HI everyone,
i bought a 98 coupe 2 weeks ago from a dealer and he said that he had a no start condition.(turn the key to start and nothing}.He said he would have a chevy dealer replace the key switch before he sold it to me.{he even gave me the receipt}. The 98 only has 37000 miles on it. Now I am having the same problem.I turn to ON and the dash lights up and all the gauges come to life.? when i hit START-nothing,not even a click,? I remove the key,put it back in,{about 10 times} and suddenly she starts.?. I dont see where they gave him a new key.? could the pellet on the key be worn or bad.? or do I have a different problem. any help would be appreciated.
I pulled all the codes and they r all HISTORY codes,nothing current.?
codes in SCM--0851-1016-1064?-1255?
RDCM--1016?-1064-1255-2265-2283-2285
LDCM--1016?-1064-1096-1255-2282-2284
I will try cleaning the key pellet-
Thx,Dave

 

How are the contacts on the resistor part of the key?? Next time try wiggling it around to see if it get better contact.

If had the cylinder changed wouldn't they have to give u a new key??

 

He only gave me 1 key.Good question-If they change the ignition switch and give me a new key,then the new key wont unlock the doors or glove box.? this key does work on the doors. so now i am confused ?Can a new switch be set to work with my old key ?/
thx for the reply.

 

Hey Dave, I had a problem starting my 98 coupe and someone told me to CLEAN the key with alcohal, I cleaned it and never had the problem since. Sounds crazy but try it, it might just work. Good luck.

 

I will try cleaning the KEY Pellet-wish me luck,,thx again

 

The switch and lock cylinder are separate pieces and yes they can replace the cylinder and still use the same key. It just requires transfering the tumblers.
Has the recall for the colum lock been done?

 

I had the same annoying no start problem before. It ended up being my starter. Quite a few people have had this problem. The starter is right next to the exhaust and it seems the heat might make the solenoid fail earlier than it should.

Things to check on the no-start condition the next time it happens.

1)Battery, battery connections (no corrosion)
2)Push Clutch pedal in and turn key, you should hear the Theft Deterrant Relay click in the passenger floorboard, you can also put a test light on the purple wire of the relay when you turn the key to make sure it is sending a signal to the starter.
3)Turn the key and push the clutch pedal in and out. You should hear the relay click and not click. This tells you that you clutch pedal sensor is working.
4)Check that the correct voltage is getting to the starter by getting under the car and check the solenoid terminals on the starter.

 

I had the same problem. After so many trys turning the ignition it would finally start. It ended up being a flat spot on the starter. I would check that out.

Ron

 

Thanks for the imput about the starter.I would of thought that at 37K on it that I would not be dealing with this stuff.{oh well}.By the way,I didn't mention that my ride is a automatic.
Here i thought that i was dealing with a "no crank VATS" problem and now u say it can also be the starter. Is there any codes or tell tale signs that seperate the 2 problems.? Vats or Starter?
Thx again

 

There are usually codes that tell you it is the vats problem, but I did not get any for the starter. I did pull some codes when I got fed up and started turning the key 20 times in a row to get it to start.

 

thx for the reply.
I dont have any VATS related codes,,so i guess it must be the starter.It acted up again tonight,but it cranked and fired up on the third turn of the key..I guess i better look around for a starter... I may try to put the starter in myself but the manual says that i have to drop the exhaust/header pipe to access the starter.? i put a starter in my 85 but i dont know how hard it is on this 98.? did u put your starter in yourself ?
thx again

 

WOW just as i thought about starting a new thread on this topic, here it is already posted by someone else! wow i love this forum!

anyway... yes i have this "no start" issue, and it's bugging the dickens outta me. mine is a '02 Z06 with close to 36K miles on it now. i got it with a lil over 32K and noticed the hesitance to start issue shortly after i got it. while under the GM certified warranty that came with the car, i took it to the fletcher chevy dealer here in NW arkansas. their corvette guy had it for 2 days, and i got it back fixed. it was something with the security system and some melted wires going to a door lock relay or somethin along those lines.

