Need some help with a 1990 Cadillac

[Lonesome7.3]

I am trying to help an elderly woman that lives down the road. She got sick when she was out somewhere and had to be hospitalized for a few months. Her 1990 front wheel drive Cadillac was towed to her house. From what I am understanding, when she returned there was something wrong with it and it could not be driven (this is all third hand information). Anyway, someone lost the key. I was asked to take it to my shop and fix it. I got a new key from the dealership but it does not work. The steering wheel and shifter are locked in place. I had to drag it onto my trailer. Now, before I assume the key is wrong or the ignition has been changed, is there a way I can get the steering and shifter to unlock without taking a bunch of stuff apart? The steering wheel is locked hard right but the tires are straight. I think it might be bound up from being towed. Any thoughts?

 

[Texas Jim]

Louis.. the first thing I would do is PULL DOWN on the right side of the steering wheel to get it out of the BIND that it's in and try to turn the ignition on,
It may have a "RESISTOR" key, but if you used the VIN at the dealership, the key should be correct.

 

[Lonesome7.3]

I tried that. I giggled and wiggled like a fat stripper and could not find that sweet spot to unlock it.

 

[Texas Jim]

I tried that. I giggled and wiggled like a fat stripper and could not find that sweet spot to unlock it.

If the battery is down, it WILL NOT unlock..
Also, if the key doesn't have the right resistor pellet in it, it will not unlock.

 

[Lonesome7.3]

I was wondering about the battery. It has set for a little while and it's more than likely dead. That makes me feel a little bit better I will throw a charge on it and see what happens. This lady is in the hospital again, so when she gets out this time I want her car ready for her.

 

[Darkanion]

A shot in the dark, but maybe try getting the front tires/wheels off the ground. Maybe doing that will relieve some pressure and let you wiggling like a fat stripper get the wheel unlocked easier?

I'm going to GUESS when the car was moved when she was in the hospital, the front wheels were drug and the wheel may have gotten "locked" a notch or two farther over than normal. That's just speculation, though.

 

[Darkanion]

I tried that. I giggled and wiggled like a fat stripper and could not find that sweet spot to unlock it.

If the battery is down, it WILL NOT unlock..
Also, if the key doesn't have the right resistor pellet in it, it will not unlock.

On a 1990??

 

[Lonesome7.3]

I tried that while it was still in her yard. I jacked up both sides and tried to unbind everything. I had no luck.

 

[Texas Jim]

I tried that. I giggled and wiggled like a fat stripper and could not find that sweet spot to unlock it.

If the battery is down, it WILL NOT unlock..
Also, if the key doesn't have the right resistor pellet in it, it will not unlock.

On a 1990??

Yep, starting 1988 (I think) they started using what they called a VATS key.
VATS is Vehicle Anti Theft System.
When you remove the key, the steering wheel locks, and the starter is disabled,
When you insert the key, the car computer looks for the signal from the VATS key.
If it doesn't get the correct signal, it will not unlock the ignition and will keep the starter disabled.

 

[drperry]

I tried that. I giggled and wiggled like a fat stripper and could not find that sweet spot to unlock it.

If the battery is down, it WILL NOT unlock..
Also, if the key doesn't have the right resistor pellet in it, it will not unlock.

On a 1990??

Yep, starting 1988 (I think) they started using what they called a VATS key.
VATS is Vehicle Anti Theft System.
When you remove the key, the steering wheel locks, and the starter is disabled,
When you insert the key, the car computer looks for the signal from the VATS key.
If it doesn't get the correct signal, it will not unlock the ignition and will keep the starter disabled.

The VATS system doesn't lock the wheel, unless that's a Caddy specific thing. Just starter immobilization.