I've been reading through tons of posts related to the "security light" problems everyone has had, and I could not find an answer to my question. The security light has been on in my Z28 since I bought it. The previous owner told me that it was because the factory radio had been removed (some sort of anti-theft thing)...he also said that if I were to put the factory radio back in the car, the light would go off. So I put the factory stereo back in the car, but the light is still on all of the time. No problems getting the car to start or anything...alarm system all works fine...it's just that the security light is on all of the time. Anyone know how to get it to turn off? Is it REALLY on because of the stereo thing, or was the previous owner feeding me a line of b.s.? Thanks.

 

when does it come on? only when the car is running? a code scan froma shop or dealer can retirve PASS-KEY faults that can aid in the detection of the problem.

 

Yeah, it's on all of the time while the car is on...it's not on when the car is off and the key is out. But it doesn't flash or anything...it's constantly on whenever I'm in the car. I really want to get the it figured out so I don't have to look at the darn thing anymore! Maybe a dealership could "clear" it???

 

You can clear it yourself by unhooking the battery. But if the faut is still present your stuck

 

Did you clear the code after you installed the stock radio? Was it the right year radio? Some of them you have to enter a code before they work.

Take the bulb out if all else fails.

 

I haven't cleared it since putting the stock radio back in because I was a little unsure of how exactly to "clear" it. I stopped at the Chevy dealership on my way home today, and they, of course, recommended that I bring it in and pay $90 to have them "diagnose" the problem. They warned me that if I ignore it, one of these days I'll go to drive somewhere and it won't start. They think it's related to the security system as a whole...not just the radio. I don't know...but I do know that I do NOT want to pay some idiot $90 just to "diagnose the problem!"

 

It has nothing to do with the radio. I am sure in all your searching of posts, that you came across the explanation that if the light stays on and you can still start your car, that the system detected a fault after the engine was running and is now in "fault enable mode". This disables the passkey protection and allows you to operate the car. If it had detected a fault during startup (before engine was running), it would have not let you start the car.
Most commonly, it is the key or key cylinder that is not allowing the system to read the resistance of the key pellet. Test it by doing a resistor bypass (I am sure you must have read about that, too).

 

im having the EXACT same problem
the car starts no problem everytime just the security light stays on..
So all ur saying is if i do the resistor bypass the security light will turn off?

 

IF the key cylinder or it's wiring is the problem, yes.

 

I have this problem too.

Security light on constantly from the moment you turn the key. I've owned the car for 4 years and no probs other than the light just being on. Had the battery disconnected several times for doing mods...still there

I believe it had its stock deck when I bought it, it was a pontiac delco tape deck.

I brought it to a dealer and they hooked up some sort of scanner and the car wasn't thorinwg any codes....but I don't really trust their troubleshooting either....

 

A scanner won't tell anything about the VATS, because it is not part of the computer.

 

There are GM specific fault codes for the PASS-KEY system that will be displayed on a proper scanner.

 

There are codes for the Pass-Key system in the PCM, yes, but it is monitoring input from the Pass-Key module and not the Pass-Key, itself. I have not heard of a scanner that can query the Pass-Key module. Of course, that does not mean it does not exist.

 

There is no direct comunitaction with the module, (perhaps there are some functional tests with a tech 2) but there are SES codes that can be helpfull in diagnosing a Pass-key fault. All be it most point back to a continuity test on the lock cyl...

 

I have had a few conflicts with this security light problem. Every once and a while I will go and try to start my car but when I turn the key to try and start it I get nothing. When this happens I notice the 'security' light is on. I wait a little while (~3minutes) and the light turns off and the car will start fine.

Can someone tell me what is going on? Like I said, this doesn't happen all the time only once and a while. Is there anything I can do to solve this problem?