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Auto Theft Prevention/Chevy Venture Anti-Theft

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QUESTION: Hello, My mother in law bought a 1999 Chevrolet Venture a week ago. It did not come with keyless entry remotes. My sister in law went out to the car to simply lock the doors. Now every time you open a door the horn starts honking, the lights go off for 2 minutes. We disconnected the battery. We tried having the key switch to on for 15 minutes, then off, and re-started. We took out the fuses and put them back in. All only to set horn off again. How in the heck do you reset this thing!? And if the car won't start, will I have to have it towed to a Chevrolet dealership? The car manual says without the remotes there may be problems. Please, there HAS to be some alternative!!

ANSWER: Hello,

The answers to resetting the factory alarm are are this site numerous times.

You don't need the remotes to disable the factory alarm. Have the driver's door open, lock the doors with the door button.
Close the door and unlock the driver's door with the key.

As far as starting. This does not have the GM PASSLOCK. I believe it has a transponder (Computer chip in the key). There is no reset for this device other than the dealer or repair shop using a tech II scanner plugged into your vehicle's computer system.

The worst thing anyone can do is start removing fuses and disconnecting the battery. If the battery is disconnected and hooked back up on either factory or after market security, the alarm will trigger.

Everyone keeps coming up with different times resetting the factory alarms and the PASSLOCK system. You said you left the ignition on for 15 min. Others do it for 10. The correct way takes 30 min. Key on for 10 min, off and back on for 10 min, off and back on for 10 more minutes.

This goes to everyone with a factory alarm system that is triggered. NEVER DISCONNECT THE BATTERY because the system just rearms when you hook it back up and now you need to reset your digital heating, your stereo and other things.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Nothing you suggested worked...
The power locks do not work in the vehicle.
Also, there is no transponder in the key. It's just a plain ol GM key.
I suggest people not wasting 30 minutes for something that doesn't work and just call the tow truck because we have to wait that long now too.

Answer
Hello,

Evidently you inadvertantly did not tell me the door locks did not function. This event in itself relects a problem that could relate to the disfunction of your factory alarm system.

Leaving details out makes it difficult to give any type of answer.

Now, I gave you the alarm programming instructions straight from GM and if they don't work for you, there is no way I can diagnose any of your problems without physically being at the vehicle and making sure everything electrical functions the way it is supposed to.

My information states your Venture is transponder equipped and unless you use an electronic scanner on the key to read the chip's electronic value, it looks like an ordinary key.

I answer questions on this site for free in an sffort to assist people. I do not get compensated for this information.

You come to me with a problem. I tell you what GM states for programming and yet you come down on me because it does not work for you. The programming methods won't work if the power locks are not working.

It seems many believe that there is a specific fix for many different symptoms. Since the 80's these vehicles have gotten more complicated. More computers, more relays, more electrical and electronic systems.

My answers are limited with the assumption that the owner of the vehicle supplied all the information about the vehicle.

I have had many greatful people on this forum, but eventually if I continue to have my suggestions ridiculed, I will discontinue giving information to anyone and let them deal with the problems in their old vehicles with the factory installed alarm systems.

Rob

Auto Theft Prevention

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Rob Painter, ASE, CFL, CFEI

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My background in auto theft is extensive. I have been directly involved in the repair of over 10,000 theft recovered vehicles. I also do insurance investigation as to how a vehicle was last operated. My clients are insurance companies and attorneys. Was featured in the A & E auto theft documentary "Stealing Wheels" July 26, 2000. Has consulted with Daimler Chrysler steering column engineers to make their steering columns harder to defeat. Holds patent # 6,039,140 for 8 different variations to protect air bags from theft.

