1999 Pontiac Sunfire 4-door theft system? Help?

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billdana - 21 Sep 2007 21:44 GMT

We got a used 1999 Pontiac Sunfire 4-door a month ago. It was no
sold with a theft deterrent system. However, when we start it, th
word THEFT appears in red on the dashboard with all the other syste
lights. Any ideas? Would Pontiac know if I called them and asked i
it has one? And if it does have one do I do something to enable it?

We just have a standard key that came with it although it's ver
skinny.

Geico is giving us a discount on our car insurance, too, because the
show it has one. Thanks.
Bil

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aarcuda69062 - 21 Sep 2007 21:54 GMT

> We got a used 1999 Pontiac Sunfire 4-door a month ago. It was not
> sold with a theft deterrent system.

AFAIK, all J bodies of that era had a passive anti theft system.

> However, when we start it, the
> word THEFT appears in red on the dashboard with all the other system
> lights. Any ideas?

Yes. It has a passive anti theft system.

> Would Pontiac know if I called them and asked if
> it has one?

They better know (they built it). Have the VIN handy just in
case.

> And if it does have one do I do something to enable it?

What do you mean by "enable?"

Does the theft light go out once the engine is running?

> We just have a standard key that came with it although it's very
> skinny.

Yup, the anti theft mechanism is built into the ignition lock
cylinder, no pellet or transponder in the key although the system
pretty much protects much the same as the old passkey system in
use by GM since the mid 80s.

> Geico is giving us a discount on our car insurance, too, because they
> show it has one. Thanks.

Passive anti theft is not to be confused with an alarm system.

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billdana - 26 Sep 2007 02:32 GMT

> billdana wrote
> We got a used 1999 Pontiac Sunfire 4-door a month ago. It was no

sold with a theft deterrent system. However, when we start it, th
word THEFT appears in red on the dashboard with all the other syste
lights. Any ideas? Would Pontiac know if I called them and asked i
it has one? And if it does have one do I do something to enable it?

> We just have a standard key that came with it although it's ver

skinny.

> Geico is giving us a discount on our car insurance, too, becaus

they show it has one. Thanks.

> Bil

By enable it I mean how do we set the alarm if it ha
one? I have heard about someone's Cadillac once something about ho
they turned their key twice right or left after shutting the door an
that set their alarm.

And then if I figure out how to set the alarm how do I disable it whe
I get into my car?

What is a PASSIVE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM? I've never heard of one.

The red THEFT light just comes on momentarily as with all the othe
lights and gauges when we start the car and then it goes off as wit
all the other switches.

Thanks for the info
Bil

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aarcuda69062 - 26 Sep 2007 03:25 GMT

> By enable it I mean how do we set the alarm if it has
> one? I have heard about someone's Cadillac once something about how
> they turned their key twice right or left after shutting the door and
> that set their alarm.

The 99 Sunfire didn't come with an alarm system from GM.
Not standard equipment, not optional equipment.
It may have an after-market alarm, but its operation is anyones
guess at this point.

> And then if I figure out how to set the alarm how do I disable it when
> I get into my car?

See above.

> What is a PASSIVE ANTI THEFT SYSTEM? I've never heard of one.

A system of components that make it difficult to hot-wire or
jimmy the ignition switch in order to steal the vehicle.
Passive means there is no separate action needed by the vehicle
operator for the system to work as designed.
The system on your Pontiac consists of:
A Hall Effect switch imbedded in outer portion of the ignition
lock cylinder.
The instrument cluster.
The PCM
The wiring between the components.

The system works like this:
When the ignition key is turned, a magnet in the inner portion of
the ignition lock cylinder passes by the Hall Effect switch, this
action causes a voltage output to the instrument cluster, as long
as this voltage output occurs at the correct time in relation to
the ignition circuits being powered up, the instrument cluster
authorizes the PCM to allow fuel and spark (in some cases, actual
starter motor engagement may also be involved).
Hot wiring the car won't get the engine running because fuel and
spark have not been enabled.
Jimmying or slide hammering the ignition lock will not get the
car running because either the magnet will be destroyed and/or
the voltage pulse from the Hall Effect switch will be timed
incorrectly.
the Hall Effect switch can not be easily bypassed because the
exact voltage is learned by the instrument cluster and unless
that exact voltage is known ahead of time, it would take a thief
more time than they'd want to be vulnerable to get the car
running.

Other PATS systems involve the use of a transponder key that is
read by an antenna that is part of the ignition lock cylinder.
(pronounced; expensive to replace the key)
The predecessor to the system you have now was called "Passkey,"
it involved a resistor chip of various resistances imbedded in
the shank of the ignition key.

> The red THEFT light just comes on momentarily as with all the other
> lights and gauges when we start the car and then it goes off as with
> all the other switches.

Sounds like the PATS is working as designed.

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Refinish King - 27 Sep 2007 01:22 GMT

Hi:

The resistor pellet in the key system was called V.A.T.S,

The second design as the OP is referring to is a Passkey 2.

The hall effect system is the Psskey 3 system.

I hope this helps

RK

PS
There are so many work arounds, that it's almost easy to bypass.. LOL

>> By enable it I mean how do we set the alarm if it has
>> one? I have heard about someone's Cadillac once something about how
[quoted text clipped - 56 lines]
>
> Sounds like the PATS is working as designed.

Reply to this Message

aarcuda69062 - 27 Sep 2007 06:10 GMT

> Hi:
>
> The resistor pellet in the key system was called V.A.T.S,

http://www.thirdgen.org/vats_passkey_system

> The second design as the OP is referring to is a Passkey 2.

Nope. He has "Passlock."
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3828/is_200511/ai_n1587118
5

> The hall effect system is the Psskey 3 system.

Hall Effect is/was used in all versions of Passlock.
(big clue here being the three wires going to the sensor)
The differences between I, II and III is in the proofing strategy.
All versions of Passkey used a resistor pellet.
http://p214.ezboard.com/GM-Passkey-3/ftippersforumfrm8.showMessage
?topicID=11.topic

> I hope this helps

I'm just not quite sure how...

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Refinish King - 30 Sep 2007 01:22 GMT

Thanks for the clarification:

I worked on a bunch, where the key pushed up a switch on the ignition switch
housing.

I thout that was a passkey 2.

Thank you again

RK

>> Hi:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> I'm just not quite sure how...

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aarcuda69062 - 30 Sep 2007 02:19 GMT

> Thanks for the clarification:
>
> I worked on a bunch, where the key pushed up a switch on the ignition switch
> housing.
>
> I thout that was a passkey 2.

Nope, probably the key buzzer.

> Thank you again

Glad to help.

> RK

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Refinish King - 30 Sep 2007 22:47 GMT

I have a switch and harness assembly on my desk now:

From a 98 Blazer, with the passkey 2 system. It has a switch that was at the
ntop of the housing, and it has a resistor in it. The key buzzer is at the
bottom side of the lock cylinder.

RK

>> Thanks for the clarification:
>>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
>> RK

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