This morning I went to start my 96 SSE, and when I turned the key, there was nothing there. I mean nothing... the entire car was dead, including the power windows seats, ect.

I figured that the battery must have somehow gone dead, so I checked it with a volt meter, and it appeared fine. [12.5 v] I jumped back in the car, and this time when I put the key in the ignition, the engine starts just like normal, and everything else seems to function ok now too, except now whenever the engine is running, the security light remains on.

Any ideas? :?

Thanks

Open the trunk and remove the carpet liner on the underside of the trunk lid. Follow the mechanical cable from the trunk key assembly to the electrical connector in the trunk lid.

Disconnect it and see if the light goes out.

This is a tamper-sensor for the lock tumbler. It'* designed to break off at the tumbler if someone tries to 'jimmy' or slid-hammer your tumbler for trunk access. With age, they can fail and set a false security light.

If this were to fail with ignition off, your factory alarm would sound. But if it'* just a random breakage, it will set the light to warn you that may be an issue.

This is by no means the only cause of a security light (with no other symptoms) but it is the most likely and the easiest to check. I have mine currently disconnected on the SSEi for this reason.

On the complete lack of power..

Check both ends of all 3 battery cables. I believe you will find something loose or corroded.

Tried unpluging the connector in the trunk lid, but there was no difference, the light is still on. Must be something else.

Have not had time to check all 3 power wires, but I will do that soon.

Thanks

Mike..there'* another security pin under the hood.. right behind the driverside headlight. on the rad support..

Update:

The pos battery cable was slightly loose at the battery. While the bolt was tight, the cables could still move with minimum effort.

I removed the bolt and cable and added a washer, as the bolt seemed to be bottoming out in the battery before the cables were tight. All seems good now.

Much to my surprise, the security light has now gone out after driving it for about 5 min, and have not seen it on again since... Hopefully it will remain that way.

Thanks for the help guys

Sounds like it was a loose cable. Glad to hear..