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Cadillac Repair/93 CADILLAC WONT START

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Expert: - 1/19/2012


Question
QUESTION: MY 93 Cadillac Deville has a factory theft system that is SUPPOSED to be bypassed when the proper key with the little black chip in it is inserted to the ignition up until 3 days ago no problems, 3 days ago the battery cables were loose so I popped hood saw they were loose tightened them and of course the lights started flashing security light flashes etc...I insert the correct key and it resets the alarm and starts no problem I drive home and then about an hour later I go to leave somewhere and all that happens is radio comes on lights etc... no problem I even hear the fuel pump come on but it will not start when i turn the key NOTHING NOT A SOUND BUT BUT the security light (with the word SECURITY) on the instrument panel flashes continuously until I take the key out . PLEASE HELP I AM IN TEARS
Maria Lynch

ANSWER: Hello Maria,

You have 2 separate junk factory systems. One is the VATS you are referring to and then the inept optional factory alarm, which it too, never stopped theft, only the owner. Thank God this was an option and not standard on all Cadillacs, because you are dealing with 1993 technology (19 years old).

I was one of the last to repair factory theft systems (even for the dealers) in 2000, and I finally gave up with no parts available much less correct information.

Being you were playing with the cables though, its probably a matter of resetting the system. Open the driver's door with your keys in your hand. lock the driver's door with the inside door lock switch. Close the door. Unlock the driver's door with the key. In theory, that resets the system.


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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I already did everything you said to do I already knew about resetting it that way and still nothing any other ideas?
thank you very much

Answer
Hi,

OK,

Don't know if this will work, because this is what we would do with after market alarms. Turn ignitnion on and leave on. Disconnect neg battery cable and remove. Reinstall the cable. Turn the ignition off. See if the alarm is disabled.

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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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