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Cadillac Repair/starting problem

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Expert: - 9/8/2011


Question
I have a 1990 cadillac fleetwood. when i turn the key i get absolutely nothing. i know its not the battery or the starter cause i put a test light to the the starter and had the battery charged. my car repair man started the car the old fashion way with a screw driver, when driving it, smoke started coming from the steering wheel. any ideas??

Answer
Hi,

I know what's wrong. The ignition VATS wires are broken in the column. VERY VERY Common!!!

Cheapest easiest way to fix. Tilt the column in different position while trying to start. Wires should go back temporarily for engine to start. Call around to alarm stores and ask who has a VATS bypass kit. They got them for free with alarms. Have them install for around $50 and you will never have the problem again.

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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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