Intermittent starting...it's the key !!!

[bstrom1953]

My 95 3.1 was periodically leaving me stranded because it would not crank over. I was able to engage the starter and make it turn over by jumping 12 volts to the starter solenode with a screwdriver. The engine would start but then die after cranking. Then, for no reason, it would start the normal way by turning the key.
I traced the starting circuit and decided the anti-theft module was not grounding the anti-theft relay. Then it dawned on me that it was the key itself! I compared it with my wife's key (a newer key) and saw that my key was worn way down, so much that it was not making good contact in the key mechanism.
At that point I realized too that the car never left my wife stranded, only me! I built the key up with a little solder and now it works fine. Solder is very soft, so I will have to keep an eye on it.
Speaking of the anti-theft key, I suppose everyone knows that the little 'chip' in the key is not a chip at all. It is a resistor (measure it with an ohmmeter!), the kind you can by at Radio Shack for less than a dollar. With a little ingenuity, you can carve out a cavity in a new key (Home Depot ground me one using an older key grinder) and hot glue or epoxy the resistor in place with the leads protruding above the glue... A lot cheaper than the $25 GM soaks you for a new key.

[radioman2002]

Remove the air bag and just jump it out, there is a little jumper that goes to the keyswitch, or have it removed from the cars ECM program. I intend to do just that with a LT1 car of mine, just asking for trouble, with it. Put in a kill switch, much more effective.

[bstrom1953]

Thanks for the reply. Do you know where the Theft Deterrent Module is located? Also, how would you remove this from the ECM program? .

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by bstrom1953

Thanks for the reply. Do you know where the Theft Deterrent Module is located? Also, how would you remove this from the ECM program? .

I'd just permanently solder in a resistor of the correct value in place of the contact assembly and forget it.