car problem or car alarm problem

i have an automatic 92 pontiac firebird. last year i got a clifford matrix rs alarm with remote start installed. about a month ago when i would put in the key it wouldnt turn over. i was thining it might be a vat problem. but the remote started would work after coming out of panic mode. now the remote starter wont even work. the car works when it wants to. sometimes the key will turn it on sometimes the remote start. but it is getting progressively worse. could it be the car alarm or is it the car. any ideas? thank you.

Sounds like the starter to me.

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Certified Security Specialist
Always check info with a digital multimeter.
I promise to be good.
Tell Darwin I sent you.

I've been sick lately, sorry I won't be on much.

Hey, I have a '92 Firebird too---a Formula 5-speed. Nice cars.

Anyway, take note of the SECURITY light on the dash. Under normal operation, when you start the car, it should come on for a couple of seconds and go out.

Next time your car fails to start, see what the light is doing. If it flashing, you definitely have VATS issues.....but if it comes on and then goes out as normal, VATS is probably okay.

If VATS is okay, I'd agree with auex about suspecting the starter (or the starter solenoid). Next time it doesn't start, see if you can bang on the starter (or the solenoid attached to it) with a hammer or tire iron or long screwdriver....if banging on it gets it to work, there's a pretty good sign the starter or solenoid is bad.

Also, most rebuilt starters come with a solenoid already attached. And because they're so inexpensive, it's easier to just replace both together.

If you visit www.thirdgen.org, you can find some useful VATS technical articles in there, as well as just about anything else you'd like to know about your car.

when the car fails. the security light stays on but doesnt go out. what could that mean?