Need to know if my 1996 pontiac sunfire needs a chip for the key?

Question

I've recently took the car starter and alarm that was installed before I bought the car out, upon doing so when I go to start the car it starts for a few seconds then the theft light comes on and it cuts out. Just in case it matters, it's the 2.2 l engine.

Answer 1

This was my pet peeve with auto start and alarms. What has happened is the wiring that the jobbers use to splice into the anti-theft factory thing usually damages the wires to the factory. Upon removal or re-splicing, there is now a voltage drop which matters as the ignition system only uses 5V. The module thinks the voltage drop is someone trying to steal the car and will either stall it out or not let it start. It also usually sets the warning light in the dash to blinking. What you will have to do is to properly repair the factory wiring under the dash or in the column wherever it was spliced. A lot of times, the only way to properly repair this was to replace the wiring. Get someone who knows what they are doing as this is pretty intricate work. The car uses what is known as Passkey2 system which does not have a chip, but uses a preset voltage when the key is rotated to know that the key is the right one. Good luck.

Answer 2

Your security key reader in the switch may not be operating properly. If you haven't changed the key, that is probably the problem. I just recently used an ohm meter to measure the ohms in the key chip in a 95 Camaro. I then bought resistors from Radio Shack to match the ohms, and clipped the wire leading to the reader in the switch, and installed them to trick the car into thinking it had a correctly matched key. I then just had a key made without the chip. It now works fine, but exercise caution, because it is easier to steal.

Answer 3

the theft system can be relearned by cranking the engine slightly but dont let it start leave the key in run position then watch the theft lite it should start blinking leave key on until lite goes out about 10 min. (you may want to use a batt. charger if your voltage goes too low you'll have tostart over) then turn key off wait 5 sec. and start car.This should relearn theft system but I have had to do it more than once to get it to work.
Usually works !st try if battery is kept charged.

Answer 4

it being a 96 model it may require a chip in the key i had a 91 fire bird that has one of those systems in it,when the chip gets damaged or wont work anymore you have to replace the key switch,i went to one that didn't need a chip in it,all i did was disconnect the original alarm system on it by pulling the fuse for it,the car runs great now,and hasn't caused any problems in over two years,good luck with it.,,PS on that one make sure there's no wires left open on it,all wires have to be re-connected back to their original positions.