Cadillac Repair: VATS Key Cylinder?, fuse block, key cylinder

Question
1995 Cadillac DeVille. Car stopped cranking over, anti theft system wait 3 minutes appeared on dash. Put in new battery, starter/sylinoid. Put in Ignition Control Module from a 1994 DeVille. Dealer wants $350 to fix the key cylinder and said they can't guarantee it will start car. Had locksmith bypass key cylinder issue, still no start. Same message on dash; Anti Theft System wait 3 minutes to start. Starting disabled due to theft system.

I bought a new Ignition Control Module, because the locksmith said my car might not be reading the used one from the 1994 DeVille. Would this work? I dunno, any help is appreciated, thanks..

Answer
Hi Aaron,

      When that 3 minuit message comes up it usually means that the small white wire comming from the ignition lock cylinder has gone open when the key gets turned. The way to test this is to use an ohmeter and with a lead on each side of the key pellet see what it reads. Then at the base of the steering column where all the wires come out you should see an orange insulated cover with 2 20 gauge white wires inside going to a connector. It might be a 2 wire connector or the 56way connector at the fuse block. Separate the connector and with your meter on each white wire you might get a reading. Then try turning the key to the start position several times and if the reading goes open then you eithor need to replace the ignition lock cylinder with keys or install a 1/4 watt resistor as close to the pellet reading as you can...with-in 500 ohms is usually close enough...after cutting the orange shielding and soldiering and tapeing the resistor to the white wires that are NOT going to the steering column. Then the engine should start.

     I did have a car with a bad module in which case the wires were good and we installed a differant module, programmed it and then the engine starter.

     The starter w/solinoid and the ignition control module could probably be removed and the original ones reinstalled because they are probably good. I would say the locksmith bypass  needs to be rechecked to make sure the correct resistance was used and it was put on the wires not going to the steering column.

     If it still doesn't start you might have to bite the bullet and have it towed to your mechanic who can test the system and replace whats defective. Bill