OK recently down here in south florida the weather has gotten a lot cooler and the other day I tried to start the car and it wont start. I look at the guages and didnt see anything til I took the keys out. The SECURITY light stayed on for a while. Then it turn off after a few min. I try again and it started. Has this ever happen to anyone?

 

Sounds like the lock cylinder had trouble reading the value of the resistor in your key.

 

use sandpaper and sand the two contacts of the chip on your key just enough so they're clean. this may fix it.

otherwise, your lock cylender may be needing to be replaced

 

I had this happen to mine. The device that reads the resistor value of the key had failed. Neither set of keys I had would work. They said it was a rare thing to break, I guess I was one of the lucky ones. Anyways they replaced that part and I had to get new keys made as well. I believe it was in the order of $300 to get fixed. Maybe you will be lucky and just need a new key. If you have any spare keys I would also try those as well.

 

That happened once with my car, I used my dads keys and they worked fine. Cleaned mine with rubbing alchol. You need new keys from the dealer.

 

I'm a repossessor and from what I know if it wasn't reading the "vats" chip on the key it would actually start for about 5 seconds & then it would die. There is a plug inside your steering column that goes from the ignition to the cars computer, that controls the "vats" vehicle anti-theft system, the plug might have just come loose I would definately try that first to see if thats your problem because if you call a locksmith or a dealership they will charge you up the ying-yang for something that is that simple?

 

thanks for the info guys I tried both keys I have and they both did the same. I had to wait over 1 minute for the security light to turn off and then i can try again. Sometime it happens a second time and it gets me very



How would I go about to check the plug on the sterring column?

 

Take the 4 bolts or screws out of the back of the air-bag to remove it from the steering wheel (disconect the battery) get a steering wheel puller take the wheel off, there is a small hole @ about 10:00 if you are looking straight at the lock cylinder from the side take a "pick" or a really thin metal object that will NOT break off in there take your key and turn it to the acceccory position then take your pick and push the pin thats inside that hole (you may have to fish around for a second) and the lock cylinder should come out just be careful not to rip the wires out with it! Follow were the wires come from and make sure the contacts are clean and that it is all the way plugged in? I hope this works for you if I was there I could be alot bigger help than trying to explain how to do this on here I have replaced and fixed numerous "vats" & passive ignition sytems in my line of work and it is a real headache! But like I had said in the other post if it was the resistor on the key it would have started and ran for a few seconds and died so my way I hope works for ya because I don't want to see you have to take it to the dealership to have this fixed. You can e-mail me with any questions and I can try to help you along the way if you run into ANY problems?

Repo-man racing

 

Take a can of compressed air and blow into the keyhole.... with the can of compressed air I mean

 

The purpose of the VATS system is it kills power going to the starter relay and also to your fuel pump, I think it stops the injectors from firing also. Most VATS problems I have seen will not even let the car turn over. You get all the assories working but you can't get the car to turn over.

The plug you are looking for is at the bottom of the steering column, You can get at it by taking off the panel above the pedals, look for a small plug (about 1/4 wide X 1 inch long) it has two very thin white wires going to it usually the wires have an orange (or yellow) wrapping around them.

what you can do is put the key in, turn it to your right before it is supposed to start, pull the plug off and take a miltimeter and ohm out the plug (recepticle) that goes into the steering column. If you don't get a reading pull the key out and ouhm out the chip. (touch one terminal to one side and the other terminal to the other side.

All and all the resistance you get out of the key is what you should get at the plug with the key turned.

Hope it helps
John