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1996 Olds 88 won't start


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sten
User

Aug 17, 2009, 4:13 AM

Post #1 of 24 (11906 views)
1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

Yesterday I bought a 1996 olds 88, 3800 series II, 102000 miles, started and ran perfect,the engine light was on so the guy I bought it from said it needed to have both oxygen sensors replaced as he checked the codes from the computer, did that and it still started and ran fine, even though the horn made a slight beep before it started, this also happened before I replaced sensors. This morning it won't start at all and the horn beeps continually until you stop turning the key. No clicking from the starter, lights,horn power windows, etc. work fine. Tapped starter and still won't start. I believe I am using the original key with a chip, same as I was using when it started, I figure this because it is very worn, but worked yesterday.

Unsure Thanks for any helpUnsure
Sten


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 17, 2009, 4:24 AM

Post #2 of 24 (11901 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

It sounds like it has an aftermarket alarm that has triggered.

Try locking all the doors and locking and unlocking the driver's door using the key.
If that doesn't disable it, try disconnecting the battery and having the key on when you hook it back up.

Don't be surprised if your check engine light comes on again too. I seriously doubt you had 2 bad oxygen sensors. They are commonly misdiagnosed.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Aug 17, 2009, 4:26 AM)


sten
User

Aug 17, 2009, 4:37 AM

Post #3 of 24 (11896 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

I took your advice and it still won't start, all the dash lights are on when the key is on I also noticed a security light on, could I need a new key??? Strange how it worked yesterday thoughUnsure Yep my check engine light never went off actually


(This post was edited by sten on Aug 17, 2009, 4:39 AM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 17, 2009, 4:44 AM

Post #4 of 24 (11889 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

It appears you have a Passkey security system that has tripped but the confusing part is the horn. That is not part of the PassKey system.

You probably have a bad ignition switch but I can give you a way to bypass the key sensor.

That sensor can be bypassed. You would need a digital ohmeter to measure the resistence of the pellet in the key. Now go to Radio Shack and buy a resister of the exact same value as the key pellet. Go to the base of the steering column and locate the two thin white wires that go up to the sensor. Cut the two wires and solder the resister between the two ends coming from the harness. This will permanently bypass the sensor but not the rest of the system.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



sten
User

Aug 17, 2009, 4:50 AM

Post #5 of 24 (11885 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

I'm on my way, thanks and I'll let you know how I make out. AS for the horn, the only thing I can figure is it is being used as an alarm and for some reason the system is not recognizing the resistance in the key.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Aug 17, 2009, 5:03 AM

Post #6 of 24 (11875 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

Remember that you are only bypassing the key sensor and the rest of the system is still active and subject to failure.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



sten
User

Aug 17, 2009, 5:06 AM

Post #7 of 24 (11872 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

I'm only getting .8 ohms, does that sound right


Hammer Time
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Aug 17, 2009, 5:29 AM

Post #8 of 24 (11862 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

That might be .8K ohms.

Here are all the possible codes





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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



sten
User

Aug 17, 2009, 5:56 AM

Post #9 of 24 (11857 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

Sorry my screw up, I'm getting anywhere from 1819-1827, unfortunately that's not on the chart. Sorry for all the problems


Hammer Time
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Aug 17, 2009, 6:04 AM

Post #10 of 24 (11851 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

That matched up pretty good with #7. You have a range it can fall into.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



sten
User

Aug 17, 2009, 6:15 AM

Post #11 of 24 (11847 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

I''m sorry if I'm asking stupid questions but it's the first time I've had this type problem and other forums say it has to be exactly the amount of the chip. Because of the range I'm getting, 1827-1819, should I go with 1795 or somewhere in what I'm getting, sorry again for the dumb questions. What would you do???


Hammer Time
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Aug 17, 2009, 6:29 AM

Post #12 of 24 (11841 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

If you read the chart it says 1870 is preferred but it can be as low as 1795 or as high as 1960



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



sten
User

Aug 17, 2009, 8:52 AM

Post #13 of 24 (11836 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

Still won't start, does the same thing


Hammer Time
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Aug 17, 2009, 9:10 AM

Post #14 of 24 (11829 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

Is the security light still on or flashing?



