Drug users targeting Saturns

http://www.sfexaminer.com/article/index.cfm/i/070904n_saturns

 

"...the automaker made a number of changes to the car in 1995 including
implementing a feature that disables the vehicle's fuel supply if it is
started without a key."

On my 98SL2, it seems to disable the starter if the keyless entry was
used to lock the car. Does it also disable the fuel pump? Or is that
something independent of the keyless entry system?

-rj
98SL2

 

The L300 has something in the security system which locks out the starter
and disables the fuel system as I recall.

Unlike cars of old where everything was pretty much intuitive, I have read
the owner's manual three times and keep picking out things I missed.
Oppie

_________________
| Skid wrote:
| > http://www.sfexaminer.com/article/index.cfm/i/070904n_saturns
|
| "...the automaker made a number of changes to the car in 1995 including
| implementing a feature that disables the vehicle's fuel supply if it is
| started without a key."
|
| On my 98SL2, it seems to disable the starter if the keyless entry was
| used to lock the car. Does it also disable the fuel pump? Or is that
| something independent of the keyless entry system?
|
| -rj
| 98SL2

 

Newer Saturns and many other GM cars use a PASSlock security system. The
ignition cylinder is designed to send a coded resistance signal to the BCM
only if it is turned with a valid key. When the BCM receives the proper
resistance signal at the correct time, it sends a password to the PCM which
enables fuel delivery. If the BCM does not send the password, or sends
another message indicating tampering, the PCM disables all fuel delivery -
therefore the engine will not start or will start but stall immediately.

 

Sorry, what is "BCM"?

Are you referring to the keys with the built-in chip which is read by a
sensor in the key cylinder? I've seen those - the keys which have them
are obvious, but my 98 certainly doesn't have one.

-rj
98SL2

 

BCM = Body Control Module

 

Actually I think theres a 3min delay before it cuts off the fuel pump.
Otherwise any jostling of a worn out key on a bumpy road might make your
car spit and sputter. Last thing I want to do is diagnose something like
that.

 

That sounds so kinky in a techie way

 

This is only checked on startup.

 

No, there are some GM vehicles that do have a chip in the key (I forget what
that system is called, PASSkey III?) and some older GM vehicles used a
PASSkey system where the key itself had a resistor on it, but the PASSlock
system on Saturns and most other less expensive GM vehicles is all inside
the lock cylinder, the key itself is not special.

 

The dealership was going to charge me 30 bucks for making a copy of my
ignition key (passkey). I said I'll pull my column apart and wire a
resistor in before I pay that! They dropped it down to list price which
was still 20 bucks. I settled at that...

 

"Of the 24 stolen in May, police have recovered 21 so far. They had not
been stripped for parts."

"Cops believe the thieves are drug users living in Nob Hill and Russian
Hill, who finance their habits with crimes such as auto and mail theft."

Wow, talk about your Keystone Cops.

Step 1: Steal car, drive it a few blocks, then dump it.
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Profit!

""A Saturn is not the type of car you brag to your buddies about stealing,"
Nannery said. "It's an opportunists' car. These guys are ripping them off,
dumping them and stealing another one.""

How do they make their money to finance their drug habits? Volume!

-DanD

 

No, it's simple. Cops want to assume everything's {drug | gang | mob |
etc} related because politicians like to 'clean up' these problems.
Nobody cares if it's the generic joyriding kid, until it hits Newark, NJ
proportions, in which case it becomes politically useful to do something
about it. By linking crime to a larger social 'problem' (real,
percieved, or created), it hopefully gets the attention and $$$ from
the politicians. And let's face it, police depts just love getting toys
to play with, witness the paramilitary 'swat' teams, the constant call
for tasers, Copstangs and Copmaros, IR goggles, etc, and the almost
singular focus on speed enforcement. Because it's fun aiming a 'gun' at
traffic and chasing cars at high speed. Pulling over grandpa doing 15
below and weaving through traffic isn't. Nor is ticketing the soccer
mom in her UAV chatting on the cellphone to her friends about how hot
the new gardener is, while making a left turn from the right lane. I've
heard cops admit they LIKE to pull up behind 'suspicious looking cars'
(i.e., driven by a young black kid), and flash the lights to see if
they'll run or not.

*shrug*. It makes no sense to me either.

They're not making it stealing saturns, that's for sure. Now, if it
were Honda Civic hatchbacks, or Navigators, it might be drug related.
But an old Saturn's got near zip resale value, and parts value isn't
spectacularly high either.

 

I think once the the computer has detected that you are using the
correct key, it doesn't check it again for that start cycle. And from my
problems getting a remote starter to work, I think it never allows fuel
delivery if it does not detect the proper key.

Regards,

Ed White

 

I am sure my Vue's key is "special." I can't just have a blank cut - a
generic blank won't run the car, even though it will operate the lock.

Regards,

Ed White

 

Doesn't look like it - 2002-2004 Vue use the PASSlock system as well.

I'm not sure how exactly the mechanism they use inside the lock cylinder
works - it's possible that some generic keys might not work properly with
it. There is nothing electronic in the key, however.

 

I am pretty sure there is a resitive element in the key that must match
the value stored in the computer. To get my remote starter to work I had
to add a bypass module that "learned" the restior value. i am away from
my home now, but when I get home I'll look it up in hte workshop manual.

Regards,

Ed White

 

There is a resistor involved, but it's in the lock cylinder, not the key..

 

Then why will the key I had cut at Ace not run the car? It
operates the lock cylinder just fine. Car runs fine with
either of the original Saturn keys, but won't run with a
hardware store key, or the "emergency" key card provided by
Saturn. I am going to review the manual tonight.

Ed

 

I still have not had a chance to read the service manual,
but I'll admit I am very confused. Lots of on-line
references agree that the resistors are in the lock cylinder
and not the key. However, the Saturn dealer and the Ace guy
both told me my generic hardware store key won't run the
car. I suppose I need to actually verify this by trying to
drive home with the hardware store key. I still plan to
review the service manual.

Ed