Pass-Key III+

[Bogie]

Wondering if anyone knows of any SKYs being stolen through "breaking" the Pass-Key III+ feature?

[Morfious]

I have not heard anything about this. Has there been a working hack to the pass-Key III? Or are you just wondering.

[Bogie]

Just wondering, mainly from the standpoint as to whether I should be considering any additional security augmentations.

[Mickey]

found this online



Topic: Auto Theft Prevention

Expert: Chuck Seymour
Date: 7/19/2006
Subject: Pass Key III

Question
Good Morning,

I recently bought an 07 Tahoe and was wondering how good the “Content Theft –Deterrent” and “Pass-key III+” systems that it has on it work and was wondering if an additional alarm was recommended. I have read that unless you have the right key the truck cannot be started and the only way it can be stolen is if it is towed. How true is this? I have been trying to find good resources and have not had any luck. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Angel


Answer
Hi Angel! Thanks for asking!
This is a great vehicle and this is a great deterrent. You are correct, unless you have the original, factory issued key, it cannot be stolen, unless it is towed.
General Motors calls their anti theft system a VATS system which stands for Vehicle Anti Theft System. A locksmith cannot bypass it, nor can a car thief. It uses a transponder system that electronically reads the key codes that are imbedded in the key. It cannot be overridden and if you need another key, you will have to take the vehicle to the dealer to get one, as you cannot copy the key.
This is a very complicated alarm system that involves the key, ignition switch, transponder, fuel pump, radio, and anti theft modules, so it is almost "theft proof". I have worked auto theft for years and have been consulting for nearly 40 years and I have not found one thief yet that could bypass this system. Yes, the car can be towed away, but they will not be able to get it running. The vehicles so equipped that are stolen are stolen because the owner left the keys in the car, or gave the keys to the crook. The system is that good. You need to remember one thing though, because of the complexity of the system, once in a while you will get an electronic "gremlin" and might have problems with a warning light. If you do have such a problem, just take it back to a GM dealer to have it checked out. You have purchased a great vehicle with a great anti theft system. I wouldn't worry about an audible alarm unless you want one. Just don't leave any property in the vehicle that is visible from outside, and certainly do not leave a key in a metallic lock box anywhere on the car. This is for two reasons. One, keep the keys away from anything with a strong magnet in it, as a magnet will mess up the electronic codes stored in the key. Secondly, if you leave a key in a magnetic box hidden on the vehicle, the crooks will look for it and if they find it...your car is gone!
Enjoy your transportation and have fun. Great Vehicle, Great anti theft system! Chuck Vett62@aol.com
BTW if you would please fill out the rating for me if you feel the advice is good. That is how they rate us on the information we put out to the public, and I really care about the quality of my information and want you to be able to be confident on my information. Thanks again!

[TulsaSky]

Someone lost a set of keys to our Impala, misplaced while on vacation, never did find the key and key fob, darn things. So off to the dealer to buy a key, talk about pricey, agh! So as a thief you would have to order a blank from a dealer for the car have the original to key it too and then the original to code the new blank to the car. What it takes to code the new key is putting the original in the ignition and then the new one it picks up that its a blank and programs it, cool actually. Now the key fob you can buy anywhere and the instructions to program it our in the owners manual at least for the Impala, I am sure the Sky is very similar. I would say its a very good deterrent for thief's, that and the fact you can call OnStar and they will tell you where the car is sitting, maybe on blocks wheels missing but they can find the car. No car deterrent is going to keep jerks from damaging the car but they will not be able to just drive it away, tow maybe but not drive.

TulsaSky

[TOY4TWO]

most theieves can just plug into the OBD port under the dash and use their own ECU to start it right up.

Alarms can get pricey, I opt to spend my money on top of the line insurance, more peace of mind than an alarm.

[Bogie]

Well, I didn't want this to become a "how to" thread. I was more interested in the qualitative standard, not quantitative solutions. Posting solutions is kinda like shooting oneself in the foot, so I would recommend we don't get into specifics. In my experience, where there's a will, there's a way. I was interested in the measure of "will" at our current state in time.

It seems the "will" isn't there much at the moment, so the "way" is not very lucrative for our vehicle at the present time..and perhaps depreciation will trump will in the long term, particularly considering there are a lot more pricey vehicles protected with this system than our SKYs. So the Risk/Reward is in our favor.

As with any other security, anti-theft is best executed in layers. PassKey....Onstar.....TheClub.....secondary alarm/cutoff, etc. All can be overcome. The idea is to give the criminal enough of a challenge that they move on to something else. Right now, PassKey seems like enough of a challenge.

[TulsaSky]

Originally Posted by TOY4TWO

most theieves can just plug into the OBD port under the dash and use their own ECU to start it right up.

Alarms can get pricey, I opt to spend my money on top of the line insurance, more peace of mind than an alarm.

Don't know about starting the car but I know for a fact you cannot program a key using the OBD port under the dash, at least not in my Impala. I agree insurance is a better piece of mind, if there's a will, there's a way, and in a strange way the least amount of damage to the car the better.
I have a friend that would leave her 90 something Saturn 4-door car unlocked in the driveway, no one ever bothered it. Her theory, they would not have to break the window to steal it!

TulsaSky

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by TulsaSky

I have a friend that would leave her 90 something Saturn 4-door car unlocked in the driveway, no one ever bothered it. Her theory, they would not have to break the window to steal it!

The best anti-theft a 90 something Saturn has going for it is it's a Saturn.

[Celt03]

Originally Posted by Bogie

The best anti-theft a 90 something Saturn has going for it is it's a Saturn.

YUP !