I noticed after I start my car i can take the key out and the car will still run, but I can't start it without a key (thank goodness). Anyone else's do this?

 

Yeah, mine does. I can sometimes start without the key too. The lock cylinder is broken. It does lock for me though, I just got to play with it.

Matt

 

It's not terribly uncommon for that sort of thing to happen. As the lock cylinder wears, you can sometimes slide the key out when you shouldn't be able to. On my old firebird I could turn the key back into the accessory position, then turn it back far enough to get the key out, but not far enough for the accessory stuff to shut off. It was great because I could keep my doors open without hearing the damned key buzz.

 

I can do that too, just pull my key out far enough so it doesn't buzz...

I think I can only do it while it's off though.

 

Yea, I can do that in the acc position but not the running position. I hate the buzzing noise, when I was putting it back to getter after someone tried to still my car. I had the new columb (spell) and the old broken one, there is a little metal clip on the key cylinder, on the new one but not on the old one, so I kept it. OPPS that was the switch for the key buzzer, before my car didn't do that.

I need to pull the wheel and lock plate again and get rid of it.

 

I just discovered this on my car the other day. I don't know why I tried it either...but yeah I just pulled my key out while the car was on and magically my car stayed on =)

 

:sillylol: @ columb....it's column...not like it matters anyway though

my car does that too....guess it's another 3rd gen trait along with falling headliner, cracked "glove compartment" thing, etc.

 

This is one third gen trait I rather enjoy.

I mean, you can leave the car on if you need to get something out of the trunk for one of your buddies or such.

I always thought it was something that GM did stock, my Chevy Conversion van allows you take the keys out. I just figured b/c GM did that two key dealie for so many years, they figured you might as well be able to remove the key to unlock doors, etc.

The best though, is you can leave the car running and once someone turns it off, they are done for.

-One of my friends "stole" my car once, and he managed to stall it, it is an auto... no clue, so he drove it to the far end of the neighborhood and I knew he didnt have the key.
So I just waited like an hour. And he finally got back b!itching about how he couldnt start the car and had to walk home then I waved the keys in his face and told him he must've forgotten something.

This was before I appareciated my car, now I would never let it sit all alone on the side of the road.

 

Mine does the exact same thing as well......

 

mine does too, havent tried on my bird yet though.

but what i used to do was start the car, and take out the keys, so junst incase i couldnt lock them in the car and if i got car jacked they could drive soemwhere but would have to do more work to get the car going again. :lala:

 

i used to have an 87 dodge daytona, i could start the car without the key. i was driving down the road and out of curiousity, i pulled the key, it came right out, then i tried to see if i could turn the ignition on and off without my key too. it started right up. so for about a year, i drove my car without carrying the keys rofl.

 

Mine's done that since I got it in 1994. It's a common GM 'problem'. I like it though, it's not a bug it's a feature Anyway, usually when this happens to GM stuff you can start it without the key if you don't turn the ignition back to the lock position. Just go back one notch from 'on', then the engine will die. Then try to restart without the key....
Every GM vehicle I've seen with this 'feature' will start without the key if it's not in the lock position.

 

The key has to be in the ignition for it to start........you can just take it out once it's started


VATS won't allow it to start w/o the key

 

while we are on this topic if you wanted to put in a non worn key cylinder and you have VATS, and don't want to bypass it how do you do it, I guess the dealership would have to find the risistance and order a lock with a key with the correct resistance? how does this work has anyone done this. Anyone know prices.

 

I'm willing to assume they can tell you the resistance from the vin...

Or can put the diagnostic tool on the ecm and it'll tell them.

 

Well they have the little thing the stick you old key in and it reads then number. This is how they made my spair key. I don't think the vin will tell them the resistance. I also had to argue with the guy, he insisted that my car didn't have vats, if I'm not mistaking all 1989 firebirds had vats right/

 

I've haven't seen this on a VATS car. Lots of farm pick-ups and older cars(like mine).