PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

My wife has a 2000 Bonneville. While visiting her mother (120 miles away) she lost her car keys. She had a locksmith come make her a key but they couldn't get it to work so I had to drive 2 hrs. to carry the spare keys to her. When I got there the car wouldn't start with the spare key or the Valet key that I had. It appears to me the locksmith has screwed up the security system since the security light on the dash never goes out. We ended up having to leave the car and make the 2 hr. drive back home in order to go to work today. It will probably be this weekend before I can get back down there to take care of it. What has to be done to reset the security system? Does the car have to be taken to a dealer or can they come to where the car is? Should the locksmith have been able to make a new key? Thanks for any info.

The locksmith won't be able to make a properly functioning key unless he has a Tech2 to program it to the car. The dealer is the only place you can get a key properly made for the car. Yes the locksmith can cut a key that will insert and turn, but there is a chip in the head of the key that the car recognizes. Without the programming, the car won't accept it. If your original spares don't work, thats not good. Possible that the locksmith started cutting wires to make his key work? No way to know without knowing what he did.

Before taking it to the dealer, try the security relearn procedure to see if you can reprogram the keys, as follows:

30 Minute Re-Learn Procedure
Use this procedure after replacing any of the following components:


The keys/lock cylinders
The theft deterrent controller module
The PCM (if necessary, refer to the Important statements above)
Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF, using a master Pass-Key III key (black).
Observe the security telltale, after approximately 10 minutes the telltale will turn off.
Turn OFF the ignition, and wait 5 seconds .
Repeat step 1 through step 3 two more times, for a total of 3 cycles or 30 minutes . IMPORTANT: The vehicle learns the key information and/or passwords on the ignition switch transition from OFF to CRANK. You must turn the ignition OFF before attempting to start the vehicle.
Start the vehicle (the vehicle has now learned the key and password information).
Clear any DTCs using the scan tool.
Quick Learn Procedure - Keys Only

IMPORTANT:


Additional master theft deterrent controller keys (black) or valet keys (gray) may be added (up to 10 keys) using this procedure when there is an available learned master theft deterrent controller key (black).
This procedure adds keys only. This procedure does not erase previously learned keys.
The keys to be learned must duplicate the mechanical cut of the current key.
If more than one valet key (gray) is to be learned, each valet key must be immediately preceded by a learned master theft deterrent controller key (black).
With a previously learned master theft deterrent controller key (black), turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
Turn OFF the ignition and remove the key.
Within 10 seconds , insert the key to be learned (either black or gray) and turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF. The vehicle has now learned the new key(s).

Update - the locksmith contacted the local Pontiac dealership and somehow got the car to start and all keys are now working including the one they made. We got the car home and everything is fine except the "Security" light on the dash stays on constantly and the security light for the radio is blinking. Is there anything I can do to reset the security system without messing anything else up? If it requires taking it to the stealership then I'll just put up with the light being on as long as the car is running ok.

The security light on the radio is always supposed to blink.

In_da_boondocks wrote:The security light on the radio is always supposed to blink.

Oh, OK.