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Cadillac Repair/1999 Cadillac Deville (I know its labor day but i need answers asap!!)

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Expert: - 9/7/2009


Question


First off today when i went to start my car, I hit my defrost to defrost my windows. My car then started shaking and then cut off on me, and would not start. It likes cranks but doesn't start.

Second, my alarm goes off constantly.. I have took it to a alarm shop so the can fix it but the problem still remains.. Its usually when I start the car or after I lock the doors.

Answer
Hello,

Yes, it is labor day and you would like specific answers to very general questions that no one can answer without being at the car.

The defroster has nothing to do with the running of the engine except for one possible reason in which the charging system is not functioning and there is not enough battery power for the engine to run.

Secondly. I have no way of knowing how your alarm store wired in the alarm, but you should not have a door locking problem. We installed after market alarms for more than 10 years and never had a come back, so obviously this alarm store did something wrong. In order to assist you in the installation and the effectiveness of the system, I will tell you that if the valetr(alarm turn off) switch is accessed easily or in plain view, it will tell you the alarm installation is inferior and you paid for protection that you simply do not have. If the valet switch is mounted as described, it would not surprise me if there were other issues with the alarm.

The installer may tell you a thief needs a key to turn the ignition on to disable the system by flipping the valet switch. Such an answer tells you he is an idiot and knows nothing about theft methods.

Most cars come from the factory with transponder systems and if you have remote start chances are that the transponder is bypassed too. Commonly, a cut and coded ignition key is installed under the dash.

I hope you can get everything fixed, but it is impossible for me to answer your questions without being at the car.

After reviewing your make and model, the car is not equipped with a transponder but the worthless antiquated, problematic GM VATS, in which if there was a problem with the system, the engine would not even crank. An additional key does not have to be installed for remote start and the system is just flat out bypassed. You did not state if the alarm was equipped with remote start, but from your description, I can guaranty your running problem is not caused by this system.

Rob

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Rob Painter

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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.

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