'91 eldorado won't turn over
QuestionEdit
Hello Rob, I own a 1991 Cadillac Eldorado and recently had the message, "Auto start disabled due to Theft System..... wait 3 minutes.... start car" show up on my driver information center. I took the car into my mechanic and afterwards he said that he put a chip into the system that the security system would read continuously, and he said that because of that, technically I would not need the resistor chip in my gold key. More recently, I have not been able to start the Eldorado after driving it for more than 30 minutes. Every now and then it would sputter and then start. I would let it sit for an hour every time after it would not start, and then it would start up. When it would not start, I would turn the key and nothing would turn over in the engine. I have a new, working battery, and although I do not receive the "..Disable Due To Theft System" message, the car acts similar to the time when it would not start before the mechanic placed the chip in the system. Your thoughts and advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
AnswerEdit
Hello,
You are dealing with symptoms not always the same problem. Your first problem was VATS. Your second problem is something different and from your description, its a bad starter. When starters have internal problems when the engine warms up, it won't crank. Its too much work to do in this car, but situations like this, we would hit the warm starer case with a hammer and loosen the brushes and the engine would start. That is why when it sits and cools down, the engine will start. Of course check all connections to the starter first, but my money is on a defective starter.
I do not know about the sputtering, that is something else. Chances are though, the starter is no good for the no crank warm.
Your starting issue with the VATS was just a symptom. You mechanic fixed the problem. Now you sort of have the same symptom, but you are not getting the 3 minute start warning. Now you have a completely different unrelated problem. Its nothing your mechanic did and if you did not have that junk VATS on there, then the starter would be obvious.
That's fine a good the vats is bypassed, but have your mechanic get a toddle. Have him get a roll of black 12 gauge wire and attach to toggle with 5' on each side. Have him go under dash and cut the yellow or purple start wire and install each side to each end of the 12 gauge wires with butt connectors and tape to tighten. Wrap the two wires together for the 5'. Run the wires under the dash and tie them to harnesses. Run along driver's kick panel and down door sill with only hammer sticking out of sill. This is a hidden starter kill. You can flip the switch while driving. Just don't forget to flip it back when starting.
Old cars are stolen all the time and just examined a stolen 1993 Suburban last week. Your car can be stolen in less than a minute by means of breaking not the ignition but the left side of the steering column to access the locking mechanisms with only a screwdriver. All teenagers and anyone in jail knows how to steal these cars and chances are that on these old cars the VATS is like yours bypassed.
The general public thinks only new cars are stolen and that is a huge piece of misinformation out there. Lately in 3 different cities in California, Oklahoma City and Denver media make it sound like a big deal old cars are stolen, but the truth of the matter is they are much easier than the new ones. GM made the inferior saginaw tilt from 1969-1999 on the Cadillac. Our store rebuilt over 10,000 from theft.
Some people think they are smart saying they wish their old car would be stolen, but you have the deductible for one if insured. secondly, the experts for the insurance companies are too stupid about the bypass and will accuse the insured and your claim will be denied and then you have to hire us, since we are the only firm in the country that works against the insurance "forensic" experts.
If you don't have comp insurance, you are screwed. If the thief over heats the engine, then you have a problem if you get it back.
If my information assisted you, please rate it. Thanks.
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