Security Light

Another problem...my car won't start and the security light is flashing when I try and start it. This has happened to me one other time, and ever since then, the security light has stayed lit on my dash, but has always started. Last night, I noticed that my security went off for the first time in a year and a half. Thought nothing of it, then tonight I go to drive it, turn the key, and nothing, but the security light is flashing. So, we take my girlfriend's car. Come back and try it again, nothing. Get the spare ignition key that I just had made (and verified that it worked) and nothing. I clean my original key and try it and nothing. I can't figure it out and the owner's manual doesn't say much about it. Any suggestions or ideas?

VATS.. time to bypass.

I did a search after I posted the first question and found a link to a plug-and-play bypass cable. Do you think that is a good deal, or should I rig something up myself? But electrical stuff is my least favorite thing about cars.

If you can get a plug and play one then I would go with that. But I believe you're still going to have to do some wire cutting and splicing. Also, I think you have to measure the Ohm resistance of your key to make sure you get the right resistor(s) for the bypass.

Yeah, on the page it said that I would have to go to a dealer and check to see which number my key is. Funny thing is that I just went to the dealer a week ago to get an extra ignition key and saw the number on the reader...but I better go back and double-check to make sure I don't order the wrong one.

Poor-son,

enighten the situation, use ohm-meter. :wink:

Ok, just I just noticed something...the security light blinks when I try to start it, not stay on. I looked in the manual, and it said that the blinking indicates that the key pellet is weak or something. But I've got a new back-up key and that doesn't even work.

And what should I test with the ohm-meter? And how do I use it? I hate electrical shit.

I NEED TO START MY CAR!

Clean the area around the lock cylinder too!

With a ohm meter you measure the resistance instilled in the pellet.

I just sprayed some compressed air in the ignition to try and clean it out...and nothing. This car is a pain in the ass.

Nono, clean it, not give it a blow job. Mostly the ears, like your mother always told you, don't forget to clean behind the ears.

You should also verify that the wires from the ignition lock cylinder are not broken. This is a very common occurance with VATS .

Locate the 2 tiny wires at the base of the steering column usually orange and white or blue and white. Unplug from the harness insert your key into the ignition cylinder then check the ohm resistance between the 2 wire terminals where you unplugged it. No reading = broken wires - Replace lock cylinder.

I guess I'll try it. Don't know when I'll have time, maybe Monday after school. I can't stand this car anymore.

first check the ignition wires from the battery cus mine was doing the same shit the light was flashing but it was the pos. wire on mine. if it's not that then it is vats. The easiest and cheapest way to fix it is to use the pellet from ur key. Lay in on the counter and push it out carefully with a srewdriver or somthing. then find the two wires from the vats, unplug the connecter and cut it from the side on the steering column as high as u can-more wire on the plug the better. Then solder the pellet to the wires, tape it up and plug it back in and thats it. Yes u can use a resister from radio shack but then your car will be doing the shit a year from now. You have two keyes so try it and dont ever worry about it again. p.s. if later on u want to fix it the right way(replacing the lock cylinder) u still can cus u cut the wire on the steering column side -a new one comes with a plug

Had a few minutes to spare today and got into the car a little bit. First thing I did was jack up the car and check the starter. But from the way the car is in the driveway and where the jack was located on the car, I couldn't get a clear angle. But I snaked my hand up there and checked/wiggled both wire connections. Seemed ok. I may get under there later and pull the starter and reinstall it because I did that the last time the security light did this and that seemed to help. Then I pulled the kick-panel under the steering column to check those wires. Well, its slightly more complicated now because of the alarm wiring. Damn, there is a shit-load of wires. This may be tougher than I thought. Wiggled a bunch of wires around to see if that would help...nada. I'll do a more thorough check later when I have more time.

So, how difficult is it to replace the ignition lock cylinder? Do I have to pull the entire steering column, or can it be done with the column intact?

column stays, but I would do a lot of studying up on disabling air bags. :eek:

column stays, but I would do a lot of studying up on disabling air bags. :eek:

Got that covered, disconnect battery and pull the fuse from the fuse/relay box. :) www.shbox.com has some great write-ups with pics and stuff. But I think everyone knows about that place.

Ok, so I checked the purple/white wires from the ignition lock and they sent signal back fine. I heard that something is making a clicking sound when I try to start it. Its not the starter, but something either from under the column or around the firewall. What would be making that clicking sound but not engaging the starter? I may just have to replace the cylinder lock, I don't know yet. All that alarm wiring was a PITA to get around also.

Anyone know what that clicking is?

the clicking is your starter relay tripping its killing your starter and injecters. just do what i said earlier i bought the plug bypass from ecklers camaro but i dont need it it's in a drawer right now. i could of saved 38 bucks if i knew about this at the time. trust me its easy

If it's coming from inside the cabin, it could be your BCM. If your bettery is ever too low to crank the car over, and you try to start it, you'll hear this clicking from inside.. that's the BCM. In case you're not sure what the BCM would sound like, in that situation you can hear it.

Just another thought.

But isn't the BCM/TDM under the passenger-side dash? The clicking I am hearing sounds like it is coming from the the middle-to-driver's side. Possibly somehwere around the firewall.
Well, actually, there are two clicks. One I found to be coming from the fuse panel that is in the engine bay. But the other is hard to locate.

the clicking is your starter relay tripping its killing your starter and injecters. just do what i said earlier i bought the plug bypass from ecklers camaro but i dont need it it's in a drawer right now. i could of saved 38 bucks if i knew about this at the time. trust me its easy

I would, but I don't know if it would work with my new alarm, since it kills the motor if the alarm goes off. I looked at the wiring, and a lot of wires are plugged into a central alarm module under the dash. Its hard as hell to locate anything down there anymore.