Questioni replace a stater on 19*94 cadillac seville sls kow it won't start it say stater disable due to thift sestem
AnswerHello,
You probably didn't need a starter in the first place. All one needs to do to diagnose is to put a test light to the solenoid and have someone else put ignition in START position. No light, no power, not a bad starter.
Your problem goes back to a very common use of defective GM engineering in what was hailed as an anti-theft system known as VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System) junk.
Never a question if it would fail, the question was-when?
That is what that big black ugly resistor chip was embedded in the ignition key blade for.
Over priced and the dealer will charge $800 to replace the ignition lock/harness and you will have the issue pop up again. Dealer will not bypass this junk.
Call a vehicle alarm store and get a price for bypassing the system. Should be around $60.00.
I have done thousands of these bypasses since 1990. It was done for remote start so the engine could be started without a key in the ignition.
System has thin wires like the old land line telephone. Constant movement would cause the wires to break inside insulation. You will never find the break! Every time you move the wires they go back together and since broken inside insulation, you will never see the break.
To temporarily start, you can try tilting column and try starting in different position because you are moving the wires. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. At least that would save you a tow to alarm store.
They are installing an in-line resistor lying to computer thinking it sees the correct key every time.
Thank God GM overused this system that lost its protection ability after 2 years for 19 years!
http://www.autotheftexpert.com
