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Cadillac Repair/1996 Deville Theft System
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Question
I have a '96 Deville. I replaced the digital gauge cluster. Before the replacement, the car never failed to start. Since the replacement, the gauges work, but the car will not start and the system informs me that the "no start" is due to the anti-theft system. I've checked every connection and fuse and everything is okay, there. I disconnected the battery and turned the headlights on to ensure I discharged all the power from the system, in order to reset the computer. Still no start. The original owner's manual explained that the system has a decoder module that reads the chip in the key for the ignition system. My question is, would that module be in the gauge cluster and need to be saved from the original cluster? Or, where might it be located? Do you have any other insight or suggestions?
Hello,
I assume to change the cluster you dropped the steering column.
The VATS anti theft is junk and is anti owner. As much as it appears to be high reck, by 1990
it was already obsolete.
I am thinking you have a broken vats wire in the steering column. Real easy to check. Under the dash on the drivers side of firewall there is a bulkhead where all the wires from the steering column meet. You should see 2 very thin white wires in a orange sheath. Hook an ohm meter lead to one of those wires. Take the other lead and put against one of the 2 contacts inside the ignition lock cylinder. This will be where the resistor pellet in rthe key touches those contacts. Check. Both wires for continuity. Chances are about 9 out of ten kyou have a broken wire in the ignition lock harness. $500 repair from dealer- $250 from locksmith and a little over $100 for an alarm store to bypass.
Rob
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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.
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