Starter disabled

Tiny
SKIPPER SR.
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 CADILLAC ELDORADO
  • 4.6L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 96,200 MILES
How do I reset the starting disabled the thing in my car?If I do not have the the clicker.
Tuesday, January 30th, 2018 AT 6:54 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,414 POSTS
If the security light is flashing or not coming on at all and you are seeing the starter disabled message your car is not recognizing the key you are using. Either the resistor in the key has failed, the read contacts inside the key cylinder are dirty or the wires from those contacts to the security module have failed or the security module itself has failed.

You can try cleaning the resistor pellet by rubbing it with a pencil eraser to clean the contacts, then apply some rubbing alcohol to a Q-tip and gently clean the contacts inside the ignition switch. Then try to start it. If it still does not work you will need to dig into the system and determine where the problem is. Most of the time the failure is in the two wires that come out of the ignition cylinder. They break because of the motion of the key cylinder.
The easiest way to test if the wires are broken is to use a DVOM to measure the resistance in the resistor pellet in the key. Then go to the wiring harness on the steering column and locate the two small white wires that go to the ignition. Unplug them and then with the key in the ignition you measure the resistance between the wires, they should match the number you got when you measured the key if the wires are okay.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

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Tuesday, January 30th, 2018 AT 7:46 AM

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