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Expert: - 2/9/2012


Question
I have a 1992 Cadillac Deville and lost the original key. I went to a Cadillac parts dealer and they made me a new key based on the VIN. I tried to use the key and it did not work. I went back and they gave me a second key and it did not work. I want to just replace the ignition cylinder switch and key. I have went to several web sites, but the key does not look the same as the key that I have for my car (It has a black head and one of those anti-theft chips). Is it possible for me to buy a ignition cylinder switch and key to replace the one that is in there now so that I can start and use my car?

Answer
Hello,

You have the junk problematic, antiquated VATS which comes with a resistor chip in the ignition key.

The reason the key from VIN does not work is over the life of the car, the key/ignition/VATS module was reprogrammed.
What people do not understand is that the dealer is only the middleman as are the locksmiths. The manufacturer does not make the locks and keys. Stratecc of Milwaukee is the sub-contractor.

I guess at this point, the cheapest easiest thing to do is have a locksmith come out. He has what is known as an "Interrogator" that will determine the chip in the computer and if he has to, he can cut the exact key with the correct resistor value for the car.

Electronics are obsolete in 6 months. This system was designed and used in the 1986 Corvette and used till 2005 in the Corvette. Commonly bypassed because of the very over priced ignition lock and harness.

Steering column on car can defeated in 30 seconds on left side of column with screwdriver and down the road (DTR). Yeah, GM really cared about its owners using this same crappy column for 30 years. We rebuilt thousands of these columns from theft and from becoming loose., and yes, they steal old cars all the time.

When you get your new keys made will tell you how to bypass and how to make a starter kill. That way, if you lose keys, can be ignitions can be replaced without the hassle and you have true theft prevention.
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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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