Expert: Rob Painter - 7/26/2009

Question
Car starter won't turn over with key. Thinking about replacing the starter relay or passkey module. Where are they located and how hard are they to replace ?

Answer
Hello,

As I just answered to a lady that just changed her alternator and battery and still having a battery drainage, she like you are chasing ghosts.

You need to know exactly what is wrong or parts replacement on a guess gets real expensive.

Chances are the pas key module for your 91 Cadillac is no longer available. In fact, it would shock me if a dealer stocked it because 91 was the last year for pass key1 and in 92 they went with pass key 2.

Also known as VATS, very problematic and even in 1991 was an antique and had been commonly defeated. Not by the owners, but by the thieves and those installing remote start.

I am going to give you some very simple steps here in an effort to help you.

Go under neath the hood and see if you can get to the starter. If not, go under car and remove the 10mm head screws for the plastic cover under engine. Be very careful here, but take a test light and put on purple wire at starter solenoid and have someone else crank the engine. If the purple wire terminal lights up with a test light while someone is turning the key, you need a starter.

Another thing you can do for another test is tilt the column up and down and put in different positions and try turning ignition. Try shifting the trans. What you are trying to do is see if the broken wires (if broken) will go together momentarily to start engine. If engine cranks, you have a broken wire in the ignition lock harness (Very common). You can have dealer replace for $500 or a locksmith for half or less, however, you will have the same problem in the future. That is how common this situation presented itself.

Through my private email, I can explain how to bypass but I highly recommend installing a hidden starter kill. To steal your car it takes a kid 30 seconds with a hammer and a screwdriver and yes old cars are stolen much more than you think.

The other problem is that if your car is stolen and it is insured, the insurance company will deny your claim because these people think the system can't be bypassed and is unstealable. Another reason for deterring theft.

I give the bypass info out, but I do charge to walk through the process of installing a hiddeen starter kill. What makes my experience different than anyone else is that I have been involved in the repair of more than 10,000 theft recoveries, so in turn I think like a car thief.

robo14@aol.com
http://www.autotheftexpert.com

Rob