2008 Cobalt Python 4203 & iDatalink ALCA Trouble

Hello, Sorry to bother you guys but sometimes just getting a second opinion can help. I've done a couple of these before and didn't seem to have this much trouble. I'm having an issue where the car won't start unless the key is in the vicinity of the ignition cylinder. When it is, it seems to start fine with the Python 4203. If not, it will of course not start and not even crank and the passlock light will stay on in the dash. If I put the key near it, it will go out. I've triple checked the connections and as far as I can tell everything is as it should be. I'm trying to use data mode and it just seems like the iDataLink ALCA just isn't doing it's job. I have flashed it with the latest GM2 firmware and reset it a few times and gone through the learning procedure again and again. If anyone has any thoughts or comments I'd very much appreciate it. Usually this is an easy install for me and maybe I'm just losing it in my old age. Thank you for reading...

A few questions : Did you flash the ADS AL-CA with the DBI-AL(DL)-GM2 flavor of firmware? The ADS-AL-(DL)-GM2 firmware won't work. If D2D, did you set the ADS AL-CA Installation Mode to Data ( one blink ) and lock it in prior to vehicle programming? Do the locks work through the Python?Soldering is fun!

Yes I did do the DBI version of the GM2 firmware as this is the one it recommended I believe. I'm going to triple check this this morning though. I did set the install mode to Data and then locked it in by holding it down. Then I would go through the learning process which seems to go fine. I may just have to try wired mode. There are no power options on this car so I couldn't tell you if the locks are working. This should have been done by now. :/

After sleeping on it and having some coffee, I went and looked at the LED on the Al-CA module during remote start it isn't blinking like it says it should so the D2D isn't working/activating it with a GWR type command.

Just bit the bullet and went w2w and it works fine. I should know better. Sorry to take up space here.

D2D is nice but W2W always works...   Soldering is fun!

I may just do this from now on. Thanks for trying to help Kreg. I've always wondered if there is any speed increase in doing a w2w install verses d2d. What I mean by that is the lock/unlock/truck reaction any quicker?

Sometimes but it depends on the type of vehicle.Soldering is fun!