Anti Theft Detterent Module Problems...

[georgeb]

2 Wks after I make my last payment on my 2008 tahoe, I go to start the hoe, with the autostart, which I do all the time, and it wont start. Try the key, wont start. .. Nothing starts the truck, battery ok... Truck gets towed to the dealer, they tell me the ignition switch is bad, ok to replace it, then they call me , tell me that the anti theft detterent module is bad, tell them to replace it also.
$455 dollars later, I ask them to check the car, cause going on a week long trip to myrtle beach, they check it out, all is ok. Drive for 3 weeks , no other issues, go to myrtle beach (from NYC) all ok until the 4th day there. Go to auto start the car with the remote, and it wont start. Try the key and doesnt start.
Car gets towed to the local chevy dealership. they me tell me the starter is no good, but covered under warranty. 4hours later, they tell me that its not the starter but the anti theft detterent module is bad. I give them the whole story about how it was just replaced, they tell me not under warranty cause I have so much after market stuff in the truck. ( BS... cause everything in the truck has been there for 3 yrs and none of it is connected directly to the truck)

Heres the background on this: I had a second battery system installed in the car, to power 3 radios (Im a ham radio operator) plus some accesories, like an air pump system, additional lights (interior). The system uses a Pac 200 relay system, all professionally done...

they disconnect everything, change the module, another $455 dollars, and I hit the road, fastracking back to NYC..

so what could cause the Anti theft dett system module to blow twice in 1 month...?? And could it happen again?

Are these viable options, looking for opinions:

1. Leave all my accesories disconnected, and see if it happens again in the next month or so...
2. have the alarm system removed, and reconnect my stuff, see if it happens again?

I see others having problems with the anti theft detter system, It turns oun that my alarm which I thought was a GM autostart alarm system is actually an after market alarm system, that was sent out by the dealer to have done...
both times the module blew was while trying to start the car using the autostart from the alarm...??

Any help would be great...

tks

george

 

[Vincesrg03]

Im thinking you take it to a reputable alarm installer to check it out. It seems like one of the relays on the alarm is not doing its job and blowing the module. If its aftermarket, the dealer will have no clue how to deal with it. If the remote start is bad, and you keep blowing modules, i would just install a better aftermarket one. Plus they can figuer out how to connect all your extra stuff and work right. At 455 bucks a module that is getting expensive. Good luck. Hope it works out for you.

 

[georgeb]

Update...

I got brave, and without connecting all my electronic stuff, activated the remote start. The anti theft detterent system went active and the whole car wouldnt start.. The service light came on. A friend of mine said, if its a brand new module, it should activate and shut itself off.. lock the doors manually, close the car, open the car, put the ignition key in, press the brake and try and start it. It worked.....

He told me that the later ATDM should protect themselves from blowing.
It apparently did, now I know its the alarm.

So contacted a guy who installed some of my stuff, and he told me to bring the car in, he will remove the old alarm and remote start, and put a new modern system in...

But hopefully this helps anyone else. I did make a mistake, the ATDM is $355.00 the extra $100 was the ignition switch which they say I needed but apparently I didnt...

I should have had the 2 dealers give me the parts back...

george