Billythekid47960

What's going on? Have a 98 vert. Put the key in the ignition, seat moves forward, DIC lights up, tach/speedo needles sweep, turn the key and nothing happens! DIC goes out, lights in radio go out, release key and DIC lights backup, needles sweep, etc. I know the starter is fine. The battery is up. It just stranded me AGAIN! Column lock twice! No codes come up on the DIC this time. Could it be a problem with the little tab on the key? It acted hinky a time or two before, but I turn the key a couple times and it started. Not this time. Any help would be great.

fastfb350

Push in the clutch....















j/k. I couldn't resist. Good luck with it. Problems like this are so frustrating.

Daves85

I had the same problem on my 98 also.the dealer replaced the "KEY SWITCH" and the "ING" switch and it still would not crank.I ended up pulling up the passenger side floor mats and cover to get at the "STARTER RELAY" which is just above the silver box{BCM}.its a little black relay that should click when you turn the key on.the contacts running the starter are the red wire[batt] and the purple wire goes to the starter.the contacts in my relay were shot so no 12volts to the starter..$34.00 for the little black relay and i was up and running fine.check yours out and good luck.

ronwc

Recheck/tighten/clean the connections to the battery -

jrose7004

That was my thought.

Kal-El

Try taking your key and rubbing it between two pieces of paper like you would sand paper. You are actually cleaning the little chip in the key.

bighank

Got stranded after dinner in the parking garage downtown. Called for a tow. Tow truck driver WHACKED the starter a few times with a tire iron. BINGO... IT started. Died aqgain about a week later. I whacked it this time. So as not to be STRANDED I replaced the starter after I was UNABLE to locate parts for mine. I used to rebuild starters all the time, brushes, overrunning clutches and gears but NO ONE around me had any PARTS. The starter replacement is a PITA. You have to lower the exhaust to get to the beast. Had to pay someone with a hydraulic lift the labor to do it even though I supplied the part. BIGHANK

Mac11

The Pass Key page (2-18) in the Owners Manual says "The key must be clean and dry before it's inserted in the ignition or the engine may not start. If the "Security Light" comes on, the key may be dirty or wet.

Further on it says "if the security pellet is damaged or missing the starter won't work" !

Try your spare key and if it works try cleaning the 1st one. I just bought a new key for my '03 Anny and it was $40 !!!

Good luck with it.

bighank

Go on to fleebay and look for corvette VATS 2 sided keys. Find out the resistance on our current one with an ohmmeter or get the dealer (at NO CHARGE) to read it for you. The numbers are I believe from 2 to 13 for the key codes. Search here (past posts) for a conversion chart from actual values in ohms or K ohms to the pellet number. Buy an new DOBLE SIDED blank key with the correct resistance pellet. Then go to a LOCKSMITH (NOT HOME DEPOT OR K MART) and spend about $2 to have the new key cut using your existing one and VERIFY that it STARTS the car and UNLOCKS THE DOORS, glove box, and console.
My locksmith was cutting 2 keys for me and SCREWED UP. The PATS key (with an RFID chip in the top) was ok for my Pontiac, but my VATS key wouldn't turn in the ignition even though it unlocked the car. He REPLACED IT with one of his blanks at no additional charge (why I said DON'T go to some wholesale store with idiots running the key machines, even professionals can and DO screw up occasionally. BIGHANK