PKE System for 1994 Vette

[Troy Smith]

Anyone . . . help me diagnose the problem with the Passive Keyless Entry (PKE) system. It was working fine until . . . I was traveling down the road and suddenly the hatch release keep clicking, opening the hatch, as if something has set it off. It quit working altogether. I tried to re-program the remote and the PKE never came on with the ignition on. I check all fuses and try several times to reprogram by following the program procedures
but never could get it to light up at the control. In the past I have
program extra remotes for this Vett. Never had one that went wild like this one. Is there a fuse in the PKE system that is hidden under the dash or somewhere I can look or something hidden that my direct me in the right directions. Please help. thanks

[TopVette]

Welcome aboard Troy. It's a great site and growing. No sponsors here just the bare bones and great information. Fatherlarry and Mike Kotze and Mr Pache are the most knowledgeable people I have come across on any site. YOu'll like it here. :wavey:

[fatherlarry]

Troy, Glad you made it. Thanks Topvette for your kind words.

Mike will be with you shortly to answer your question. I believe this man works 24 hours a day. Thanks again for joining us. Please spread the word.:smoke:

[MKOTZE]

Originally posted by Troy Smith
Anyone . . . help me diagnose the problem with the Passive Keyless Entry (PKE) system. It was working fine until . . . I was traveling down the road and suddenly the hatch release keep clicking, opening the hatch, as if something has set it off. It quit working altogether. I tried to re-program the remote and the PKE never came on with the ignition on. I check all fuses and try several times to reprogram by following the program procedures
but never could get it to light up at the control. In the past I have
program extra remotes for this Vett. Never had one that went wild like this one. Is there a fuse in the PKE system that is hidden under the dash or somewhere I can look or something hidden that my direct me in the right directions. Please help. thanks Hello Troy, Welcome to the site. Sorry it took so long to get back to you but I've been working on 4 different vettes so I've been a little busy. Okay then, This problem with the PKE system will be tricky to diagnose online but let's give it a try.Let's start with the clicking as you were driving. There are two possibilities: the most likely problem would be a faulty PKE control module or there could be a short circuit in the wiring. There is no way that the remote is the problem because when the key is in the ignition the control module will ignore any input from the remote. There are no hidden fuses under the dash. However, in the instrument panel fuse box there is fuse#45, this is for the hatch release, did you check this one? As for the control module there are two main power sources fuse #40 which also powers the radio and fuse #26 is an ignition power to the PKE module. It sounds like it could be a module problem. The PKE system will flash a trouble code through the PKE lamp. You would need to count the long and short flashes in order to get the correct code. There are six possible codes that your technician will be able to identify to find the specific problem. This procedure is involved and should probably be handled by an experienced technician. However,if you would like to try to do it yourself let me know and I will try to give you all the necessary steps you would need to follow to obtain the code. Good luck and I hope this helped.:chevy: MKOTZE

[Troy Smith]

Originally posted by MKOTZE
Hello Troy, Welcome to the site. Sorry it took so long to get back to you but I've been working on 4 different vettes so I've been a little busy. Okay then, This problem with the PKE system will be tricky to diagnose online but let's give it a try.Let's start with the clicking as you were driving. There are two possibilities: the most likely problem would be a faulty PKE control module or there could be a short circuit in the wiring. There is no way that the remote is the problem because when the key is in the ignition the control module will ignore any input from the remote. There are no hidden fuses under the dash. However, in the instrument panel fuse box there is fuse#45, this is for the hatch release, did you check this one? As for the control module there are two main power sources fuse #40 which also powers the radio and fuse #26 is an ignition power to the PKE module. It sounds like it could be a module problem. The PKE system will flash a trouble code through the PKE lamp. You would need to count the long and short flashes in order to get the correct code. There are six possible codes that your technician will be able to identify to find the specific problem. This procedure is involved and should probably be handled by an experienced technician. However,if you would like to try to do it yourself let me know and I will try to give you all the necessary steps you would need to follow to obtain the code. Good luck and I hope this helped.:chevy: MKOTZE

[Troy Smith]

