You are here:

Cadillac Repair/olds 88 vat system 1994

Advertisement

Expert: Rob Painter - 11/3/2009


Question
we parked car came back 30 min. later no start interior items work but will not turn starter over  i jumped across starter terminal will turn engine over but wont run?

Answer
Hello,

Most common problem was VATS wires break in Column causing repairs of either replacing ignition lock for $250-$500 or bypassing and putting starter kill switch in by yourself for about $130.00 including parts and consulting fees.

I average 10-15 of these issues a week and although the system is the same from 1986-2005, each vehicle has to be treated individually. I used to give this information out for free costing me many hours of court and consulting work and I just can't afford to take the time to walk people through the process.

This site of which I volunteer takes my time too, but I am not under the time constraints and I answer what I have time to.

If you want to bypass and keep the vehicle from being stolen, you can look for the bypass link at http://www.autotheftexpert.com

Rob

Cadillac Repair

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Rob Painter

Expertise

Alarm system questions cannot be answered on this forum. These systems are not what I can answer. Without being physically at the vehicle and not knowing what kind of electrical service has been done on the vehicle, there is no possible way to give an accurate answer over the internet. My expertise is in Ignition/key based anti-theft systems. These issues include GM VATS (resistor chip in key blade) PASSLOCK (MRD)-ignition lock rotation based, no special ignition key and the PKIII Transponder (computer chip in key) systems. These systems are not alarm based and are integral with the starting of the engine. This is why I cannot diagnose alarm problems without physically looking at the vehicle: Alarm systems are a completely different annimal than ignition key/lock based anti-theft system. Many alarm questions come from vehicles 10 years old, and since older, many hands that had been involved over the years.I am an expert in all GM factory (ignition/key based)systems. Alarm system questions pose to many situations beyond my knowledge as to what has been done to the vehicle over the years. Some guy may have actually wired the stereo into the alarm system. Who knows? Over my past 30 years in vehicle wiring repair, I have seen unbelievable wiring disaters done by guys that consider themselves "mechanics." I have seen stereos and alarms intalled using surgical tape. I have seen modules burn up, un-fused circuits, wiring jambed between the doors and even lamp cord used for a starter kill. To answer alarm questions over the internet without examining the vehicle is like asking; What does it take to remove a dent?

Experience

Education/Credentials-ASE certified. 11 years with a GM dealer and 17 years with a repair facility dealing with only the repair of theft recovered vehicles.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.