Starting issues

[sarge_man]

Hello, new to the board here, hoping someone can help me get to the bottom of my girlfriends problem with her car. She has a 98 grand am with the 2.3 motor. She doesnt have an oem key, but no matter what key she puts in, it will not start, but all the dummy lights light up on the dash. It just turns over, fires and immediately dies. If you turn the key on, move the shifter to neutral it will start fine every time, but the air bag, anti theft and traction light will stay on. It used to be intermittant, as in you could start it in park once in a while, but now it never starts in park. I believe the anti theft light blinks once you put it in gear or park, dont remember which. If anyone could help that would be great, we are trying to sell it but obviously cant sell it in this condition!

[GTP Dad]

Go to the dealer and get a new oem key and reset the anti-theft. The cause of this is the fact that the ignition system must read the chip in the OEM key to keep the anti-theft system from triggering.

[sarge_man]

Originally Posted by GTP Dad

Go to the dealer and get a new oem key and reset the anti-theft. The cause of this is the fact that the ignition system must read the chip in the OEM key to keep the anti-theft system from triggering.

Well, after getting a new key at the dealership, i realized the key doesnt have a "chip" on it. It IS a 98...Did they have chips on the keys then? Either way, the new key works better i guess, about 50 percent of the time it starts. any other suggestions?