Help please!!

[patriottuba]

Which orange wire is is i found one coming out of a sleeve on the bottom of the column. It is ridged like it could have two wires in it but im not sure a pic would be great if anyone has one. There are two places the wires are coming out of the column, on the bottom and on the left side of the column if you are in the seat facing the wheel, tried cleaning the key and ignition, no luck. Radio Shack opens in 40 minutes and i was hoping to get a head start.

[willwren]

There are two white (small) insulated wires inside an orange sleeve. And there is only one like that. If you had the right resistor in your hand, this would be a 10-minute repair.

[patriottuba]

Thanks I am going to walk over there and try to find it for sure, then to call a cab, it is 3 miles to the radio shack :(

[patriottuba]

Found the wire, it was the one i thought it was. I read an article online and it says i will have to wire more than one resistor pack together to get the right resistance, I really dont know how to do that, do you think that radio shack might know what to do. So sorry for all the questions, you have really been a great help.

[patriottuba]

Looks like im buying an ohmmeter. The lady at my closest radio shack doesnt know ho to run the test. Can I have a quick rundown on how to work it and a step by step on the procedure. Thank you so much.

[willwren]

They will measure your key and give you the resistors that will add up to the right value. They will be connected end to end, rather than side-by-side (series, not parallel).

[patriottuba]

The woman doesnt know how to do the procedure, she is new, if i buy an ohmmeter, then can i just buy the resistors that add up to my keys value. Ive never used an ohmmeter before

[willwren]

They should have an ohmmeter you can USE to measure your key, metal to metal on each side of the small metal tab in the chip in the key.

You buy the resistors that simply add up to make that value as close as possible. 1/8 or 1/4 watt resistors, it doesn't matter. The value does. They are all marked in the drawers.

[willwren]

Working with him on the phone. He's a rookie with a meter, but the real problem is that the idiots there don't know how to help him, one meter sucks, the other doesn't work. He's buying a 20buck meter, and he'll take it home with him.

He'll be re-measuring the key shortly and calling me back. We'll try to get them home on the cheap with out the dealer.

[gmman]

he could buy a variable resistor (potentiometer) that has max value of 12 to 15 K. then adjust it to the value of his key using whatever ohmmeter he has available. also could buy some leads with alligator clips on both ends to facilitate connection to vehicle. maybe should buy some electrical tape to hold connections together and to insulate against shorts.

[LeSabreUltra]

This is why I like this forum.

Sorry I couldn't be of more use earlier, but Bill knows what he's doing.
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[willwren]

variables or pots do NOT do well on this. The margin of error is very small.

He bought a meter, a 1k, a 100, and a 33, he'll only be 3ohms high. A little tool and some tape, all told under 40 bucks probably. I gave him some advice (they didn't have splices small enough, drawers are empty there) so he's carefully 'hooking' the ends, twisting together, and taping to get home. He can solder later.

Should hear from him soon. He had his laptop at the shack with him, I was looking up catalog numbers for his meter and resistors. It worked out pretty well.



If he pulls this off (electronics noob), this will be one of the great 'saves' to get someone home. I'll be as relieved and excited as them. I just realized this morning that forum posting was NOT going to be enough to get through this one.

[patriottuba]

Alright Guys, Strung together the resisters, it is coming up on our ohmmeter at 1.11 and holding should be ok, im going to the car now should be done in a while. Thanks Bill and everybody else who has chimed in on this problem. Hopefully the next time i post will be with a running car.

[patriottuba]

IT LIVES

[wake]

thats great news!

[LeSabreUltra]

Awesome, have a safe trip home!
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[patriottuba]

Now that I have calmed down I want to thank everybody who offered advice and tips to revive the Sleeping Beauty. I especially want to thank Bill for walking the electronic noob (lol) through all the steps that have led me to this point. Without his help I would have been stuck paying a ridiculous fee at the dealer to get my lock cylinder replaced. Bill you can't comprehend how much Casey and I are indebted to you and we want to let you know that we appreciate it with all our hearts. Well now on the open road, I will cleanly wrap this topic up when I roll into Huntington, WV. Again Thanks Everybody

[myfirstbonnie]

Anothee save on the road for Pontiac Bonneville Club. Good job Bill for saving another member.

[yonkerse]

Just found this thread, and can't believe how much this board supports it's members.

Congrats to Willren for helping on this issue and getting him going again. Sure hope this doesnt happen to me, but can ensure I will come here if it does.

Have a safe trip home!

[willwren]

It's one thing to break down at home, another thing altogether on the road, not to mention on your honeymoon.