Hi all, I'm new here and don't really know what I'm doing. Anyway I think I made a big mistake. I just bought a 2001 bonneville for my daughter, good looking car. Test drove it, brought it home, now it won't start. Called myself doing the passkey 3 relearn. Got the security light off, but will do nothing in start position. I got to checking other things and now the horn, wipers, high beam lights, or rear windows work. I really hope someone has some ideas before I have to carry it to gm dealership and get charged an arm and leg. Many thanks to anyone who can help.

First thing your going to want to check is the battery cables. It'* a common problem to have corrosion. This lets enough threw to power lights and stuff, but not turn over the engine. Be sure to pull back the boots and check everything. Clean them, use dielectric grease if you have it, tighten and it should start.

Cables did have some corrision. Cleaned them good and greased. Put a full charge on battery. Results are still the same. Do you have an idea what a dealership would charge to pull it in and correct the problems. Also have you had any dealings with the mobile units that come to the house and fix it? Are they reliable?

There going to charge you a lot. Do you have any clicking? Do the lights dim? Do you have battery voltage at the starter when the key is turned? If so, the starter may be bad. Pull it and take it to autozone for testing.

No clicking at all. If I hold it on start all the dash lights go off. Yes when I have the key in on position the dim lights auto come on. When I try to lower the back windows I can hear a click, but other than that no response from high beams wipers or horn. Does the passkey 3 security have anything to do with the wipers and things not working?

Welcome to GM Forum!

Passkey and VATS disable only the starter and/or fuel pump. If there was a Passkey violation, the Security light on your dash would be turned on, and you'd be locked out for three minutes. Your accessories and windows not working may be a blown fuse, maxifuse, or relay; or perhaps a grounding issue.

(There'* a very in-depth article about Passkey here. While it won't help you a bit this time, it is interesting reading.)

Seeing as how you just bought the car, your state'* lemon laws should definitely have your back on this one. Call the dealership and say you want your money back, or this car fixed for free.

Colin (Signofzeta) your information is more of an early 92-99 system. The 2000+ systems can disable the starter as well.

Try tapping on the starter while someone holds the key in the start position. Have you checked all fuses?

if you charged the battery and still nothing works its not the starter, since you had corrosion on the battery terminals, you likely have corrosion on the other sides of those wires (starter, ground, etc) you need to clean all those and any other grounds.

Will check for corrosion at starter and ground. Called myself checking the fuses, all looked good. Can't see all the fuses going at once, unless there is a master fuse that controls all the above accessories.

If the lights are on, then dim or go out when key is turned, it'* a battery cable problem.