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Cadillac Repair/starting issue

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Expert: - 8/19/2010


Question
I go to start my 1998 caddy d'elegance 4.6 liter factory alarm, elec starter.
When I turn the key I get a snap in the dash around the radio area, the car struggles to start but does. BUT! the trunk and gas cover opens too.

Answer
Hello,

Wwll, my first question would be; when did this phenonemina start?

My bet is on the electric (remote) start and I also wonder if it is a stand alone unit or is conflicting with the factory alarm/ transmitters.

The reason I say this in because you are not the only person that has had this complaint and so far, it has been a poor aftermarket installation.

There have been some cases in which the owner end up ripping the aftermarket stuff out to get rid of the problem, because alarm store could not fix.

I would be very concerned on at least 2 issues. The crack by the radio which may indicate an aftermarket wiring problem, and the slow turning of the starter.
This may indicate a bad battery , a bad starter or an aftermarket wiring concern.

Some cars are not capable of having remote starters installed. Yes they fit and yes they work , but so do other things that are not supposed to.

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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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