Security light came on while driving?

[Joe 1320]

Here's a strange one..... I've been driving the 93Z as a daily driver for a month now, no problems. As a matter of fact, it's been great. With an M6 and 2.73 rear gears, I've been getting 24-25 combined (mostly rural roads but still stop and go mixed with highway cruising), I got 30 mpg on a highway only trip around the state. The other day, I get into the car and turn the key, nada. The cluster powers up, just no engagement of the starter. I fiddle with the clutch pedal, shifter, tried removing the key and trying again.... nada. Cleaned the pellet resistor and still nothing. No security light, no other symptom except no starter engagement. I switch cars and head out. The next day I try it again and it works perfect. I've driven it for another couple of days and no problems. Today on the way home from work, the security light comes on while I'm driving. The car behaves normal, after a couple of miles the security light shuts off.

Is the VATS taking a dump?

[Rob B (shoebox)]

Sounds like it is losing communication with the key pellet.
If so, could be:
key
key cylinder
wiring between key cylinder and connector under the dash

[Joshu]

Mine does the same thing once every two months or so. The light comes on and it wont let me start the car, so i wait 2 mins then it goes off and away I go

[Joe 1320]

Mine does the same thing once every two months or so. The light comes on and it wont let me start the car, so i wait 2 mins then it goes off and away I go

Not the same thing. My security light did not come on while I was trying to start it. The security light came on while I was driving down the road and shut off a minute later.

[Z Ya Later]

Just out of curiousity, was it pretty humid outside? Mine acts up like that when driving, but only if its humid outside. However, mine also does the no-start problem, but the Security light does stay on. Have you tried cleaning the contacts in the cylinder for the pellet?

[Joe 1320]

Just out of curiousity, was it pretty humid outside? Mine acts up like that when driving, but only if its humid outside. However, mine also does the no-start problem, but the Security light does stay on. Have you tried cleaning the contacts in the cylinder for the pellet?

Yep. Sprayed the heck out of it with electrical contact cleaner. I'm just going to let it keep for a bit and see if it continues to act up or if it was just a random glitch.

[Z Ya Later]

If the light does come on again while you're driving, see if it goes away any quicker if you move the key around in the cylinder (obviously not turning it lol ). I've noticed that sometimes moving the key seems to have whatever is loose make better contact. Just a thought.

[Christopherrr]

Mine did the same thing. Actually it was after I did the bypass.

Before the bypass, the security light would come on while driving and go out shortly after. After the bypass, no light at all. One day it decided to come on and stayed on. It never went out for days...so, I pulled the LED.

The car still starts fine and runs normally...funny thing is, I removed the bypass.

[Joe 1320]

Mine did the same thing. Actually it was after I did the bypass.

Before the bypass, the security light would come on while driving and go out shortly after. After the bypass, no light at all. One day it decided to come on and stayed on. It never went out for days...so, I pulled the LED.

The car still starts fine and runs normally...funny thing is, I removed the bypass.

It's the attack of the f-body gremlins. That one is interesting.....

[Z Ya Later]

It's the attack of the f-body gremlins. That one is interesting.....

Stupid gremlins...hate 'em soooooo much!!! lol

[Rob B (shoebox)]

Mine did the same thing. Actually it was after I did the bypass.

Before the bypass, the security light would come on while driving and go out shortly after. After the bypass, no light at all. One day it decided to come on and stayed on. It never went out for days...so, I pulled the LED.

The car still starts fine and runs normally...funny thing is, I removed the bypass.

The VATS will go into "fault enable mode" if it fails to read the key after the engine is already running. It will allow you to subsequently start the car (though you will have no VATS protection). No gremlins-just the way it works.

[Trans Am]

yes, it says the same in the owners' manual..if the light comes on while driving you can still start the car if you turn the engine off, but you dont have the vats security anymore

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Great. Why did you post this today. I get in the car this afternoon, hit the starter and nothing. The dash lights no starter engagement. I turn it off and on several times and nothing. I hit the brake and turn the wheel a few times, try the starter and it fired up. Half way home the security light comes on. It stays on until I pull in the driveway where it went off. I had to go somewhere again and I hit the starter there was about a 1-2 second delay then it fired up. It did it one more time. Then the lat time it was normal. It's never done that before until you posted this. Thanks a lot. LOL I guess it's a matter of time before it dies so that I can find what to fix.

[Joe 1320]

Great. Why did you post this today. I get in the car this afternoon, hit the starter and nothing. The dash lights no starter engagement. I turn it off and on several times and nothing. I hit the brake and turn the wheel a few times, try the tarter and it fired up. Half way home the security light comes on. It stays on until I pull in the driveway where it went off. I had to go somewhere again and I hit the starter there was about a 1-2 second delay then it fired up. It did it one more time. Then the lat time it was normal. It's never done that before until you posted this. Thanks a lot. LOL I guess it's a matter of time before it dies so that I can find what to fix.

It's Karma!

[Joe 1320]

Wouldn't ya know it, the dang thing almost left me stranded at work. I was lucky this time and after 10 minutes it did start. I gotta bypass the VATS, I'm not really in the mood to tear apart the column right now.