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ROB PAINTER, ASE, CFL, CFEI Forensic Vehicle Component Analyst Diplomate, Board Certified Forensic Examiner ASE Certified Auto, Collision, Med/Hvy/Duty Truck Technician Certified Forensic Locksmith Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator Certified Forensic Auto Theft Examiner Certified Auto Theft and Fraud Expert http://www.autotheftexpert.com Email-rpainter@wi.rr.com P.O. Box 190 Big Bend, WI 53103 Phone (414) 698-9696 Fax (262) 662-1352 As per federal court rules of evidence (702) (Daubert) my testimony has qualified me as: Auto Theft and Fraud Expert Forensic Vehicle Analyst Fire Origin and Cause Expert In the trial transcript of Holiday vs Progressive Insurance Company (March 12, 2002?Eugene, Oregon) with Holiday being my client-named ?the expert for experts.? BUSINESS EXPERIENCE Founder of the ?Forensic Institute of Auto Theft Analysis? (January 2002). This is the training school that will set the standards in determining the last operation of a reported stolen vehicle-burned or unburned. Much of my testing and procedures have been accepted as the guide for the forensic community. 1986 opened Auto Recovery Specialists Inc., providing exclusive repair of theft recovered and vandalized vehicles. The initial concept of the business was to return vehicles to their original shape before the theft, vandalism or fire. In 1987 bought the rights to the theft deterrent known as the ?Chicago Collar?. Duties include complete component replacement: dash, stereo system, interior, locks and coding, rebuilding steering columns, repairing and installing vehicle security system components (factory and after market), engine components, body repair, glass replacement, repair and service of air conditioning components, brake and suspension repair, and replacement, wiring harnesses etc. to return vehicle to pre-theft condition Complete reconstruction. During the past 17 years directly involved in the repair of over 10,000 theft-recovered and fire damaged Personally examined and rebuilt thousands of steering columns on both import and domestic vehicles Internationally acknowledged as expert in auto theft including court, consulting with insurance companies, attorneys and law enforcement. Consultant on steering columns, locks, stereo systems and vehicle security for Special Investigation Units for many large insurance carriers during the past eight years. Consulting services include but not limited to: How a vehicle was last operated (with or without keys in burned or unburned vehicles), Origin and Cause of vehicle fires, and vehicle defects. Provides services as a consultant and researcher to attorneys and insurance companies, and private industry throughout the US in cases related to vehicles. Has worked with crime prevention officers throughout the US establishing training programs designed to protect the public from becoming victims of auto theft. PATENT: 3/21/00 issued patent# 6,039,140 for 8 different variations of airbag anti-theft devices. PUBLICATIONS Currently authors articles and test reports on an ongoing basis for SIUs and the forensic/vehicle fire industry. Published author: (1,297 slide training course) Auto Theft/ Fraud Training Course) ?The Modern Forensic Approach to Auto Theft Investigation.? (January, 2001) Author: ?Variables to Be Considered In Vehicle Fire Investigation after Suppression.? (Insurance publication-November 2001) Author: ?Ford Magnesium Steering Columns and the Results to Ignition Components after a Fire?. Article for peer review from the fire and forensic community. (November 2001) Author: ?The Truth About GM VATS.? (Article) (November 2001) Author: ?The Truth About GM PASSLOCK TM? (Article) (November 2001) Author:? Auto Theft Investigation: Hollywood vs. Reality? (Article) (February 2001) For the John Cooke Fraud Report. Published author: (Manual) ?Forensic Vehicle Fire/ Arson and Auto Theft Investigation? (October 2000) Published author: (Article) ?Petty Claims? for the John Cooke Fraud Report (October, 1998) Published author (Manual) ?AUTO THEFT: LET THE TRUTH BE KNOWN!? (1998) (Previously distributed by Barnes & Nobel) Co-authored the investigation manual, ?Surreptitious Entry & Auto Theft & Burn & the Investigator.? (1999) Authored test questions on the subject of steering columns and vehicle security for CFL designation to be given by the International Association of Investigative Locksmiths. January, 2000 Published author: (Manual) ?Saginaw Steering Columns-What Has Not Been Told? Training manual for fire investigators. (March 2000) Published (Article) ?Beyond The Lock? (May 2000) Published Author: (Article) Fraud Defense Network-August, 2000 Edition-?Melting Steering Column Tests.? http://www.fraudreport.com/index.cfm?month=08&year=2000 Published author: (Test Report) ?Burned Toyota Steering Column Testing to Determine How Last Operated?. Tool marks and procedures. (December 1999) Currently at the FBI Crime Lab in Washington DC and the US Army Crime Lab in Atlanta, GA for peer review. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Defeated the ?unstealable? Ford Securilock transponder system for a court case 10/10/00. They said it could not be done! Primary designer of a state of the art ?bait? car for a police department to catch car thieves. Worked with The National Highway Safety Transportation Administration and discovered a potential fire hazard on a vehicle and determined origin and cause of under hood fires on this type of vehicle. Featured as ?Auto Theft Expert? in the A & E auto theft documentary ?Stealing Wheels? that aired July 26, 2000. Contacted by Sears and Edelman Marketing to be a national spokesman for an anti theft device for vehicles. (November 1999) Invited to provide evaluation and consulting to steering column engineers at Daimler Chrysler Corporation in Auburn Hills, MI (10/19/99-10/22/99). The purpose of this project was to demonstrate how steering column locking mechanisms could be defeated without the use of a key and how to reinforce the columns against theft. Court Qualified as an Auto Theft Expert and my videos of defeating columns were also accepted by a Cleveland, Ohio Court in October 1999 as a valid piece of evidence. Contacted by Disney Touchstone Pictures for technical assistance in making the movie ?Gone in 60 Seconds? (March 1999) CONSULTANT FOR FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS ? Former contributor for The Insurance News Network (Auto theft and prevention) includes heading a forum for the public on how to protect their vehicles for 3+ years. ? Former editor and consultant for the public on matters involving auto theft and prevention 2000-2001 on the web at http://www.autotheft_forum.com. ? The Insurance Career Center (Auto theft and fraud). ? National Association of Investigative Specialists (Auto theft and fraud) ? Expert Find (Auto theft and fraud} TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE ? ASE (National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence) Certified in Auto: brakes, steering and suspension, engine repair, manual drive train and axles, air conditioning. Med/Heavy duty truck: gasoline engine repair, electrical/electronic components. Collision: elec.....

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