Yeah you're right JayVee. That is a really cheesy kill switch type of anti theft system that dealers install at a huge markup. Since you don't even have the key, remove the box and splice the wire in your car back together to restore it to stock. Or put in a real kill switch, which is simply a switch hidden somewhere only you know.

 

thanks everyone for your input. I've one other question. If i'm the original owner and i've owned it since 1997, why is this suddenly acting up now, all these years later? Should I just go to the dealer and demand they remove it because it's apparently malfunctioning?

 

Actually it's been "acting up" all along since you're not supposed to be able to start the car without putting a special "key" into it. The dealer is unlikely to be much help; I'd just have a third party mechanic remove it.

 

mk, I don't understand what you mean by it "acting up all along". I've never had this issue before until Monday. Yesterday was only the second incident.

 

I think what MK means is that if this device was working as it is supposed to, you would NOT be able to start your car without the proper key inserted.

Since you were able to start your car WITHOUT the proper key, the device is NOT working as it was intended to work. - hence it's been acting up.

I would agree that it would probably be best to just have it removed all together.

 

+1 silversedan.

don't go to a dealership, they'll overprice if they do it for you. like mk said third party mechanic.

 

Like everyone has said it is a anti theft system. You should have a key to put in there to start the car. It looks like a printed circuit board that you push in and leave in while the car is running. Then you remove it and the car should not start. But if u have never had the key for it, it hasnt been working right since you have bought the car. Like MK said just remove it and patch up the wiring they cut to install it.