1998 Chevy Silverado

LATRISTE

MEMBER
1998 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

Electrical problem
1998 Chevy Silverado 113000 miles

every time that I try to turn my truck on it wont turn on until I turn the switch more than 4 times.A mecanich told me that it maybe the cables of the alarm that goes conected to the switch of the car. When I try to turn the car on the car makes sounds like if the starder was bad but we checked that already and its fine.
"the car makes sounds like when the alarm is on and u turn the switch and it wont start I keep turning the switch until like after 4 times it turns on. And that only happens in the mornings. "What can the problem be.

1 Reply

PEAR69

MECHANIC
1,482 POSTS

Your truck has what they call a passlock system on it. It is a factory security system that prevents the truck from being started with the wrong key or a screwdriver jammed into the ignition--as theives do.� It sounds like the passlock module on your truck is beginning to fail. This system relies on a specific resistance from a resistor inside of the ignition switch. Make sure the battery is charged--test it at the battery terminals--it should be around 12.5 or 13 volts. Anything below 12 volts means the battery has a bad cell and the resistor inside of the ignition switch will be affected by this--causing your problem. The only way to test the passlock system is with a TECH-2 GM scan tool. A dealer is usually the only place who has this scan tool--as they are about $8000.00 or so. Take the truck to the dealer to check the passock system for any problems.