Stupid security light

[Chris Hacker]

Hey all. My security light is on in my car. Doesn't that have to do with the key? As in the chip's GM has in their keys for starting. It's been on for quite awhile now. I just hate to take it to a GM dealer and get ripped a new one by them. Can a non-GM dealer work on an aspect of a GM car like that? I've always thought when it came to things like that GM dealers were the only ones that could mess with keys. Am I wrong? Need help!!! Anyone else have this prob?

[95DropTop]

just from a lock smith who can my vat keys and get a new key that should solve your problem. you might need a new vat system most likely not. I think any mechinic can take care of that for you but it's not cheep. They actualy could turn the vat thing off on it I almost did that on my old camaro before i sold it cause it was acting up. oh well the new owners problem

[Little G]

Anyone with an OBDII scanner can clear that if you have OBDII.

[Christian]

Auto Start........only thing that saved me

[LwnGy83]

I had a problem w/ my 94 camaro. I would try and start my car and I would get the damn security light 3 or 4 times. What actually happens is when you put your key in the ignition, there is an electrical charge that goes through the metal part in your key, which acts and a resistor and the ignition reads that and if it's off, it won't start. You could try a new key... I believe at the dealership they are like $125 (from the estimates I got) I got one from a lock smith for $55 and it didn't work. So I finally had to get a new ignition. not cool... Try a new key, hopefully it'll work for you.

[Christian]

Originally posted by LwnGy83:
I had a problem w/ my 94 camaro. I would try and start my car and I would get the damn security light 3 or 4 times. What actually happens is when you put your key in the ignition, there is an electrical charge that goes through the metal part in your key, which acts and a resistor and the ignition reads that and if it's off, it won't start. You could try a new key... I believe at the dealership they are like $125 (from the estimates I got) I got one from a lock smith for $55 and it didn't work. So I finally had to get a new ignition. not cool... Try a new key, hopefully it'll work for you.

Yep, that's basically what happens.....auto start, spend the money on something that can fix the problem and help in other areas too.

[silvachris1]

Yeah, he's got the situation right, but new keys at the dealer should run you about 35-40 bucks, not 125. If the ignition cylinder needs replaced, that is a $55 part, off the shelf. Look for the labor and parts to run you about 300 bucks to fix it OUTSIDE of a dealership. Go to a dealer, and the price for the cylinder fix may double.

[FunkZ]

This is a post from another site:

So as I said in a previous post the security light in my car has been coming on occasionally while I am driving. A couple of times it had refused to start for my daughter, also. Well wouldn't you know it, the morning I was leaving for vacation last week my car refused to start. When I put the key in and turned it on, the light just flashed at me. I tried both sets of keys to no avail.

I used my ohm meter to read across the resistor in the keys and they both read 4.7K ohms. Then I went under the dash and disconnected the two wire connector that runs up to the ignition lock cylinder. I turned the key to the run position and read up one wire, through the key, and back down the other wire (reading at the two pins in the connector). My manual said the resistance should be within a few ohms of the resistance through just the key. My meter read infinite resistance indicating an open somewhere in the circuit. Somewhere the wire up to the cylinder, or back down was broken.

Since I knew the resistance the ECM was expecting to see (4.7K ohms) I went to Radio shack and bought a pack of 4.7K resistors ($1.99 for five), cut the wire leading up to the lock cylinder (the new lock cylinder will have new wires) and soldered a resistor between the two wires, taped it up securely, plugged it back into the harness and viola! my car starts fines. I was able to get back on the road and enjoy my vacation!

The security light comes on when you turn the key to run then goes out in a few seconds, and stays out while running like it should. you still need a key to start it it just doesn't have to have the correct resistor in the key, and noone will know, that is except the 4.5 billion people that frequent the internet and have access to this site. Oh, wait, maybe I should get that fixed right sometime!