Cadillac Repair: vats, orange shield, radio shack

Question
Hi
I am having problems with starting my car
read out on dash says wait 3 mins anti theft system  please can you help car is 1990 cad eldorado  thank you scott can this be reset or ?

Answer
Hi Scott, Whats happening is the passkey module isn't able to read the key pellet. You could try the other key or clean the key pellet with a mild cleaner like peroxide or rubbing alcohol and see what happens. But what usually happens is 1 of the small wires comming down from the ignition lock cylinder has flexed in 2...sometimes makeing contact and sometimes not. You could measure the key resistance with and ohmeter and then go to radio shack and get a 1/4 watt resistor close to that value and then under the steering column you will see 2 20gage  white wires in a connector with an orange shield around it. Cut the wire on the steering column side of the connector and wire in the resistor. Then the car will start but now a thief can just turn the lock and the car will start. The other way is to get a new lock cylinder and 2 new keys and take the column apart to replace the cylinder. If you don't know how or don't have the special tools this could set you back at least $200 and possably more depending on the shop labor rate. Hope that answers your question. Bill