NEWROCKIES has informed me that they have released a BRAND NEW Pro Module that covers many more faulty GM vehicles. (FEB 20) I will list these vehicles as i hear about them.
Welcome to my site. This site is completely informative. It is to help educate and guide in the diagnosing and trouble shooting of security light, "no start", and engine immobilizer problems on GM vehicles using Vats, Passlock, or Passkey antitheft security systems. If you see a light that says SECURITY, ANTI THEFT or the picture of the car and padlock on your dash when your car won't start, you HAVE an anti theft issue. These icons are for the antitheft system only. They are not tied to anything else. DO IT YOURSELF fixes near middle of page for most vehicles. |
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   Yes, the above key is a Ford key, but i couldnt find a picture of a GM with the transponder showing. But you get the idea      ^ THIS IS A TDM ^ (THEFT DETERRENT MODULE) ALSO KNOWN AS "BRAIN", OR "COMPUTER" . This is what most VATS TDMs look like. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a BCM (Body Control Module) This one is out of a Grand Am, but will look very similar to this in these vehicles. 1999 - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero BCM     
Vehicle owners causing security issues. Sometimes we cause these issues ourselves. If you have done any of these things, this may be the reason that the security is messing up. 1) Excessive keys and keyrings hanging from ignition 2) Motor swap. Changing out you motor with a new one or different one, confusing the security system and causing a break in the SECURITY communication. 3) If you have replaced the ignition. This is a very important part, it must be replaced by original GM parts and NOT cheap Auto Zone parts. It then must be reprogrammed by the dealer or you for your system to work. 4) Low batteries can cause this. The system reads low voltage as a security threat. 5) I've also heard this a few times. "My dash lights went out, everything else works, but my car will not start and the security light is on." Maybe part of the security system is powered by the dash..... Just a note, ive seen this issue about 4 or 5 times 6) Remote starts cause all sorts of problems on GM security systems. It is best to NOT ever install one, or if you start having problems, remove it before trying anything else. In order for a remote start to work, the installer must tamper with this antitheft system, or else the vehicle wouldnt start at all. Needs the key chip or transponder.
After performing either of the following bypass procedures, your vehicle's factory starter or injector interrupter will be disabled. A thief will be able to steal your car much easier than if the security system was still enabled. It DOES NOT eliminate having to use the key, it just makes your car and key work like a regular car and key. No anti-theft or security will be present. The thief would STILL have to hotwire the ignition to steal it, just like any other car. I hope that this site was helpful and informative. I've put alot of time and effort into this page and will continue to do so. If you find a good picture that will help on the site, or find any other ways to bypass or fix these systems, leave me an E-mail. And when i know it works, i'll post it to the site. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to ask or let me know. E-mail located in the "Contact Us" tab.
Also, feel free to use this link however you want. If you find somebody somewhere in the same situation, and this site will help them. Hook em up. Don't take this to a Dealer mechanic. Lets stop GM from stealing our money when they know this system is failing. Think about it, The system has been failing since 1982. Thats 30 years. Look to the right, there are year 2010 vehicles in that list, and probably more to come. You think they would figure this out, the only thing they figured out, is how to get more money from us, ON TOP of what we paid for the car. Not to mention getting money from the 2nd or 3rd owners too. SHAMEFUL! Hope this site helps you.
(Next car's gunna be a Ford) Well after realizing that ford and just about EVERYBODY else has failing antitheft systems, i got an Oldsmobile. When it breaks, at least i'll know how to fix it.
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THE BASIC BREAKDOWN OF THE INFAMOUS "SECURITY LIGHT" BY GM The security light is a visual indication that something in the car's antitheft system is failing. In most GM cars and trucks there is a hidden system that most people are unaware even exists. From the moment you put your key in the ignition, there begins a constant line of communication between your key's security chip or transponder, to the ignition's lock cylinder, and then to the car's TDM (Theft Deterrent Module). These 3 parts are in CONSTANT communication. If the key is in the ignition, then these parts are sending signals to each other. The security light illuminates when that signal gets broken, even just for a second. When the signal breaks, the car misinterperates this as an attempt at theft and goes into antitheft mode. The car thinks its being stolen or hotwired because it is not getting that signal from YOUR specific key. This is why the security light turns on and shuts down your vehicle. Remember too, the TDM controls the security light. Sometimes you can have ALL the symptoms and no lights. I have put this site together to help others out with this problem. Ive added things at different times so im sorry if the info is choppy or if there are things described twice. By no means am i a professional, i have just collected alot of info and put it on this page to help as many people as i can.
MORE TECHNICAL "SECURITY LIGHT" BREAKDOWN 1.The CHIPKEY 2.The LOCK CYLINDER 3.The TDM If any of these parts are not communicating properly, your SECURITY light will come on and shut down your vehicle. The idea being, that without the chipped key or frequency key communicating with the ignition and then to your TDM and then to your starter or injectors, the vehicle wont start and can't be "hotwired" or stolen. Pretty nice when working, but these systems are flawed and the average life is 6-10 years. Tampering around with these parts can also cause problems. So many times i've heard of people changing the ignition, starter. or fuel pump and setting off the security system. I've also seen people try to change out these parts to try and fix the security. The concept being, if the key, ignition, and TDM don't match. The security will fail and shut you down. I've also noticed that weather can effect these things. Hot or cold days used to set my anti theft off ALL the time. Every single aspect of this system is expensive to replace and can only be worked on by "authorized" GM service men without voiding warrenty. Most garages dont even touch them and if they do, they will sell you every part they can before "fixing" the problem. If you have looked into replacement or fixing these systems, you should know that the cost is very high and may actually be more than the Blue Book value of your vehicle. Lets face it, alot of us drive beaters.
