system went dead, now flashing flashers in code at start.

98 blazer-
Soooo confused. I turned off the engine after driving about 10 miles. When I went to start, dash lights came on then went out and ABS and security light came on. Turning the key farther- nothing. All lights went out, no power to anything, DOA. Letting it sit I tried to start it again, I would get partial on and off dash lights, like a short. The only power I had was the reserve that turned on the secondary auxillary but even these would go out as soon as I put my foot on the brake or opened the door. I thought maybe it was the passive security system going haywire.

Next day tried to jump it, couldn't. Bought a new battary and it started up but here is the weird thing. First upon starting and shutting off, it would go through a series of 3, 30 clicks that would flash the flashers and flash the panal lights. Now it only does it upon starting. The clicks are coming from the under the dash, left side of column. Computer interface (not sure if that is what it is).

I do not believe I have a seconary alarm and it could be a haywire passive security but it does not cut off the fuel. it is definitely flashing a code and shut down the whole system once. Ignition short? Confused....

I am the daughter of a deceased mechanic so I am not clueless but close to it on this one.

Any ideas???????????

could be a ground issue, or any number of things. is the check engine light on? look under hood area at wiring for signs of verment infestation and so on. when you say the cluster lights flash, do you mean they come on, or that all actually flash on and off. some blink, like the airbag light, some go off while cranking and come back on after starting engine normally. this is a weird one for sure. are all connections good clean and tight at the battery, and at the other ends as well?

The emergency flashers come on, blink 30 times, go off come on flash 30 times and then do one more rotation. While this is happening, the overhead gage for the outside temperature light flashes with it, as well as the the bottom panal lights, showing only the mileage and the piece that shows what gear you are in. oh, and also the light in the ashtray. The rest do not come on. The check engine light does not come on during this nor during operation. The headlights do not flash but the license plate light does.

We checked all fuses, cleaned the battery cable when we placed the new battary in. No sign of animals under the hood. Upon starting, all dash lights come on and then go off as normal.

The flashing, the way it happens, acts almost like a panic alarm that wont reset. This is why I am wondering about the ignition. If there was a short of some kind then maybe it would be shorting something.... I don't know. The passive system, which is the one that should kick in if it was reading a wrong key is not kicking in.

One more thing as well. This has a 20 minute auxillary power for the radio and stuff. Key off, inside power continues. This is also not working. As soon as you turn off the key, all power is cut unless you turn the key to the auxillary position.

I'd check for codes to see what's there and what's pending. It'll likely require a real scan tool that will read all codes.
Sorry about your father, I'd bet some of his mechanic buddies would consider it an honor to check your problem for you...we're funny that way.

Any signs of an aftermarket alarm system or remote starter? those symptoms just ain't normal.

been away for a day, and after reading the info you posted, would have to agree with ericn1300 about the alarm. it seems as if only the parking lights are "flashing" and it seems to be happeneing in a way that an alarm behaves. here's an idea. look under dash on kick panel(up under where gas pedal is and such, that cover). look for a little black button there, and if you find one, turn key to on, and quickly press and hold that button until you hear either a chirp from the alarm, or a couple clicks. this should put alarm into valet mode and won't work again until you repeat this process, or battery dies again.