First off let me say thanks to this board in general! I have found many many many tips, tricks and answers due to the time effort and experience that many of you have dedicated to this forum! THANK YOU!

I recently bought a 1994 LT1 Convertible. 74k miles. In decent shape but like most needed a good bit of work. I've made great progress so far.

Most recently I was able to secure Key Fob for the PKE as I didn't want to go aftermarket like Viper. I have already fully replaced the Bose radio and speakers and was very careful to replace the harness by following the specific wiring diagram for the radio.

So here is the dilemma, when I try to put the car into programming mode to pair the fob I get all the way to the point where I turn the ignition to off and the PKE light should flash in the DIC but it does not.

I have read many many answers and topics in this forum addressing different issues but none really addressed the specific one.

A few notes:
1. I have checked fuses 26, 40, and 42 all are good.
2. Radio works fine as do both door locks and switches
3. UTD works fine and horns honk when activated. Door switches with key will stop disarm the UTD just fine
4. There are no DTC codes in the ECM, PCM, CCM and I have cleared them after going into diagnostic mode
5. When I jump pins 5 and 8 on the ALDL and I do get a Code 13 in the DIC for the PKE system indicating no transmitter found and that switches to a code 14 when the transmitter is in range
6. Yes, Fob has a brand new battery and I know it is being detected
7. PKE light comes on when the car is first turned on but goes off with other check lights in the DIC (So I know the bulb is good)
8. I do not have any chime. Not when the door is open or key is in the ignition or lights are on. I get no chime if I wiggle the key or adjust the steering wheel. I put some contact cleaner into the ignition switch and still no chime and still no flashing PKE light when I switch to off
9. Any time I try to go into the programming mode and fail once I take the key out and close the door the car doors both lock and the horn beeps. This happens with or without the key fob being in range of the car.

Ok so this all seems strange. My thought is that I think the PKE system works as does the transmitter because of the codes the DIC flashes. This is directly in line with what the FSM suggests. I just can't figure what is going on when I switch the key to the off position and why the PKE doesn't go into programming mode. Seems like everything but that last final step is working.

I know this topic is covered ad nauseam in the forums and the net. And I've looked deep into the FSM to include the full section on PKE as well as several sites and articles and just haven't found this same issue or where it was resolved.

Any expert advice about trouble shooting beyond just replacing the PKE?

Thanks in advance and happy to be a member of the broader C4 and Corvette community!

Cheers!

PD

 

No chime indicates a problem. If the car doesn't "know" the key is in the ignition at the end of the programming procedure it is not going to work. I'm not saying that is the only problem, but fix the chime first and see if the light starts blinking then.

 

Mark

Thanks and I agree. I. do think the issue is that the PKE doesn't know the key is still in the ignition. Do you or anyone else have a wiring diagram for the chime and how to investigate that? Was hoping not to have to pull the dash but looks like it's the only way to the chime unit.

 

Sounds like you already have an FSM, I don't have anymore info on the chime that isn't in there.
One more thing, do the buttons ( I think it's fuel and odo?) work properly?

 

There is a you tube corvette video that talks to a similar point. It has to do with the ignition switch not maintaining contact when the key is turned off. Here is a link to the you tube video. He talks about the ignition switch around the 8:30 point.

 

Mark, yes both buttons work. And I have found some info on the chime in the FSM. I'm still investingating that part of the system.

4speed, yes Mark at Mirrock is fantastic! In fact it was this video that motivated me to pursue the PKE system for my car. The one issue I have that's a little different than what's in his video is that I can never get the chime and even after trying a little contact cleaner and adjusting the key in all different ways still can't get it to go into programming mode.

Thanks to both of you for responding!

I wonder two things, 1 could there be no chime and that is the issue? Or is the contact switch in the ignition totally gone? Maybe both? IDK.

PD

 

I just bought a 1996, but with no remotes, i've been looking but the asking price for the remote was $400, that's a little too steep. I've also been trying to check out the PKE system without a remote, I don't want to spend the dollars for remote and have other problems in the system.

 

If you can get the light to blink at the end of the programming procedure you are almost guaranteed that everything on the car (as far as the PKE system goes) is working.

 

Well, if the chime module itself isn't working that shouldn't affect the PKE. It's just that if the chime is working, then you know that the contact switch is working. I really suspect that the switch is bad. Some people have been able to get around the problem by keeping the key pressed in when turning it off. It occurs to me that somewhere there should be a couple wires you could jump that would fool the system into thinking the contact was there long enough to program the fob, but I sure don't know which ones they are.

 

Mark, thanks for the idea! I agree. Was wondering about a shortcut to potentially bypass the switch.

Do you know if the switch is tied into the VATS or is that totally separate?

PD

 

I don't really know. sorry

 

The 8D Section of the FSM likely has diagnostics to 'command' and check Chime 1 and Chime 2. The 8D Section for each particular year might be slightly different and '94 being 1st year for PCM I think you just spend time in the CCM section before moving to the PKE. You know you have 'Chime' issues so that might be a likely starting point.

***Should be I believe CCM OUTPUTS (1.4 MODE). It's a short read with an example!