1997 Oldsmobile 88 What's going on with my car?

SAMNNICK

MEMBER
1997 OLDSMOBILE 88
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
134,000 MILES

Alright, Four day's ago I was driving to my brother house when the security light popped on while I was driving. The light went off before I turned off my car. I spent the day at his house, drove home and went to bed. When I woke up the next morning to go to work, my car wouldn't start. I have power, the dash lights up, but the engine won't turn over. I have fuel and just changed my spark plugs and wires. Could it be a key problem? Or what?

In some serious need of help,
samnnick

1 Reply

TROAF76

MEMBER
2 POSTS

You neeed to check and see what your security light is doing on the instrument cluster. Your owner's manual should tell you what it should do during/after startup. I have an '02 oldsmobile alero that sounds like it has the same problem. The passkey security system may be "locking you out" I was told after the key and starter swith wear enough, the car's security system will think someone is trying to start the car with a wrong key. On my alero, you can insert the key, turn ignition to "on" and wait 8-10 minutes until the security light on the dash goes out. The car will then start, until it does it again. I went to the hardware store and had a new key made. It doesn't do it nearly as often now. The most common fix I've heard of is a new ignition switch/key. This is fairly expensive, and some people say the problem comes right back after the new stuff wears. From what I researched, it is a fairly common GM problem from that era. Sorry I don't know of a cheap, quick, permanent fix. Good luck.