I measured this resistance in my key and it came out to 680 ohms. If I go to Radio Shack and get a resistor of the same value, I can cut the leads in the orange jacket that come from the key lock cylinder down the steering column, take that cut piece if wire with the connector still on it, solder the resistor between the cut two wires, plug the modified connector back into the passkey connector and the module thinks I've got the right key in. Would that work if my key cylinder has a broke wire or if the contacts in the cylinder don't make good contact with my key?

Ken

 

it should

 

It should just remeber you will need a key with out the chip because it will make the ohms higher.

 

Key without a chip? I thought once those two wires were cut that come from the lock cylinder that are in the orange jacket, the factory key would turn the cylinder and the resistor that was soldered between the 2 cut wires would fool the passkey module. The other end of the orange jacket should just be a cut connection coming from the lock cylinder...correct? Since I have a soldered resistor on the other half of the jacket that is plugged into the connector at the bottom.

Ken

 

I cut that wire along time ago, my car has been running just fine without it for about 3 years now. I cut the wire, taped the end of it and now it sits under my dash.

 

Did you do the same thing as I'm going to do now? I figure if I need just a plain key to turn the cylinder, I can take a dremel and grind down the resistor chip on the key to make it a regular key. I've got a spare key that has never been used just in case I need it. The one I'll grind is the same one I've used for about 11 years. How is the ignition switch activated? A rod or something coming from the lock cylinder? I guess the orange jacket wires just go to the passkey module and that's it. The reason for the soldered in resistor,huh?


Ken

 

I still use to key with a chip in it, I had one made at ace hardware that didn't have a chip in it and it wouldn't work.

 

There are 15 different codes to any one chip. If you have
triple a you could call them to help find the code #.

There are two copper connections attached to the
white wires in the orange jacket that your refering ,
with time these wires become brittle and break, you
need to spend hardly anything at to rectify this problem.
Ithe ignition andpull it apart, solder the wires back to
the connections and reverse steps to put itall back
together. Be sure th dissconnect the neg batt cable if
you have airbag for it might go off if not

good luck and take your time,
believe me,I hade to replace the
whole steering colum because I was
overconfident.