04 Pontiac GTO Key - Tip

 prepare to have a nice day. 

this key does not have a transponder inside - it is unlike any security i have seen.

the blade of the key is laser cut and the huge plastic handle features built in keyless, along with a metal nipple.

the metal nipple on the key makes contact with a metal ring around the key cylinder when the key is inserted.

the metal ring on the key cylinder is connected to a data wire which checks the key twice (1st when turned to acc. then again when turned to  ign.) 

i first thought that there was simply a resisitor in the key - wrong...  although the key reads 199k ohms between the blade and the nipple, life is not quite so easy on this vehicle. 

the data wire on the key cylinder rests between 10k and 11k ohms to ground, depending on whether or not the car is locked, unlocked, started, etc...  once the key is turned to the accessory position, the data wire quickly pulses +12volts, then it returns to approx. 10k ohms - when turned to ignition it pulses +12 volts again then immediately returns to approx. 10k ohms.  if you insert an invalid key or try to remote start without the key, the data wire repeatedly pulses +12volt - apparently searching for the coded key.  i attempted to simulate a key by throwing a resistor between the data wire and ground - no luck.

upon taking the key apart, (not recommended by the way - they aren' t designed to be opened up) the nipple makes a connection onto a complex circuit board and eventually leads to a ring which makes contact with the blade of the key.

how it works...  NO F@#%ing IDEA!

SOLUTION:  hard wire a key into the car using a relay to isolate it.

cut the data wire in half at the key cylinder              - keyside to ( 87A)             - bcm side to (30)

tap into the black factory ground wire on the housing of the key cylinder and attach it to the blade of the key

attach a wire to the nipple on the key and connect the wire to (87) on the relay

(86) to +12volts and (85) to status output or ground when remote start is activated

make sure to solder your data wire connections

i know this seems insane, but it was the only way i could make this damn thing work

By the way -  the car will remote start without a key (most of the time) if you press unlock on the factory remote first.  only problem is this doesn't work consistently and the factory remote only has about 8 feet of range.

if you have any tasty tips on this australian nightmare, please post 'em!

please give a heads up if you know a cooler way to do this car!