ahh but.... shortly after i got it back, i realized i was still having the problem. it's intermittent for sure, happening maybe once out of every 7 or 8 times i start it. i've found no pattern with it. car can be cold or hot, sometimes no starts happen 2 or 3 in a row, and it doesnt seem to matter what the temp outside is. talked to the dealer again and they said to try different keys, make sure clutch is all the way down (and check to make sure i hear a click of the relay), and also try with the column tilted all the way up, down, and in between. this past weekend, it did the no start thing two or three times. im using a different key (which is clean). jiggling doesnt help, pressing clutch in and out with key turned or not turned doesnt help, different key doesnt help. after many turns and tries, it eventually fires up. there have been a few times where i've held the key in the start position, and the engine fired up after a second or two of holding the key.

its annoying and it has the dealership shop totally stumped. im prepared to give them the car for a week so they can fiddle with it and try to replicate the problem. i get no error messages except ONE time i briefly saw the "pull key, wait 10 seconds" message. my car has the most recent column lock recall done (back in 2006). im so glad to know others have this problem... at least i'm not singled out with some weird occurence that no one's heard of! it'd be interesting to see if the starter is getting power. surely if it was, but not turning, it'd blow a huge fuse. maybe the solenoid freezes up? it's such an intermittent problem... thats the thing. it'd be sheer luck for it to happen at home, so i could quickly jack it up to get underneath to check the starter. fat chance i guess. it's literally like starting the car, everything intact with a good battery, but no starter or solenoid. im up for things to try before i take it back to dealership.

 

I had a no start in my '98 and it turned out to be a pinched wiring cable under the console, the cable that feeds the fuel door switch, etc. The original black wrapping tape was removed, new tape was put on and it was moved more toward the right side of the tunnel; since then it always starts.

 

yes,our problems seem to be very similar.I am not convinced that it is the starter or the battery either.all my years as a backyard mechanic and from working on my 85 vett tells me to clean all BATT terminals and or leave the lights on when trying to crank engine.read the batt while trying to crank and or see if the headlites go DIM and then yes,,we might have a bad BATT under load.My headlights do not go dim or even blink when trying to crank..sooooo ??? Now,as far as a cooked starter or flat spot on the armature it seems to me that i should still hear the old dreaded CLICK of the solonoid,and i dont get the click when trying to crank.? I do agree that it is possible that the solinoid is starting to burn from the heat and maybe,maybe its starting to open intermittantly.? very rare,i think,?. I do what u do,,just keep trying to crank and eventualy it starts.? I am reading that the anti-theft relay has to be made for any Cranking can happen.?? i am going to watch the SECURITY lite right now and see exactly what it does.? I'm still confused whether I'm chaseing a Batt-starter-Vats or some other wiring problem.I will read the service manual and see if it will help.? I will keep you posted.
If anyone can give me more input from experience,I will try anything once.
Thx,People

 

Quick check to rule out the starter and solenoid is to jump the terminals on the solonid with a screw driver or remote starter button,(preferd method).
If the starter engages it's not the starter or solenoid.
I had a simalier problem a few years ago and it turned out to be the wire from the ingniton lock cylinder to the VATS system had an intermittent connection.
Replaced the cylinder and all has been well ever since!

 

I will check the connections at the battery and starter.I did notice with the hood up the courtesy light and all dash lites and gauges go completely OUT when I hit start.? But,I hit start a second or third time and now she fires up on the first turn.? Maybe i should load test the battery,it does read 12.5v unloaded.or just buy a good heavy duty battery to at least eliminate that item.{it has a AAA Brand battery in it now}?.{didn't know AAA made one}?
I will get back with the results

 

mine wouldn't start this afternoon, and i wonder if it being hot outside has anything to do with it. i held the key in the start position and was banging on the dash, jiggling the key.... but finally as soon as i hit the door unlock button, it fired up instantly. i wonder if the door lock switch (which is part of the VATS im sure) has anything to do with it. ??? interesting. i'm taking it to the dealership monday morning and they'll tinker around with it.

 

If you have an automatic, check the gear selector. Try it in neutral and park. Then hold the key in the crank position and shift through from park to 1.

 

yes,i have an auto.I will try anything once..I guess it could be the nuetral/safety switch.I checked codes and still have no security or vats codes..I'm ready to change out the battery just to try something and see what happens.

 

All it is , is the ignition switch ive had this happen on all my C5's its a 40 dollar part and takes 10 minutes to do and NO you do not need a new key I was tought this by the GM tech that does the work on my car the dealership wanted 650 to fix it I did it for 40 dollars and 10 minutes of my time.