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Cadillac Repair/anti-theft not allowing my car to start?

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Expert: - 2/11/2010


Question
I have an 1989 deville 4.5. the past couple weeks i had a hardtime starting the car on foggy days. on a normal day before my recent problems i would have to usually try to turn the ignition twice before the car would fire up. now all i get is one click, then nothing am in the process of getting the starter and battery checked. but i recently noticed that the security light on the dash does not flash since the problem started. the battery has died a couple time from lights being left on. how can i check if this is the security system and/or is that something i can fix myself?

Answer
Hello,

First, the vats igniton based theft deterrent didn't start in the deville until 1990.

Being you are descbribing weather related (fog) and just a clicking noise when trying to start, your battery or starter is defective. I don't know why your security light is on. The problem is that if you have addition issues with the factory security, you do have problems. I don, know anyp
one I know of has diagnostic equipment for a car this old and replacement partshave not been avalable for 15 years.

Your starting proem is not related to the security system as per your discription.

Rob

Cadillac Repair

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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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