Clean Key wait 3 minutes....

Intermitently, my 1996 Aurora fails to turn over,although everything else appears to function properly.The indash message center says "clean key...wait three minutes",after a short time it then starts.My mechanic has replaced the security/lights control module and the trouble persists.There was a TSB on a battery cable problem with this vehicle and I have checked and eliminated this as a problem. There is a new starter in the car. Both keys suffer from this problem. My mechanic has run out of ideas.This problem has occured again this morning, the car started shortly thereafter. My last resort is going to a dealer.(My mechanic was in contact with a dealer during this process with limited success). We are at wits end. No other problems with this car. Any suggestions will be investigated to resolve this problem.......Thanks, Reese

Same thing happened to me.The key has a resister on it that the switch reads. The switch was worn & would not read the key. Replaced the switch & working fine now.Now i find you can install a resister.
Check with someone who installes remote start
Cost me $300.00 at dealer to replace switch

Like bill meiser said, check with a car stereo place. They can put a resistor in line so you don't need the ignition switch to read the key. It's a whole lot cheaper than replacing the (I'm assuming) dealer only ignition switch. I don't know if you'd want to trust a yunkyard one anyway.

I had the same problem (clean key, wait three minutes), and I just installed a resistor into the wiring, but the problem still persists. Any other ideas?

I think I read somewhere that if you blow some compressed air into in keyhole it will blow all the dirt/dust/crud away from the sensor. Try that, but don't turn the can upside down!

Another trick that might help in the meantime is to make sure the key is in striaght. Using no or a very light keychain as vs. a big honking mass o' keys hanging off there helps. Then make sure to turn the plastic grips on either side of the key to turn the switch. The key might not be even lining up with the terminals to read the resistor.

Speaking of the resistor, the one you put in line does match your keys right? It should bypass the switch area as well, not be in line with it. I just thought I asked since you didn't post any details on how you got a resistor in there.

Beyond that, I guess I'm fresh out of ideas.

my 92 bonnie had the same prob untill i had a remot start installed they used 2 resistors and cut the two security wires that go to theignition lock. i will poke around and see how they are installed oh yea they have to be !very! close to the resistance of the key

ok, my car does this too. Its another wonderful GM invention that is useless. the passlockII feature. clean the little line by the key handle with something powerful, example, gasoline or acetone. it worked for me. if not, a new ignition key tumbler will do the fix.

I had the same problem as well, but as soon as I installed a remote start I never had the problem again.

Save yourself the trouble and replace the ignition switch. I had the same problem, took it to the dealer, they replaced the key switch (seems the computer cannot read the chip in the key, $450.00) never had the problem again. Locksmiths can't do it, security feature wears out in time.

I had the same problem. Last December I took it to a local mechanic and he replaced the starter. That worked fine until it started again in August and just happened more and more often. If I cleaned the key and waited it would always start after 3-5 minutes. I took it to the dealer this time and he replaced the igntion and keys for $900. It worked great for 2 weeks and then it just wouldn't start. I tried it that afternoon and it still wouldn't start. We took it to the dealer and it started fine for them every time. They kept it a week with no problem. Two weeks later it stranded us in San Francisco on New Year's eve. After waiting almost 2 hours for the tow truck it started on it's own. Now 2 weeks later it did it again. We towed it to the dealer and they can't find anything wrong... I love my car but I can't have a car I don't know when it's going to start. Please help!!

I had the same problem and it was a dirty connector going into the Pass-Key decoder module. Cleaned it and have not had a problem sense. THe only problem is it is a real pain to get to. It is located behind the glove compartment, to the right of the Powertrain control module.

Just solved the problem...two hours ago. I had no desire to go to Radio Shack and buy resistors, so I mummified my spare key in electrical tape and buried it under the dash inline with the "Passkey" wiring.
A little electrical tape to keep everything in place, and no worries.