Yesterday my car started exhibiting some STRANGE symptoms. I had been driving for quite a long period of time, perhaps 2 1/2 to 3 hours, when all of a sudden, I felt the engine "hiccup" and the security light came on. As quick as it came, it went back to normal.

It did this about 2 or 3 more times, when the security light comes on it feels kinda like the car is bogging.

Is this a VATS issue? I haven't had any problems starting the car.

Thanks!!

~Chris

 

Are you sure it wasn't the Service Engine Soon light that came on? They are mounted side by side with the Security light being on the left.

 

If it's a service engine soon or a check engine light, you should definetly take that to a shop and have it checked.

 

Or just bridge the "A" and "B" terminals of the ALDL and work from there. No need to go to a shop and *gasP* pay money just to hear "Your car is broke, it will cost X amount in order for us to fix it."

 

Not unless my SES light says "Security" on it.

It happened again today, this time it stumbled long enough to attract the attention of my passenger. And this time I had only been driving for about half an hour

It feels almost as if the engine is all of a sudden straining, maybe starved for fuel. That's why I think maybe the VATS is kicking in and killing the fuel flow. But why while driving, and not when i start the car?

Ugh this is irritating.

~Chris

 

TTT

Anyone have any ideas? It's becoming more frequent.

I can't be the only person who's had this problem

~Chris

 

Do you by any chance have an aftermarket alarm system installed or has there ever been one installed in your car. The VATS only functions at start up. Have you checked to see if any trouble codes have been stored in the computer?

 

check your key to see if the chip isnt worn out. the security lite will come on if the key isnt making good enough contact in the ignition and stay on while driving. if thats the case, new keys are around $20 depending where you go. mine was $19.99 at true value. but anyway, check the key and the ignition and make sure neither are worn out or dirty. if so there's your problem. if dirty, try a little alcohol on a qtip and rub contacts inside keyway MAKE SURE ITS NOT SOAKED OR YOU CAN FRY IGNITION. hope this helps ya out......

hellraiser

 

If the key is not making a good contact with the lock cylinder, the car will not start and the security light will not come on

 

http://www.sethirdgen.org/vats.htm
cargasm, take a look at that link they give alot of information at the bottom of page for stuff you'd wanna try out to find the issue...

by the way, trickster you were rite i was thinking the other way around

 

Bingo. I can't believe that didn't occur to me sooner. There was a Techne alarm installed by the first owner (i'm the third). Niether the previous owner or I got a key fob with it; he just left it in, and my friend and I took it out this past weekend while installing a stereo.

How might the Alarm affect the vats? and how, without re-installing an unusable alarm, can i fix it?

Just an FYI, the security light does come on for the first 2 seconds the car is started.

No, but I will soon


Thanks!!

~Chris

 

Check all the wiring that it was connected to and see it there are any bare wires that might be touching. BTW, the security light coming on for two seconds and going out means that it is operating normally.