98 SW2 door lock?/alarm?/starting issue
 

Hey y'all, I know it's been a while since I popped in, but everything has been running well - until now :( My 98 wagon, automatic, learned a new trick. It is intermittent, so that makes it so much more fun (sarcasm intended). The car has a factory alarm system which we never use. We have 1 fob that I keep custody of since the car is my daily driver. I have not replaced the battery in the fob since we bought the car, but this has also happened even without using the fob. Here goes: unlock vehicle, get in, insert key into ignition. Turn key and wait for fuel pump to energize. Dash lights seem to all come on appropriately. Turn key to start position and NOTHING. First time this happened, I tried it a couple times, removing key, wiggling steering wheel and it finally had juice running. Had to reset stereo. Second time it happened, DH went to unlock and put something in car. Used door key on passenger side. Hit the unlock button and it did not work. Opened up relay panel cover and checked fuse - good, wiggled relays for door locks and all came back live. Had to reset stereo. Third time, after work, unlocked with fob, dome light came on, closed door, inserted key and turned for fuel pump to energize, turn to start and once again nothing. Called DH, he told me where the relay was to wiggle but to no avail. Last ditch effort minor percussive maintenance to relays (frustrated slap) and power came back on. Does anyone have any idea what this might be? We are thinking either: ignition switch, something weird with door locks or could the door lock relays make the security system disable the car? We did not get an owners manual with this thing, and I'm frustrated. Thank you all for your help!

I'd take a look at the connector on the BCM, Ginny. Body Control Module. It's located under the dash on the passenger side of the console. I THINK! Just disconnect the battery ground cable, unplug the connector and plug it back in several times. This will help sweep the contacts clean and get a better connection. If you have some CRC Electrical Contact Cleaner, use it on the connector. If not, don't go rush out to buy a can. The sweeping action should be enough to let you know if that's the problem area. Be sure to clean the battery ground connections before reinstalling them. Might as well do the positive side too, while you're at it.

Thank you for the suggestion. I have passed it along to DH to work on :)

Is the storm brewing fixing to head your way or are y'all safe from that stuff where you're at?

Naahh, we're nowhere near the path of this one. Just getting some showers and a breeze today. How's the weather back home? I miss TN more and more the longer I'm away.

I had the phantom radio reset issue going on in absence of any other issues. For the life of me I can't remember what it was. Check to see if your battery terminals are firmly attached to the battery. I think the + terminal was eaten by acid right at the battery case due to a bad internal seal. My wife called from the highway to tell me the charging light was on. She got off at the next exit where I met her with a new battery. When I went to loosen the bolt on the positive lead, the terminal fell off the battery, the positive cable still attached. To this day, I have no idea how the circuit could go open overnight yet be fine in the morning, with no charge light ever appearing

With respect to your other symptoms:

1). 98 s cars do not have a BCM. Didn't hit the s series until 99 or 2000.
2) since you have no BCM, you also do not have Passlock II for the security system. Just the old fashioned starter disable when security is armed by locking the doors with the fob. Theft is deterred by honking the horn if a door switch opens or if the ignition cylinder is rotated away from the key insertion orientation. Both will trigger even with the correct key, and if the alarm is activated, you cannot turn it off by starting the engine because the starter is still disabled. Your two choices are to unlock the door with the fob or wait 30 min for the system to time out and reset.

3) given 2, the factory theft deterrent system is not your issue and it has nothing to do with the door lock position/state b c you can actually use the key to unlock the door and the alarm is not triggered . Only when the door switch goes open does the alarm sound.

This sounds like an issue with battery voltage/current distribution ai the underhood junction box. Since other circuitry like interior lights and fuel pump work, the instrument panel junction box seems to be getting power.

However, there may be corroded, dicey, or burnt connections on the underside of fuse panel where the fuse box meets the connections to the various circuits. Check your 12V feed to the fuse panel, though I suspect that since the fuel pump always primes, the 12V supply to the IPJB is solid, which probably means the 12v from battery to UHJB is okay.

Per Andy, definitely check the battery connections, cables, and the battery itself first.