Theft System Light Comes On Intermittently

[ericv1984]

My car has had a long crank for a while now, and now the theft system light comes on but not all the time. I thought the long crank was from the starter and one day would not start all together. So, I ordered a used one off eBay and got it installed and the car starts but has a long crank again so I was thinking maybe it's the starter again since it was used. But the theft system light is making me think it's the ignition lock tumbler or ignition/starter switch.

Could a failing ignition lock tumbler or ignition/starter switch cause the theft system light to come on intermittently?

And I'll give you a scenario so you know what I mean by intermittently...

Tonight, I started the car to go to the store which is 4 miles away. Upon cranking it, I noticed the theft system light on and didn't go out. It stayed on all the way to the store. Parked, went inside and came back out a few minutes later. Cranked the car and it started but the light wasn't on anymore.

That has happened a few different times, and when the theft system light is on it often takes longer for the car to crank.

 

[melsg5]

There is a sensor that reads the key on the igniiton lock assembly, it could be going bad, have you tried another key?

 

[ericv1984]

There is a sensor that reads the key on the igniiton lock assembly, it could be going bad, have you tried another key?

Is this the sensor that your referring too... Ignition Passlock Sensor

Haven't tried another key. I had one made for it so I can have a spare but they didn't make it right.

If that's the part, would one from a junk yard work fine on my car? I just wanna be sure that's the reason and don't want to spend nearly 100 dollars for a part that might not be the problem. I'd rather spend less at a junk yard if possible to see if that's the problem then buy a new one when I have more money.

 

[melsg5]

Yes it should work, you have to do the relearn process when it is installed. Leaving the key in the run position for 10 minutes. Turn it off and then start.

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[ericv1984]

Yes it should work, you have to do the relearn process when it is installed. Leaving the key in the run position for 10 minutes. Turn it off and then start.

Would I have to do that only for a used part or would I need to do that for a new one as well?

And, do I only do that process one time before starting the engine?

 

[melsg5]

doesnt matter whether new or used and only once

 

[Tom Zontini]

ground wire defective

I saw that my ground wire was connected to the battery box plus the block, the wire is spliced with the connector at battery box( which runs lights wipers radio theft system gages and God nows what else.)the wire splice is exposed which had corrosion all threw the wire. If you replace the wire with factory one rubberize the exposed wire. start here then try other things

 

[ericv1984]

I can get the ignition passlock sensor for 74 and some change including shipping off rockauto.com, but I can also get a ignition lock cylinder for 80 on eBay. The one on eBay comes with a passlock sensor so I might as well go that way for less then 6 dollars more.

And I think I'm gonna buy a new starter switch as well. The cylinder plus the switch will come out to a total of 98.20.

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