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



sten
User

Aug 17, 2009, 9:14 AM

Post #15 of 24 (11825 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

On not flashing


Hammer Time
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Aug 17, 2009, 9:16 AM

Post #16 of 24 (11818 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

Then the system has another problem other than the sensor. I'm afraid it's going to take a Tech2 scanner to diagnose it. Nothing else is going to read Passkey codes. It may end up being a bad module but I don't recommend changing it without a diagnosis.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



sten
User

Aug 17, 2009, 9:19 AM

Post #17 of 24 (11814 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

Oh well, thanks for your time I really appreciate itUnsure


sten
User

Aug 17, 2009, 10:29 AM

Post #18 of 24 (11804 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

I don't know if this matters but the security light is on, but only for about 5 seconds then it shuts off


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 17, 2009, 10:46 AM

Post #19 of 24 (11798 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

Yes, it does matter.

That's exactly the way it's supposed to work..................



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



sten
User

Aug 17, 2009, 11:52 AM

Post #20 of 24 (11786 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

so I still have to have someone with a Tech 2 scanner, does it have to be towed for this?? Sorry but I've never seen one so I don't know the size


Sidom
Veteran / Moderator
Sidom profile image

Aug 17, 2009, 2:50 PM

Post #21 of 24 (11776 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

Kind of a long thread going on so I'll just add on quick trick I use some times & them try not to confuse things too much...

This does require 2 keys but the 2nd doesn't need a chip just need to be able to turn the lock. Unplug the small 2 wire connector of the ign lock for the passlock. Tape 2 wires to the chip of the old key (one on each side of the resistor) and then insert the wires into the 2 wire connector. Use key #2 and see if the car will start. If it does and you are having trouble finding the right range resistor, you can cut the key off the chip & solder the wires onto the resistor and then intor the harness....... Problem.....now you have no security system anymore, a regular key will work, a punk can come along & punch out the colum and take the car like the old school ones...........


(This post was edited by Sidom on Aug 17, 2009, 2:50 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 17, 2009, 8:48 PM

Post #22 of 24 (11772 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

The sensor has already been bypassed and it turns out that wasn't even the issue.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



sten
User

Aug 18, 2009, 3:17 AM

Post #23 of 24 (11763 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

Morning hammer, sorry to keep on bothering you but I've tried a couple of other things and still have no luck.

1. Battery has 12.6 volts
2. Jumped starter with a screwdriver and the starter turned
3. Disconnected power to the solenoid, disconnected hot side of battery and ran a wir from hot side of battery to starter solenoid, clunks but won't turn starter
4. When I turn the key I get nothing, no click no clunck, but power windows stop as I try to start the car, so voltage being sent to solenoid.
5. I have no ignition wire with spade connector on starter solenoid so would I be checking voltage on the smaller of the two wires?

So my battery and starter are OK, to see if I am getting voltage to my starter solenoid would I need another person to turn the key while I check voltage. Unfortunately all are at work so it's only me, any other tricks or ideas would be appreciated . Horn still beeps when you turn the key to the start pos.

Could anyone tell me where the starter relay is located in this piece of crap, thats the next step


(This post was edited by sten on Aug 18, 2009, 6:26 AM)


sten
User

Aug 24, 2009, 6:02 AM

Post #24 of 24 (11720 views)
Re: 1996 Olds 88 won't start Sign In

OK this is what the problem was, the car is equiped with a Lojack System that I knew nothing about, (I think someone mentioned an aftermarket alarm system might be the problem) and has to be started with the left directional on. Well we knew nothing about any of this and the Garage guy told that when I bypassed the chip in the key and put the resistor pack in the LOjack thought it was getting stolen and locked out the system. Actually Hammertime called it when he mentioned the aftermarket alarm.Wink

Thank You for your trime
Sten Nelson






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