Clean key- wait 3 mins

[tim1993]

My DIC on my 99 oldsmobile aurora keeps saying Clean key wait 3 mins. Now the car turned over 3 times but wouldnt stay running. The fourth time it didnt do anything besides the radio and lights and etc... just came on and the security light start flashing after I took the key out of the ignition. Thats when the clean key-wait 3 min popped in. So I had to get the car towed to my house. Can anybody point me to the link that I need im pretty sure its my ignition switch but would like to know some one else opinions.

[Paulaurora]

Did you try another key?

[XJSman89]

This happens because of the anti-theft system within the ignition. That little black thing on your key shank is a resistor, and your ignition needs to read that resistor and find the correct resistance in order to let you start the car. I had a problem with this, my ignition stopped reading the key properly and it would strand me for a few minutes at a time. I had to use my remote start to start the car a lot so that I wouldn't get stranded.

There is a how-to here with instructions on how to do the bypass. You can give you VIN to a dealer and they will be able to determine which "key code" your car has, which you can use to find the correct resistance value to wire in.

[tim1993]

Thanks guys and no havent tried another key yet

[human]

I had that happen many years ago with my '94 Olds LSS. I didn't know about the resistor bypass fix at the time and ended up shelling out $327 to the local stealership to replace the VATS module and the ignition switch, which included only one key. A second key would have cost me an extra $30. I got a second one cut at a local hardware store for $18.

Any locksmith that cuts keys for cars equipped with the VATS system will have a device to measure the resistance simply by inserting the key in a slot. You can also determine the resistance value of your key's insert using a simple volt-ohm meter.

Daily Driver: 2011 Impala LT
Weekend Toy: 1995 Aurora

[tim1993]

I bought another lock cylinder for the car and got it installed only to find out my actual ignition is messing not my key so I wasted $128 buying that part. The guy I had to put the part in since the white wires were broke he took the black piece off where you insert the key he reattached the wires and put the black part back together and the car started back cranking up so now the key wont catch in the run position instead it just goes back to the off position and of course the car cuts back off but I will be getting another ignition switch to replace it since tomorrow is payday for me.