SYMPTOMS Symptoms of a Security system failure. This is for any GM vehicle with a Passlock,PASSkey,and Vats antitheft security systems. 1) A light saying SECURITY or ANTITHEFT is illuminated solid or flashing 2) A light shaped like a car with a "padlock" through it is on or flashing. 3) The vehicle will not start. The starter will not even click and everything else in the car will work fine. Security light will be on. 4) The engine will start for 1-5 seconds and then stall, followed by a security light . MY FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THE SECURITY LIGHT I had crashed my good car into a snowplow so i bought a car from an "acquaintance" very cheap. 1000 bucks for a 96 Regal with a ton of miles but should get me through the winter. First i started to notice intermittent starts. It would act up one day, then be fine for weeks. Run great for a few months, then would not start when i needed my car the most. This only got worse and more often. I thought i could just keep doing that 10 minute key trick (described below) forever, but NO. (i did do it for the better part of a year though) The final straw for me was when i had my daughter in the car ( 5 years old at the time ) leaving a Walmart, it was a below freezing Illinois winter and the thing would not start. Having to tell her that we have to run in the cold and ice to go back inside and wait ten minutes for my car to start was heart breaking and embarrassing. She did not understand. I then decided to get this fixed. Every place i took my car to was talking about 600-900 bucks for a TDM replacement. I knew there had to be a cheaper way. And of course there IS.
*QUICK FIX TRICKS* 1st trick 2nd trick (10 minute trick) Note that if you can see the little black chip in your key shaft, then you have a Vats system. If the ten minute trick works on this system, then the problem is NOT in your key or ignition. It is the TDM itself. It will have to be fully bypassed or a new TDM installed. This system does not relearn or reteach the ignition like the passlock and passkey systems do that came after them.. *TEMPORARY FIX* (Only ignition and key bypassed) Normally i wouldnt even suggest this, but i am going to give you all the information that i have, so here is one more "Do It Yourself" fix. It involves ripping into your stearing column. Very cheap fix, under $15. The only drawback is that you are leaving the TDM in the car still, and remember that the TDM is the whole "brains" of the operation. So eventually you will be in the same spot as you were before. Broke down and not starting, but it could work for quite a while. So here is a link to do this "Key Bypass". Remember it is temporary and i would definately be thinking about a full bypass or getting your system fixed correctly in the future, for your own safety and peace of mind. The info on this link says its for only a few cars, but it should work for other cars with that chip in the shaft. Here is that link -------------------> http://vats.likeabigdog.com/
*PERMANENT FIX* (everything bypassed. Ignition, key and TDM)
Well since the lifespan of these systems are so short, and are extremely expensive to fix, my only perminant suggestion is to eliminate it completely. After a year of doing the 10 minute "Quick Fix" and a "key bypass" that lasted 2 months and stranded me, i have only one good suggestion. After surfing the web for hours through forums and websites and paying for parts that i didnt need, i found this link ------------------------------------------------------------> http://newrockies.com/passkey Save this link to your favorites. --------^ You will probably end up needing it sooner or later. On the left side of the screen under the picture, there is a link that says "PRO VATS full bypass", this is where you will find the part you need. They sell a Pro Bypass Module that eliminates the chip, the lock cylinder and the TDM. Thats EVERY part of the system. It replicates the signal (**NOTE**) from the TDM and sends it directly to the computer and then to the starter or injectors and so on. Thus eliminating the ENTIRE system COMPLETELY. I came upon a fork in my road. A TDM that costs $700 for my $1000 car, or spend the $190 for this bypass, or just throw my car away. Lets say i now drive a Buick with the chip ripped out of the key and the TDM sitting in my glovebox for "show and tell". No problems since. I just told myself "I'm not spending 200 bucks, im saving a 1000". Here is a list of known effected cars that can be fixed with the Newrockies bypass. This is the same list from their site and may update. Double check the list on the site. If you dont think you can install this part on your own, remember you can always ask your mechanic to help. When i did this on my buick, it took me about 30 minutes to find the TDM (thats without knowing what it looked like, you now have a picture) and about 10 minutes to install the part. I am not a mechanic. Just an average handy guy.
NEWROCKIES has informed me that they have released a BRAND NEW Pro Module that covers many more faulty GM vehicles. (FEB 20) I will list these vehicles as i hear about them. Checking their site is the best way to see the updated covered vehicles. Monte Carlo 2000-2007 Avalanche 2002-2012 Suburban 2002-2012 Tahoe 2002-2012 Trailblazer 2002-2009 Silverado 1998-2012 C1500/C2500/C3500 1998-2012 K1500/K2500/K3500 1998-2012 Express 1998-2012 Equinox 2005-2011 Envoy 1998-2009 Savana 1998-2011 Yukon 1998-2012 VUE 2002-2009 L200/LW200/L300/LW300 2000-2005 L100/LW100 2000-2005 L-Series 2000-2005 LS/LS1/LS2/LW1/LW2 2000-2005 ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM OR THESE BYPASS METHODS, OR JUST A GM ANTITHEFT SECURITY QUESTION IN GENERAL, FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL ME. I CHECK THIS ONE OFTEN. PLEASE DONT SEND ME YOUR SPAM OR HATE MAIL. DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON ME. I'LL TRY TO HELP YOU AS MUCH AS I CAN. IM NO EXPERT, BUT I HAVE DONE ALOT OF THESE AND MAY BE ABLE TO HELP YOU OUT. For the record, i made this site in MAY 2011, looks like i just rolled over 110,000 hits.... How common of a problem would you say this is???  15 possible OHMs readings for Vats keys and ignitions. "KEY BYPASS" Codes in Ohms decimal 1———— 0.402 See minimum and maximum Ohms in below graph  |
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