Security lamp flashing, won't start.

[Lucky Dog]

Well it looks like my luck ran out. Yesterday I noticed the security lamp was on while I was driving home. Today the lamp is flashing and the starter won't operate. I unhooked the battery and hooked it back up but no start. I swapped to my spare key but still no start. Any ideas on how to make this puppy run? I'm leaving for Detroit later and won't be able to check your replies until I return home Friday. Thanks for all the help. Lucky Dog
'95 Z28 6speed Ragtop:

[AmericanZ28]

Your key might just be dirty around the security pelet in the key, but chances are, youre going to have to replace the key lock cylinder. It sounds to me like the wires which run from the lock cylinder to the PCM have been cut. If you really need to move the car before you get this taken care of, you can remove the plastics in-front and under the steering column and look for the wires which come from the key cylinder (2 white wires, at the bottom of the column). Cut them AFTER the clip, strip the wires, and tape each end of the bare wire to each side of the pelet from your spare key. Make sure that they dont make contact with any other part of the key other than the metal strip in the middle of the pellet. Now take your other key, put it in the ingnition, and turn it! Your car should start right up I should know, I had the exact same problem, as many other people here have had as well. Luck!

[KnightFire]

Yep, either the lock cylinder or the security module...for me it was both...go figure.



KnightFire

[pete]

Originally posted by AmericanZ28
Your key might just be dirty around the security pelet in the key, but chances are, youre going to have to replace the key lock cylinder. It sounds to me like the wires which run from the lock cylinder to the PCM have been cut. If you really need to move the car before you get this taken care of, you can remove the plastics in-front and under the steering column and look for the wires which come from the key cylinder (2 white wires, at the bottom of the column). Cut them AFTER the clip, strip the wires, and tape each end of the bare wire to each side of the pelet from your spare key. Make sure that they dont make contact with any other part of the key other than the metal strip in the middle of the pellet. Now take your other key, put it in the ingnition, and turn it! Your car should start right up I should know, I had the exact same problem, as many other people here have had as well. Luck!

If you want to make the above fix permanet (delete the pass-key security). Go to Radio Shack, measure the resistance of the pellet on your key, and buy a resistor to match, about $1 for 5 of them, then soldier the two white wires to the resistor, cover in tape for insulation, and tuck back into place. It defeats the contacts in the lock cylinder.

[Lucky Dog]

Thanks guys!

I will try out the spare key saturday and then go to radio shack for a resister if that is the problem. I really don't have time to replace the lock cyl until I get finished up in Detroit June 1st.

[Lucky Dog]

It worked!

Well just to let you guys know: I found the two little white wires and taped my spare key to them and it started. I used my multimeter to check the resistence of the pellet (11.74K). I went to radio shack and tried to get a resister but ended up having to buy 4 different ones to finally add up to 11.6K. I soldered all to the wires and now I'm cruisin' again. total cost $4.26. Thanks for all the info to help me keep my rides going.