FYI - Security blinking - No Start info
AZeline
12-22-2004, 11:37 AM
SO I wanted to inform everyone of my not-so darling Buicks recent escapade. (It needs to re-earn the title) I wanted to document all of this to help others that may be having the issue too.
The other night I was ready to head home and join some waiting friends when low and behold, The car woudn't start. It wouldn't even try to start. Could it be the battery? Decided that wasn't the issue because it had PLENTY of power the last time it started (btw it allways starts on a dime with $0.09 change). I still had lots of lights and they didn't even bother to dim when I turned the key. Could i be the starter or solinoid? Highly unlikly as again, plenty of turning force last time, and no clicking sounds that would come with a faulty solinoid. No sounds of the starter turning but not engaging. I look at my dashboard whn I have the ignition on. Low and behold, the security light is blinking. Frikken GREAT! It's not "letting" me start the car at 11:15 at night.
As I suspected, it was the security feature in my car that won't let it start if it doesn't recognise the special key. I had searched before when this was a minor "annoyance". I found threads refering to a broken wire and all I needed to do was bypass it with the right resister that matches the resistance in my key. I personally don't like to bypass things, I want them to work. So I had it towed to a dealer the next day. $425 and a new ignition switch later (complete with two sparkeling new keys) it starts again. The parts cost $120 (about $60 for the two keys and $60 for the lock cylinder). I paid $40 for towing and the rest was labor.
So for anyone having this problem, and not shy about ripping into the steering column, you too can have a car that starts again if you are also suffering from a GM car with key amesia.
The other night I was ready to head home and join some waiting friends when low and behold, The car woudn't start. It wouldn't even try to start. Could it be the battery? Decided that wasn't the issue because it had PLENTY of power the last time it started (btw it allways starts on a dime with $0.09 change). I still had lots of lights and they didn't even bother to dim when I turned the key. Could i be the starter or solinoid? Highly unlikly as again, plenty of turning force last time, and no clicking sounds that would come with a faulty solinoid. No sounds of the starter turning but not engaging. I look at my dashboard whn I have the ignition on. Low and behold, the security light is blinking. Frikken GREAT! It's not "letting" me start the car at 11:15 at night.
As I suspected, it was the security feature in my car that won't let it start if it doesn't recognise the special key. I had searched before when this was a minor "annoyance". I found threads refering to a broken wire and all I needed to do was bypass it with the right resister that matches the resistance in my key. I personally don't like to bypass things, I want them to work. So I had it towed to a dealer the next day. $425 and a new ignition switch later (complete with two sparkeling new keys) it starts again. The parts cost $120 (about $60 for the two keys and $60 for the lock cylinder). I paid $40 for towing and the rest was labor.
So for anyone having this problem, and not shy about ripping into the steering column, you too can have a car that starts again if you are also suffering from a GM car with key amesia.
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