Thanks for the info. I had checked the fuses prior to this message and didn't find any bad ones. The PKE lamp doesn't flash now that the system went hog wild. You mention the systen will flash trouble codes. Is this a diagnostic piece of equipment that the Service Dept will have or is this the "flash" that is displayed at the PKE lamp light at the dash control panel. Where is the PKE module located? Is this easy to be replace . . . and can it be purchase somewhere on-line. I'll recheck the fuses again . . . maybe drop it off at the Service dept and let then perform the test, if I can't find a short in the system. As far as now, I take a look at the module, wherever it may be. The system has always work fine until this crap . . . oh well . . . just have to put the old key in the slot until I figure something out, huh? Just so much effort, when I can just push that dame button. Thanks for all your help. Troy:wavey:

[MKOTZE]

Originally posted by Troy Smith
Thanks for the info. I had checked the fuses prior to this message and didn't find any bad ones. The PKE lamp doesn't flash now that the system went hog wild. You mention the systen will flash trouble codes. Is this a diagnostic piece of equipment that the Service Dept will have or is this the "flash" that is displayed at the PKE lamp light at the dash control panel. Where is the PKE module located? Is this easy to be replace . . . and can it be purchase somewhere on-line. I'll recheck the fuses again . . . maybe drop it off at the Service dept and let then perform the test, if I can't find a short in the system. As far as now, I take a look at the module, wherever it may be. The system has always work fine until this crap . . . oh well . . . just have to put the old key in the slot until I figure something out, huh? Just so much effort, when I can just push that dame button. Thanks for all your help. Troy:wavey: Hello Troy, I know this can really be frustrating when something that worked so well no longer does what it is supposed to do. The PKE module is located in the center of the dash. To access you would need to remove the upper instrument panel. So no this is not easy to do. Yes you can purchase a new PKE module online at the GMPartsdirect.com. As far as the flashing code goes there is no special equipment necessary. Basically the technician will ground terminal 8 to terminal 4 at the diagnostic link connector, which is located under the dash on the drivers side. This is the same connector you would use to diagnose the computer with. Once it is grounded with the key in the ignition but not turned on. The PKE lamp will flash a long and short flash that will need to be deciphered into the code.Good luck.:chevy: MKOTZE

[Troy Smith]

Originally posted by MKOTZE
Hello Troy, I know this can really be frustrating when something that worked so well no longer does what it is supposed to do. The PKE module is located in the center of the dash. To access you would need to remove the upper instrument panel. So no this is not easy to do. Yes you can purchase a new PKE module online at the GMPartsdirect.com. As far as the flashing code goes there is no special equipment necessary. Basically the technician will ground terminal 8 to terminal 4 at the diagnostic link connector, which is located under the dash on the drivers side. This is the same connector you would use to diagnose the computer with. Once it is grounded with the key in the ignition but not turned on. The PKE lamp will flash a long and short flash that will need to be deciphered into the code.Good luck.:chevy: MKOTZE

[Troy Smith]

okay . . . thanks for all the help . . . I have narrow it down to the BCM and have ordered it from your on-line source (GMparts). The body control module is located in the center of the dash . . . so how much stuff do I need to remove. Will I have to remove the radio, heater control and everything up to the center air vents to gain access to the module. thanks

[MKOTZE]

Originally posted by Troy Smith
okay . . . thanks for all the help . . . I have narrow it down to the BCM and have ordered it from your on-line source (GMparts). The body control module is located in the center of the dash . . . so how much stuff do I need to remove. Will I have to remove the radio, heater control and everything up to the center air vents to gain access to the module. thanks Hello Troy, I'm assuming that the BCM you referred to is actually a CCM(Central Control Module). I would also like to know what diagnostic tests you ran to narrow down the problem? First of you do not have to remove all of the items you mentioned. However, I would like to mention at this point that if you are going to replace this CCM by yourself it will still need to be programed with a TechII monitor. When replacing the CCM it is important to know that if you drive the car 100 miles before programming it your odometer will return to zero and you will not be able to get the accurate mileage back. The CCM is located below the radio in the center console. It is removed out the left side of the console. This has to be done by feel as you cannot see what you are doing and is probably best left to a Technician who can program the new CCM at the same time. There by avoiding any chance of deleting the information that regulates the odometer reading. Good luck.:chevy: MKOTZE

[MKOTZE]

Attention All, Although I am sure everyone already knows that it is against federal law to change or alter the odometer reading on a vehicle for any reason. Therefore if you are changing the CCM it should be done by a qualified technician who will do the programming at that time so that no alteration in the odometer reading will occur. If you have accidentally altered the odometer reading during replacement then you are required by law to attach a sticker to the door panel stating the day it was changed and what the reading was at that time. There is an official sticker, Part # 10135621, for this purpose.:chevy: MKOTZE