Otherwise you can use electrical tape to stand in for the sheath. Move the ignition switch back into place, positioning the new wires so that they don't touch anything that will cut them. Be careful you don’t accidently tug any of the wires you just soldered. 19. Screw the ignition switch back into place, put the dash back in, and you are finished!
I got the car from an auction last January and the only key I got with it was a plain metal key I haven't had any problems with it before if it was the passkey thing wouldn't it have cause me problems a long time ago??
I don't think so, its something that usually happens over time. I've been told it has a chip in it & some say not....or its just a bad connection to the ignition cylinder. When I took the car back to the dealership they said their scanner said there was a short in the cylinder. Unfortunately they were a ford dealer, & didn't have the tools to reset or fix the problem ):