FBody Owners

"Jesus Arias" (99pontiacfirebird)
03/16/2020 at 18:45 • Filed to: None

Hello Oppo good evening! Or not so good evening! My car didnt start earlier and I had to drive my brother’s car. The white one is my brother’s (please excuse the poor quality my brother took this photo when he had a crappy phone ) .

But anyways if you have a 4th gen fbody then I need help. I tried to start my car earlier but the security light came on and it didnt start . This is the second time this has happened to me. I have searched online but I cant find any solutions as to why this happens. If any fbody owners know how to solve this issue please tell me.

DISCUSSION (30)

atfsgeoff > Jesus Arias
03/16/2020 at 18:55

https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-maintenance-repairs/1310244-help-car-won-t-start-security-light.html

Jesus Arias > atfsgeoff
03/16/2020 at 18:57

Thank you!

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Jesus Arias
03/16/2020 at 18:59

VATS (Vehicle Anti Theft System) headaches were common for the 4th gen F-bodies. I almost scored a V6 camaro for dirt cheap as my second ever car because of it. Do you have the chip key?

Kinja'd!!!

Jesus Arias > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/16/2020 at 19:00

My key does have a chip on it. Thing is this has never happened to my dad who owns a 3rd gen Fbody which has the same key.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Jesus Arias
03/16/2020 at 19:02

Hmmmm. Don’t know if there’s a reason for that or if it’s random chance, but it’s highly likely you’ve got one of the myriad of weird foibles that that system caused. I had a monte carlo with the same chip and never had an issue, but my dad said it was mostly the F-bodies of that generation that had the faults. And given he was a pontiac mechanic from the late 90s to early 2000s......I trust what he said.

Jesus Arias > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/16/2020 at 19:05

Guess I will have to bypass VATS to prevent future problems.

Sovande > Jesus Arias
03/16/2020 at 19:07

I have a B Body and a G Body. Does that equal an F Body?

Jesus Arias > Sovande
03/16/2020 at 19:09

I mean does it have VATS? Because I am 90% sure that the issue is with the VATS system. Also sure a B body and G body equal an F body.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/16/2020 at 19:12

VATS?

Kinja'd!!!

lone_liberal > Jesus Arias
03/16/2020 at 19:13

I have a 2nd gen F-body. What is this “security light” you speak of? There are lights for things other than oil pressure?

Jesus Arias > lone_liberal
03/16/2020 at 19:16

Trippy right? I thought that dashboard lights were a myth used to scare people in to buying reliable cars. I was wrong and I am paying the price for it.

Jesus Arias > atfsgeoff
03/16/2020 at 19:21

That forum didnt help much but I suppose I should wipe my key before I try to crank my car?

Gone > Jesus Arias
03/16/2020 at 19:32

Additional but maybe useless info

http://shbox.com/1/pass_key.html

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Jesus Arias
03/16/2020 at 19:37

My C5 has done the same thing once. I locked the doors using my key fob, let it sit for 10 minutes and then opened her up and it was fine. I think if you insert the key wrong, it somehow thinks that someone is jacking it and locks down.

Jesus Arias > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
03/16/2020 at 19:37

Dumb of GM to design it that way. Well thanks for the info.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Jesus Arias
03/16/2020 at 19:41

The more I work on mine, the more dumb GM decisions I find. Like over the weekend I discovered that all the control arms bushings are different (ones in different locations) but some have just a minute difference in diameter, like 2mm or so...like why?¡

The LS tho <3

Jesus Arias > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
03/16/2020 at 19:44

Oh yeah GM designs their cars pretty badly. At least they’re cool and moderately reliable. Also you hear about how hard it is to change the s park plug #8 on a 4th gen F body?

BeaterGT > Jesus Arias
03/16/2020 at 20:00

Check to see if your key is dirty.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Jesus Arias
03/16/2020 at 20:03

Ooh yeah, definitely ! I was looking up how to do plugs on my Vette and everything I read said that “ at least you dont own a Fbody” lol

Jesus Arias > BeaterGT
03/16/2020 at 20:11

Cant check right now because I left my car at home. I will have to check when I get back.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
03/16/2020 at 20:31

Its an electrical glitch on a car and yet, somehow, Bethesda is still to blame for it....

BeaterGT > Jesus Arias
03/16/2020 at 20:35

Hopefully it’s just some crud on the chip. Happened to me in my old Firebird once.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
03/16/2020 at 20:40

Does yours have the column lock bypass?

blacktruck18 > Jesus Arias
03/16/2020 at 20:49

It’s probably already been covered but, wipe the key off with rubbing alcohol and try again. I had this happen on one of my C4's, h appened once and never happened again after I cleaned it.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
03/16/2020 at 20:56

Its supposed to, I haven't dug into it. BeaterGT told me that it does have it

dogisbadob > Jesus Arias
03/16/2020 at 23:02

That’s what most people do

dogisbadob > Jesus Arias
03/16/2020 at 23:02

bypass it

Crowbarmaster > Jesus Arias
03/17/2020 at 08:44

Have you solved your issue yet? You simply need someone to tune out vats in the PCM. You will still have a security light, but your car will start and run as normal. I perform such a service, either in person, or by shipping your PCM to me and doing it on a bench. I charge $50 plus shipping costs.

AkinRa > Jesus Arias
03/17/2020 at 13:54

How much searching did you do to not come up with the most probable problem being vats. Bypass using the resistors in the column or buy a bypass on eBay for like $20. This issue is very well documented. Familiarize yourself with ls1tech.com as well if you haven’t already. A wealth of information on that site for ls based cars. Good luck. She looks good, btw.

Raulie > Jesus Arias
03/17/2020 at 19:54

I had this problem happen to me on my 02 camaro ss, so I did a bypass. And it's been working like a charm for 10 years lol. Instructions i used are here https://www.ls1.com/forums/f6/how-bypass-your-vats-61262/