Random no-crank. Anti-theft?

[turbojimmy]

Ok, this has been driving me nuts since I bought the car a year ago. Sometimes, completely at random, the car won't crank. The battery is fine. It's definitely an anti-theft or clutch interlock thing. I can't duplicate the behavior, and I don't know what fixes it. Sometimes I mess around with the shifter, other times I hit "unlock" on the fob several times, other times I lock and unlock the doors. Sometimes all these gyrations work, other times I have to let it roll and dump the clutch to get it running. Weird thing is that it will do it whether I've locked the car or not (I assume hitting LOCK on the keyfob engages the antitheft).

I thought maybe it was the pellet in the key, so I got my spare out. Same deal.

Ideas?

[blade2222]

next time it it happens see if the security light is lit, if so it's the key or lock cylinder. If the light is not lit check the conections at the starter, I've had a bad conection the did the same thing.

[Cutlass]

you could try doing the security system bypass and see if that helps
VATS bypass

[Ws6islife]

i did the bypass and still no crank no nothing, just a light click

[Cutlass]

i did the bypass and still no crank no nothing, just a light click

Is the click, a small relay click or a starter solenoid click?

[turbojimmy]

I don't think the security light is lit, but I'll look for it next time.

There's not hint of a click or anything. Definitely being electronically locked out somehow. I don't think it's a bad connection.

Jim

[sjsingle1]

sounds like the VATS bypass..............did not bypass

[Glue Maker]

mine does the same thing but my guages actually max out then go back normal

[turbojimmy]

sounds like the VATS bypass..............did not bypass

I'll have to try bypassing it and see if it cures it. I'm confused about checking the resistance of the pellet, though. Do you put the ohm meter leads on either side of the pellet? Or on the key and pellet?

[Cutlass]

measure across both sides of the pellet