car won't start security flashing please help
 

My car won't start, the security light flashes on the dash. I tried cleaning the key with alcohol, waited 10 min but no change. What do I do next. Is there a way I can bypass the security system to start my car. If not I need to tow it to dealer and possibaly get ripped off.

My car is a 98 trans am automatic :(

one time at wal mart our car did that.while we were trying to figure it out the guy in a z28 next car over came out unlocked his car and our problem was solved. his key fob affected our car basicly.

You can do a VATS bypass with a resistor that matches the one in your key. Don't have a direct link but a quick search for VATS will find it.

Check some of the simple things, is your steering wheel locked, transmission in park? I don't know that either of these problems would cause the security light to flash, but they can keep a car from starting.

Its probably worth trying to disconnect the battery for a few minutes as well, sometimes stupid electrical/electronic gremlins can be purged that way...you should also try using your other key for the hell of it. G/L.

Same thing happened to me. Ended up being my VATS so I took it to viking and had a new ignition and everthing installed. Cost me $500 but that was on my third gen I had.

Washing the key didn't work? That sucks. :(

Mines been doing this on and off for 4-5 yrs now when the light flashes the car won't start. When you turn the key off the security light stays on (not flashing) for 3 min's, when it goes out restart the car. The system can also be diabled by an LS1 edit or similar tuner AFAIK.

the thin wires may be broken at the key tumbler.
measure the resistance in the 2 sides of your keys resistor,
then jump a radio shack resistor to the plug under the colum
for now.its a small 2 wire plug, BUT NOT THE YELLOW AIR BAG PLUG!!

Happened to a friends third gen in a walmart parking lot :mullet:. Just took a hammer to the steering colum and it worked for about another week untill it finally died again.

My car also does this it seems about every couple months. I just wait it out then try about 5 minutes later and mine usually starts.

Moving to General Maintenance.....

vats, do a search and there is a fix for it. Simple too, just measure the resistance of the key, like said above, then go to radio shack and get resistors within 10 ohms of the value, and place them in the plug with the wires that have the orange sheeth over them. Make sure you tape it in there good, so it never comes out on yah. Mine fell out once, had to tear the dash apart in menards parking lot in order to get it started

My security light will come on in my '95 if I click the auto start in my pocket and then click it before it starts. I just pull the negative cable and all is well afterwards.

Had the same problem. Had the key cylinder replaced. OK for a few months and then started to act up again. Eventually had to have the Body Control Module replaced. Over a year and a half ago and no starting problems since.

Well I got the car fixed but I think I got ripped off. Here's the story.

Called the Pontiac dealer and wanted to bring my car there. They said since it was a 98, it was old and they would send it to a regular local shop and i wouldn't have the car for 3 to 5 days so they can replace the Ignition lock. I can take it to a reular shop myself. I ordered the lock and had it next day with keys made to match for the total of $150. I had the car towed to a regular shop and they charged me another $225 to replace the lock.


The car warks fine now but $375 just to put in a new ignition lock

You could have just bypassed the VAT system all together. I know the shop by me has mine bypassed just to engage the remote start, and then engages it again when I put the key in. Would have saved you a good bit. :(

mine does it about once or twice a yr