Restart your car in 3 minutes, 2 min, 1 min! What?!?!?

kymbakitty · #1 (**permalink**) 06-05-06, 08:34 AM

Dear fellow posters:

We were driving to work the other day and I happened to notice that the car was giving us a message...something about "you may not be able to start your car...." Anyway, we pulled over, decided to turn the car off and start it again. Sometimes on our corvette, this was necessary because it would get a bad reading and, well, it just worked.

Anyway, yesterday, when I was getting ready to leave, it said something totally different. I looked down and the monitor and it said something like, "you need to restart your car in 3 minutes." Then it went from "3 minutes," to "2 minutes," to "1 minute." Then "Start Car."

This has NEVER happened! We (MBI) just paid the dealer $3,500 to replace the gaskets and replace 20 certs).....would this have anything to do with these messages?

Thanks for ANY insight.....weird.

Dawn

chazglenn3 · #2 (**permalink**) 06-05-06, 10:03 AM

Sounds like a theft deterrent system problem to me. Maybe something is wrong with the ignition switch?

Charles

**Ranger** · #3 (**permalink**) 06-05-06, 11:54 AM

Definately part of the theft deterent system. Have you checked the codes?

kymbakitty · #4 (**permalink**) 06-05-06, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranger

Definately part of the theft deterent system. Have you checked the codes?

I am sure there are instructions on this bb on how to check the codes, but if you don't mind, will you please instruct me on how one would go about doing so?

Thank you!!!!

Dawn

iametarq · #5 (**permalink**) 06-05-06, 03:47 PM

If you have a 98+ Cadillac press OFF/ON + Info UP at the same time.
If you have a 97- Cadillac press OFF + Warmer at the same time to enter On Board Diagnostics.

**Ranger** · #6 (**permalink**) 06-06-06, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iametarq

If you have a 98+ Cadillac press OFF/ON + Info UP at the same time.
If you have a 97- Cadillac press OFF + Warmer at the same time to enter On Board Diagnostics.

Yeah, it varies with model & year. You need to give us that information or add it to your profile.

kymbakitty · #7 (**permalink**) 06-06-06, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iametarq

If you have a 98+ Cadillac press OFF/ON + Info UP at the same time.
If you have a 97- Cadillac press OFF + Warmer at the same time to enter On Board Diagnostics.

Oops...sorry. We have a 2000 Eldorado.

Anyway, the same thing happened to hubby on the way home yesterday. He figured (or was told) that it was probably the chip in the key going bad (after six years of use) so we are using the other one and it seems to be working just fine. No more messages! What is kind of strange is that you would think that key would either work or NOT work. If it is bad, then how can it start the car, period? Lee said being out in the middle of nowhere and having that happen (chip going bad) could be a really awful thing...especially if someone was alone (me) or out in the middle of nowhere.

Anyway, thanks for the code answer.

Dawn

iametarq · #8 (**permalink**) 06-06-06, 01:15 PM

from my expereinces with electronics there is rarely a case where they work or don't work. they just get 'flaky' quite a bit and then quit.

**Ranger** · #9 (**permalink**) 06-06-06, 10:13 PM

If the spare key continues to work, then you have found the problem, but don't forget to get yourself another spare.

kymbakitty · #10 (**permalink**) 06-08-06, 12:00 PM

Well, it is not the key. We just used the new one and it did it again this a.m. "Restart Car," and "Wait 3 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute." "Start Car." And, "Car may not restart." Ouch.

Must be the theft deterrent system...guess she needs to go into the shop AGAIN. Thank goodness for MBI...especially a kick a** one.

Dawn

timothyr · #11 (**permalink**) 06-08-06, 12:27 PM

we had the same problem with a 94 deville.....long story short it was recommeded we replace the ignition lock, what we did was use electrical contact cleaner; went 4 more years till it was sold with no problems.
the theory was the connection was becoming flaky due to grim (being picked up in our pockets/wherever was building up inside the cyilinder. dont know if that was the case, but $2.50 later the problem was solved
the other thought is to bypass the system, this can be easily done from the panel directly below the steering wheel; i did this on my 93 when i installed the alarm, its been there about 18 months with no ill effects
t

kymbakitty · #12 (**permalink**) 06-09-06, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timothyr

we had the same problem with a 94 deville.....long story short it was recommeded we replace the ignition lock, what we did was use electrical contact cleaner; went 4 more years till it was sold with no problems.
the theory was the connection was becoming flaky due to grim (being picked up in our pockets/wherever was building up inside the cyilinder. dont know if that was the case, but $2.50 later the problem was solved
the other thought is to bypass the system, this can be easily done from the panel directly below the steering wheel; i did this on my 93 when i installed the alarm, its been there about 18 months with no ill effects
t

If I didn't have a fabulous warranty, I would consider any of the above. But since we do, we'll let them fix it since it won't be any $$ out of our pockets. We have her up for sale so we don't want to put any bandaids on her...not now anyway.

Dawn

kymbakitty · #13 (**permalink**) 06-09-06, 10:32 PM

It was the ignition switch. Cost $425. My MBI insurance picked up the entire tab. Yah! The dealer agent said the fact that it gave us this message with BOTH keys made him pretty confident that it was not the key.

Extended warranty only pays for one key though...

Oh well..small price to pay really).

Dawn