Cadillac Repair/anti theft

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Expert: - 7/15/2011


Question
I have a 93 Cadillac Seville it won't start due to the anti theft . What should I do?

Answer
Hello,

Won't crank or won't start? If it doesn't crank chances are almost 100% is courtesy of the junk Vehicle anti-theft system A/K/A VATS, which has not ever stopped theft as the name insinuates. This was more of a nuisance to the owners like any factory anti-theft system than it was to thieves that successfully stole the cars.

If it is not cranking, do this: Call around to local alarm stores. Find out who has the VATS bypass  kit. They come free in all alarms with remote start, but are only used on GMs no later than 2005 in the Corvette.
Once you find out who, go in your car. Tilt the column up and down and try to start the engine in different tilt positions. The tiny wires break internally and commonly go back together just one more time to start the engine. Take car to alarm store. Should cost about $50 to get bypass installed.
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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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