i've read the NUMEROUS posts on this topic, but this situation is a bit different...maybe. i noticed this morning that the security light was on while i was driving. it stayed on, so i pulled over and shut the car off to look in the owners manual at what this was about. figured it had to do with the key, so i went to leave and it started right up, but the security light was on from the get-go. got home, and searched the site for solutions. i cleaned the key, and still the same thing. the car starts right up everytime, but the light is on from the time i turn the key until i turn the car off. isn't it supposed to not let the car start if this problem arises from the beginning? any ideas on why it still starts right up?

the previous owner bypassed the clutch cut-out, so i don't know if this has any affect on the vats(?) system or not. how do i check if he's disabled this system too? i've read in different posts where to splice the resistor, some say by the relay in the kick panel, others say near the steering column. any additional help is appreciated.

 

any ideas?

 

Here is a start of a VATS tech artical that I am writting. it;s no where near done yet but you will get the idea.


when it;s done It will be posted here http://mainstreamtopics.com/forum/in...p?showforum=29



here is what I have so far...



Since 1986 GM has used the pass key system as an anti-theft device. It started in 86 with the vette and in 88 on the fbodys. Since then it is on many GM vehicles.

The system has 2 functions.
1 starter interupt and
2 it can disable the injectors elctronicly if the correct signal is not recived from the pass key system.

There are 4 components in the pas key system..

1 The key. it's a special key with a resister pellet on it. There are 15 different key blanks and 15 different pellet resisters.

2 The lock cylender... It is the same as a regular cylender exept for a pair of contacts for the reisiter pellet and a pair of leads witch connect to the vehicles wiring harrnes..

3 The pass key decoder module... a solid state module that checks for the correct resistence value so that the engine can be started.

4 the starter enable relay... it is betwwen the ignitio n switch and the starter relay. it allows power to the starter relay if it recives the signal from the decoder module...

if the vehicle has a NO crank condition then the pass key decoder module is not sending the "ok" signal to the ecm.. here is what you do...

If the light is flashing the passkey system has disabled the starter function. even if you suply power to the starter seliniod the car will still not start due to the injectors being disabled.

The most likely component to fail is the lock cylender ( mine broke 3 days after I got my car) First check the key and make sure that the pellet is not damaged or teh pellet missing..

If you have an ohm meter you can test the system. USe the ohm metter with the leads across the pellet and record the reading. I have the table with the correct resistences if you post them and can tell you if the key is bad..

Next,locate the 2 wire conector under te dash (should be white and orange wires) near the base of the steering colum and dissconect it.. incert the key and turn it to the start postion while measuing resistence between the 2 termonals going up the steering colum. This reading should MATCH the resistece of the key it self. and difference will set a no start condition. if there is a differnce. or in most cases No continutiy (like mine) you need a new lock cylender..