'98 won't stay running

[Lucky 3]

So my wife calls me from Wall Mart(60 miles away) and says when she puts the car in gear and lets the clutch out it kills, she thinks it is the fuel pump, it will rev in neutral, but no go. Then she tells me the thing (DIC?) says to remove the key for 10 seconds, which she did not do. After doing this and restarting, the car runs fine. Is this a VATS problem or something else? I'm at work and she is shopping!!

 

[leftyvette]

I think you are ok. Mine does that every once in a while. I have been told that sometimes you may put the key in such a way that the little chip on the side of the key does not read correctly. As long as your battery is holding a good charge you should not have problems.

 

[Taco]

I think you have the same problem I am dealing with, a steering colmn lock that is going bad. If your BCM thinks the actuator that locks the steering column is in the locked position, as soon as you go over 2 MPH it will cut the fuel.
After 12 years, mine just started acting up. Yes, I did have the recall performed in 2006.

 

[Hib Halverson]

It's not a "VATS" problem because the engine starts.

It might be the SCL issue "Taco" discusses.

 

[Lucky 3]

I never did have the SCL recall done and i imagine it is too late now, once the key was removed and waited 10 seconds the car started and ran fine. Have not had any more problems with it.

 

[Taco]

SCL Recall

I never did have the SCL recall done and i imagine it is too late now, once the key was removed and waited 10 seconds the car started and ran fine. Have not had any more problems with it.

Because it is a mandated safety recall, you should still be able to have the work done. You really should do it; just like with my 98, it will happen soon and you will be stranded. What you saw was a warning that failure of the column lock system is imminent. After the recall is done, disable the CL system.