My security lock light is on and don’t know why or what to do! but my car will not start! Please help!
Protech:
What year and model car do you have?
2008 Chevy Malibu.
You can try a theft re-learn procedure, but it may only be a temporary fix. More than likely you have a problem with the ignition cylinder and/or key, with the security light on there will be a trouble set in the body control module.
Can you explain to me how to do that so i can at least take it to my car dealer tomorrow!
It will take about 30 minutes, so you need to make sure the battery is fully charged, or have a charger on it while doing the following procedure…. take the ignition key, and turn on the ignition….do NOT attempt to start the car, just turn it to the ‘on’ position. After about 10 minutes, the security light will go out. Now turn the key off and wait 5 seconds. Now, turn the key to the ‘on’ position again… do not crank. After another 10 minutes, the light will go out again…..do this procedure one more time for a total of 3 times and 30 minutes. After the last time, and the light has gone off….turn the key off and wait about a minute, then start the car. That is the procedure.
Thank you will give it a shot.
Glad to help, hope it works for you!! have a great evening!
I’m back no luck with the re learn procedure for the Chevy Malibu! any other suggestions.
Unfortunately, no…if it still will not start, you’re going to have it towed into the dealership. there must be something wrong with the actual theft module or other wiring problem/module failure. just to check, you are using a factory key right? if you’ve had a key made or are using a non PK3 key, the car won’t start no matter what.
Yes.
OK, then sorry to say there is no other way to start the vehicle….maybe retry the procedure in case you didn’t do it completely or correctly. Do you have any aftermarket accessories, like an alarm or remote start on the car?
Keys were stolen about a month ago just have the other factory key! do you think if i got another starter for it it might work and fix it? Remote i mean.
OK, let’s start from scratch again…..was this the first time you were trying to start the car with the other key? and NO, another remote will not help the problem.
No been using it for 4 weeks this Friday!
So it did work previously….you must have a theft deterrent module problem, or a cylinder that has gone bad. you’re local dealership will be able to scan the Malibu and tell for sure.
I’ll just have it towed tomorrow thanks and have a good one.
Thank you, you too!
2003 Oldsmobile Alero
Without notice the securiy system will activate and the car will not start. we go through the process and reset the system… however it does not stop the security system from activating again. can i de-activate the system?
ProTech:
October 23, 2011 – 6:59 PM.The relearn procedure that you are doing is just a temporary fix, the problem will always come back. You cannot de-activate the security system or the car would never start. Most likely you have a faulty ignition cylinder and Passlock sensor. It would need to be replaced and reprogrammed. That should take care of the problem.
1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
Car wont start. Good battery good connections starter tested good.
ProTech:
Does it crank?
No.
Well if you’re sure the battery and starter are good, I would look into an ignition switch or security problem.
Someone told me even though the starter tested good that under load it could still lock up.
True, but if it’s not even cranking it is not getting a signal to start the car. Unless you’re hearing a loud ‘clunk’ or ‘click’ type noise when you turn the ignition to ‘run’, it probably is NOT the stater.
Earlier i jumped the solenoid and it engaged but no crank.
I would check for power on the purple wire at the solenoid when you turn the key to ‘crank’. If you have 12 volts there when you are trying to start the car, then you do have a bad starter.
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6 Comments on "Theft Relearn Procedure For 2008 Chevy Malibu"
I truly hope you can help me my dad’s car has been sitting for 2 weeks it is a 2009 Malibu LTZ 3.6 here’s what happened a week prior to this incident my father had the neighbor which owns his own mechanics company change the spark plugs well we were driving down the street my father went to pass another vehicle and it did great but then lost all power we pulled over and tried to start it but it would only turn over for less than a second I took out the starter bought a new battery starters fine but still will not start please can you help me sincerely Larry Anderson Jr of Winchester California
Did you check the battery, battery connections and cables? You may have a bad ground cable.
I have an 2008 malibu, sometimes when I try to start it I can’t. The key ignition won’t turn at all.
i almost have the same problem with my 07 Malibu but when i turn my key to the on position my check engine light comes on and my anti lock theft light comes on it won’t crank or turn over until i put the boost cables positive terminal of my battery and put the other end down to the starter and then she will run, now i can turn my key to acc not fully off and my car will start that way but when i turn my key fully off it locks up again i tried to recalibrate the system by turning the car to the on position waiting 15mins and turning the car completely off and warning another 15mins i did this three times and now my stereo won’t come on the car is completely dead until i take my battery to the charger and the anti lock theft is blinking on and off quite readily for a few mins then it will blink slowly after this process my stereo will come back on and check engine light is now out but still won’t start did i do something wrong
Test the battery, check for a loose cable at starter. Check for a bad ignition switch.
Sorry to ask the same question thats been asked but I own a 2005 Chevy Malibu 2.2l. Recently, it would crank but not start. The theft security light came on. This has happened twice but the car will start up normally with a jumper cable boost. Could it be the battery? Fuel pump? Im not mechanically inclined but i do understand the basics. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
If the car starts with jumpers cables attached, then you probably do have a battery problem. The security light could be coming on due to low voltage in the system. You do say it cranks but will not start, so the battery must not be fully dead I would assume. You might want to start by replacing the battery. If you still have the security light coming on, then you will most likely have a theft deterrent problem which could be something like a faulty ignition cylinder or body control module. Either of these would need to be replaced at a dealership.