Wiring, Stereo & Electronics Audio Components | Radars | Alarms - and things that spark when they shouldn't

Car not turning on??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 9, 2009 | 10:33 AM
  #1  
luisdm's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque,NM
Default Car not turning on??

my cousin was pumping gas and when he was going to leave the car would not start or even crank, checked all the ovious stuff like battery alarm but the security like keeps blinking. What could this be.
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2009 | 02:20 PM
  #2  
WhiteBird00's Avatar
Ungrounded Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Default

From your owner's manual:
If you accidentally use a key that has a damaged or
missing resistor pellet, the starter won’t work. The
SECURITY light will flash.
Try using your spare key.
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2009 | 09:09 PM
  #3  
luisdm's Avatar
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque,NM
Default

Originally Posted by WhiteBird00
From your owner's manual:

Try using your spare key.
ok he dont have the manual, and dont know if hes got a spare key. if it isnt his key what else could it be?
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2009 | 10:33 PM
  #4  
Navy01Z's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Beacon Falls, CT
Default

Does he have factory keyless? If so open the driver door and just like a DEI alarm lock and then unlock the doors. Sometimes if the lock button is advertently hit the factory security arms and wont start the car or even cank it. Its weird because when this happens the horn wont honk. Happended to me a few times after I put in my Viper where my exwife was playing around in the glovebox and accidently hit the factory transmitter arming the car.
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2009 | 07:30 AM
  #5  
WhiteBird00's Avatar
Ungrounded Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Default

Originally Posted by Navy01Z
Does he have factory keyless? If so open the driver door and just like a DEI alarm lock and then unlock the doors. Sometimes if the lock button is advertently hit the factory security arms and wont start the car or even cank it. Its weird because when this happens the horn wont honk. Happended to me a few times after I put in my Viper where my exwife was playing around in the glovebox and accidently hit the factory transmitter arming the car.
That would be true except that the flashing security light in the instrument cluster has absolutely nothing to do with the factory alarm system.

Originally Posted by luisdm
ok he dont have the manual, and dont know if hes got a spare key. if it isnt his key what else could it be?
Well, you could try cleaning the contacts inside the ignition cylinder with spray contact cleaner (from Radio Shack) but that is unlikely to help in this particular case. The fact that the security light is flashing doesn't mean that the system is getting an incorrect reading from the key - it means that it's getting no reading from the key.

It's possible that the wiring between the ignition cylinder and the BCM has been cut or damaged or that the connections for the contacts inside the ignition cylinder have broken off. That has been known to happen but it's always best to go with the simplest solution first so the ignition key is the first step.
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2009 | 10:33 AM
  #6  
shoemike's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,283
Likes: 2
From: Prescott, AZ
Default

Make sure the key is fully seated in the cylinder.
Sometimes I'll forget to push the key in after leaving the radio on with the
key in the RAP position.
If you pull the key a little the the door ajar buzzer will not go off.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2009 | 12:19 PM
  #7  
brian r's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (14)
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Oak Lawn IL
Default

I would bet it is the key as well
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2009 | 07:11 AM
  #8  
RedWS6 00's Avatar
TECH Resident
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 970
Likes: 4
From: England UK
Default

I've just had the exact same problem too. Just about to look into it.
Have tried WD40, and tried my spare key.
Security light still flashing.
Never had trouble starting it before. Original PCM is in the car along with original VATS.
I'm going to have a look at the contact end of the barrel to see what i can find.

I will keep ya all posted, my findings may help the other person who has the same problem.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 15, 2009 | 05:27 PM
  #9  
RedWS6 00's Avatar
TECH Resident
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 970
Likes: 4
From: England UK
Default

I have made some progress with the problem.

The problem was not starting when I turned the key, all light looked normal apart from the 'Security' light flashing. The car would not turn over, however I could hear the fuel pump.

Looked at wires to the BCM behind the radio, they looked intact, was going to look at the wires on the back of the ignition barrell. Looked like you had to that the steering wheel off for that, so gave that a miss for now. Then I wanted to find the two wires under the dash. These two wires carry the resistance of the key to the security system.

Attached is a photo of the pair of wires. I used a ohm meter to measure the resistance of the wires going to the barrel with an without the ignition key inserted, all I could measure was an open circuit. This would indicate to me that the contcts in the barrel were no longer working, or the wires on the back of the barrel have come detached.

I tried both ignition keys. Measured the reistance of the key, mine were 1868ohms. So as I couldn't get the exact resistor I put two together and tried that in the plug. I was thinkling this was working, as my security light was no longer flashing, but it wouldn't go off. I re measured the resistors I fited and I was 800ohms instead of 1800ohms. So I tried again stringing resistors 1500 + 160 + 160 + 68, this gave me a good number. So I attached this to the two terminals. and hey presto the car fited up.

So basically what I've done is got the system to ignore the resistor from the ignition key buy fitting a fixed resistor in the wiring loom.
Attached Thumbnails Car not turning on??-15082009015.jpg   Car not turning on??-15082009016.jpg  

Last edited by RedWS6 00; Aug 15, 2009 at 05:37 PM.
Reply
Old Aug 15, 2009 | 09:08 PM
  #10  
Casper9T9's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 441
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, AK
Default

Sounds like the VATS, but here is the test procedure for no starting problems:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/new-ls1-o...not-start.html
Reply
Old Aug 17, 2009 | 04:32 AM
  #11  
RedWS6 00's Avatar
TECH Resident
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 970
Likes: 4
From: England UK
Default

Originally Posted by Casper9T9
Sounds like the VATS, but here is the test procedure for no starting problems:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/new-ls1-o...not-start.html
Nice, there is some good tips there. If only I read that first, it would have helped my fix the problem sooner. I was going through the GM manual, trying to find wiring drawings of the VATS etc... got it fixed/fudged in the end. I'm sure this will crop up on many other cars. The car has been used every data for 5 years, apart from a couple of weeks holiday each year, so that ignition barrel has has some use.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:19 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE