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Cadillac Repair/My 99 deville wont crank
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Question
i have brought this car a yr ago, when i brought it the dash already said "anti-theft lock, car may not start" but never had a problem with it. today i drove the car and it ran fine but when i got to my destination and tried to start it it wouldn't crank at all. everything on the dash still lights up fine just wont crank weird to me.. also like a month ago i thin smoke came from the steering column and my hazards stop working can that have something to do with it? -please help i habe no idea
)
Hello,
Yes, smoke coming from the steering column and the hazards no longer, is an indication that there was an electrical issue in the steering column. There could very well be damage to the very thin wires that are part of the VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System) that run from and to the ignition lock cylinder. When you insert the ignition key into the lock, the pellet in the key blade connects with each contact connecting to the lock cylinder completing the circuit.
These wires are notorious for breakage inside the plastic insulation of the wires and one will never physically see the break. An ohm meter must be used to check for continuity. I tell people with this very problematic and very poorly designed for the consumer (excellently designed for GM to continually gouge the owner time after time after time) to get bypassed at an alarm store and install some sort of minimal security that keeps the engine from cranking without an authorized key.
Your steering column was engineered the same way. 30 seconds with a screwdriver to the left side of the steering column bypasses all the locks to the steering column.
The VATS wires are very close to the turn signal switch where the 4 way flashers are located and if there was smoke coming from the column, I would be concerned there its potential wiring damage to the VATS.
These wires are so sensitive when broken in the insulation that a mere bump in the road can cause the engine not to start again.
By a guess and from your description, I would have a locksmith come out and change the lock cylinder which may set you back $300, but it is better than the cost of towing to a dealer and paying upwards of $500.
You cannot go to the parts store and get a new lock cylinder and keys without creating even more problems for yourself! Yes, parts store will either sell you the wrong lock with no harness or they will sell you the right locks w/harness with a key, that now requires a locksmith or a dealer to reprogram.
While the lock is out, the turn signal switch can be checked for any type of fire damage as well.
Since these potential broken wires are so sensitive to movement, you can try and it does not always work, to get it started just one more time to get it home, tilt the column in different positions and try starting. The lowest tilt position should put this together one more time.
If you do get the engine to start one more time, get it home and park it until fixed.
You can call around to car alarm stores in your area and see who has the VATS bypass kit and if you find one, take the car directly there and have them install it.
No matter what, you only have two choices. Either have it bypassed and hope that is your starting problem, no matter what, it needs to bypassed and doing so negates the use of a locksmith replacing this over priced lock cylinder.
If this is the option you choose and I would go that route, you still should have the cause of the smoke coming from the column.
Good luck!
http://www.autotheftexpert.com
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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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