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Auto Theft Prevention/1995 g 20 van

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QUESTION: ok to make it simple,was told by a van owner that the van has factory installed anti theft deveice.the question is did those vans of that year have them ???symptons are will not start after replaceing the battery,,only will run on ether,,acts as though no fuel getting to f/i unit,can hear fuel pump in tank running,I want to buy this van ,,yet till I know it is something i can do will not buy this,,can replace fuel pumps etc .is there a easy way to reset computer like older vehicles (disconnect battery 1 min rehook up)

ANSWER: Hello,

My books and my memory are that this vehicle did not come equipped with any such device. It wasn't until 1998 before GM put the PASSLOCK on their trucks and vans.
Even at that PASSLOCK worked in such a way that if the computer sensed the rotation of the ignition lock, the engine would start.

Now, there is the very slim chance that this van came with a factory installed alarm, and I can't even begin to tell you how they worked anymore, however if engaged, much more would be happening in which the horn would be honking, security light would be flashing in the dash and the headlights would be flashing.

Minus that, can't blame it on a factory installed anti-theft system.

It is possible the guy has left something disconnected at the battery. It is possible the guy burned something up replacing the battery. It is possible it has some aftermarket piece of garbage anti theft system, but I have only seen after market run into the ignition start circuit and the engine won't crank and never shutting off fuel.

There may be more to this than the seller is telling you. Possibly he ran it out of gas burning up the fuel pump before changing the battery. Things like this are forgotten about when trying to diagnose (or chase) a problem.

I know this from experience and what gets blamed? The non-existent anti theft system. You may want to question what prompted the owner to change the battery in the first place. Many times, there are underlying issues.

Obviously without being at the vehicle, it is hard for me to tell you where to even go to determine the problem and unless there is a way for yo to get a tech out to the van to diagnose, you are getting a pig in the poke and the correction can cost from $0 to ? in order to get the vehicle running. Make sure you check all the fuses first.

Good luck!

http://www.autotheftexpert.com

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

QUESTION: Rob thanks for the in put on the so called anti theft  device,I am an experianced tech yet i could find no information on this subject .i suspect the fuel control modual in distributor,this once happened on my 1991 gmc , same diagnosis,,no fuel to eng  ,and when attempting to start,no horns/lights/or read out on dash,thanks for your time on this matter ,at 650.00 the van is a cheap project,just didn,t want it to be Too much of a project,,thanks again,you saved me a big migrain haha,John

Answer
Hi,

Please, never use starting fluid on a gas engine. You can literally blow the heads off it. Ether was never meant for gas engines and yet the parts stores sell it to anyone.
Spraying gasoline into the intake is safer.

I hate that stuff for so many reasons. When my dad's customers flooded their engines and he made service calls, of course they used ether and on more than one occassion I saw my dad get burned.

Ether was also used in the operating rooms. Ether machine blew up on me when having eye surgury. I was in the burn unit in Madison WI for over a month at the age of 4.

This product is the most misused product out there and I am surprised terrorists have not figured that out yet. The govenment tracks f fertilizer and sometimes propane, yet there are cases of this crap at any parts store sold at will! Where are the environmentalists?

You probably did not know, just as every other person that uses starting fluid in a gas engine. Over the years, I have seen real injury and real destruction because of starting fluid. It is meant only for diesels.


Damage can be much worse used on Cadillac aluminum engines, and yes, I saw a head blow off of one of those fine engines.

I am not criticizing you. I am just letting you know the danger of this crap and hopefully others will heed my warning on its use.

If you are buying the van, check the fuel filter first to make sure fuel is getting past that first. Then check the injection system.

I have found starting from the begining of the fuel system if the pump runs works best.

Also, as you know, don't believe anyone. This guy obviously has no clue as to what he is talking about and chances of him selling it, not running are slim. $600 sounds good for a van, but since you have no idea of what is wrong, $400 sounds better.

Good luck!

http://www.autotheftexpert.com  

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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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