starting disabled due to theft system malfunction, how do you get the car started? It is a 1997 deville. It is not pass key to related

please reply asap if possible

Is the security light flashing when you try to start it?
Have you tried cleaning the chip on the key or even another key?

Is this PassKey I or II(has a black resistor pellet in key shaft), or PK III(has transponder in head of key)?

Turn key to "on" position.....does the SECURITY light come on for three seconds and go out, or does it stay on solid?

Does the engine crank over and not start, or doesn't crank at all?

Have you checked for codes?

If the SECURITY light does go out, but the engine does not crank over, you need to check for power on the purple wire to the starter solenoid with the key in the crank position.......

Checked battery and cables?

I'm pretty sure the 97 Deville had the square key with VATS. If this is the case I'm pretty sure one of the tiny wires that goes into the ignition cylinder has broke. IMO the quickest way to fix this issue is to buy a new ignition cylinder, make a copy of your original ignition key without the chip in it and plug the new ignition cylinder into the steering column harness, tape your original key into the new cylinder and secure it under the dash panel and use the new copy key as your primary key. Basically this save you from tearing your steering colum apart to replace the lock cylinder and you don't need a ohm meter to figure out what resistance your key is.

I have actually done that in the past, but only with a customer'* permission, because now the vehicle is not protected at the lock cylinder....pop it and go...

Cheaper with a resistor, though....and you don't need new keys....

I am confused, do you mean tapping your original key into the cylinder wiring?
Or did you really mean taping?

If they have a pellet in there the all you should have to do is measure the resistance of the pellet, if they do not have a multimeter they are pretty cheap for a basic one.
Get the resistance, and some resistors to match the resistance of the pellet, then at the end of each wire coming from the resistor double it back, so it looks like a closed together u, hopefully that makes sense, then just push each end into the main wiring harness spots that the ignition columns wires go into, if you do it well it will stay in there, and not fall out, that is what I did, and there was no need to cut any column wiring.

Here is an even better way to do what I am talking about, and it should not fall out, you will need to little black connector that plugs into the main wring harness though.




How to bypass the VATS system in a late model GM vehicle

Yes your right 30-40 bucks for a lock cylinder verses a few dollars for a radio shack resistor is cheaper but many DIYers don't have a multimeter or the understanding of ohms law to do the bypass method.

Very true, you have a point.

@William E, if you buy a replacement lock cylinder it won't be keyed the same as the old lock so it comes with a basic key without the resistor in it. You need to find out what resistance key the car came with and have it cut to the new cylinder if you were to replace it in the column. If you were not to replace the cylinder in the column and were just trying to get your car to start again the original key is the proper resistance so you just push it into the new lock cylinder so it compleats the VATS circuit and tape it under the dash. It'* the same thing as adding the resistors but without needing to know what resistance value is needed.