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Cadillac Repair/theft system problem

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Expert: - 6/25/2010


Question
i have an error message that says theft system problem, car may not restart.. i tried disarming it by unlocking the car door from the outside but it didnt work. i also tried resetting the computer by unplugging the battery and plugging it back up. but i still have the same problem. i can crank the car with the key that i have but it only strays cranked for about 35 seconds then cuts off. WHAT SHOULD I DO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM

Answer
Hello,

Go to an alarm store--NOT THE DEALER and have the anti-theft system bypassed. Then have a hidden starter kill switch installed. I deal with over 40 of the VATS related problems a week. Do you think GM did not know what they were doing putting this piece of garbage system in?

This system does not prevent theft, but it does prevent the owner from starting the car. The GM VATS anti-theft system is a fraud for effectiveness and does not prevent theft. Have it bypassed by the alarm store!!

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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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