resistor key story

Had a 90 something Bonneville dropped off overnight, by tow truck, half blocking the door...darn towing company...anyway....owner finally contacts us and gives us the key and states "it won't start".

After a few minutes of looking around a co-worker recognizes that the security light is flashing and due to age and wear, figures it's "the broken wires in the passlock resistor key ignition lock cylinder harness in the steering wheel/column" scenario, as per the norm. So, we order a new lock cyl, which comes with a key. (For those who don't know, the included key is just used as a template to cut a new resistor-key that matches the resistor in the old key that matches your car's old lock cylinder that would not work in a new lock cyl.) and we matched a new resistor-key blank and had it cut.

The parts arrive, and I pull the under dash panel first. (It's always a good idea to just plug in the new resistor key and lock cyl harness to make sure you are really about to replace the right part.) Guess what I see...... A whole resistor key super-glued between the wires that are supposed to plug into the harness to the lock cylinder!!! Good lord. After un-"wiring" the key, I check and find that (of course) THAT resistor is NOT the same as the resistor that was in the key that matches the lock cyl in the car. That means the resistor-key we just had cut is useless. grrrrrr. We'll get another key tomorrow, and yes, I verified that with the right resistor in the new cylinder, the car will start, so I will complete a PROPER repair tomorrow.

For anyone who hasn't realized it, at some point two things have happened to this car:

  1. Someone installed a used lock cylinder
  2. Someone super glued the right resistor-key, so the used lock cyl would start the car.

That's MORE TROUBLE than just fixing it the right way!! Some people are too cheap to drive a GM.

Good grief, GW

Reply to
Geoff Welsh
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Sounds like the sort of stuff I run in to. At some time, a car goes thru the hands of some parts changer/hack. Then I go to do a proper repair on the same item only to find crud like that. More often then not the customer has no idea it was done. Kind of hard to charge them extra for it, as the probably wouldn't understand what was wrong with it.

Charles

Reply to
Charles Bendig

I agree there. We installed as if it was a standard operation. I even soldered in where the "hack" had cut(!) the wires to the module. GW

Reply to
Geoff Welsh

I'm glad I don't have that kind of key on my car..

========= Harryface =========

1991 Pontiac Bonneville LE 3800 V6 ( C ), Black/Slate Grey _~_~_~282,900 miles_~_~_

~_~_~_~_U.S.A._~_~_~_~_~_

~~~The Former Fleet ~~~

89 Cavalier Z 24 convertible 78 Holiday 88 coupe 68 LeSabre convertible 73 Impala sedan
Reply to
Harry Face

Reply to
Geoff Welsh

Well now its a 94, earlier it was a 90...

I think 92 or 93 is when the passkey came in town.....

========= Harryface =========

1991 Pontiac Bonneville LE 3800 V6 ( C ), Black/Slate Grey _~_~_~282,970 miles_~_~_

~_~_~_~_U.S.A._~_~_~_~_~_

~~~The Former Fleet ~~~

89 Cavalier Z 24 convertible 78 Holiday 88 coupe 68 LeSabre convertible 73 Impala sedan
Reply to
Harry Face

Reply to
Geoff Welsh

'91 Park Ave had it.

---Bob Gross---

Reply to
Robertwgross

Well there ya go. ;-) Good to see familiar posters! Sorry I was gone so long. GW

Robertwgross wrote:

Reply to
Geoff Welsh
93 Buick has it

Reply to
Tim or Linda

85 or 86 on Corvettes
Reply to
Neil Nelson

My friend's '89 Chebby Crapmaro has a resistor key.

Reply to
Dennis Smith

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