OBD-I Codes List

GM 46 Pass Key Theft Deterrent System Error

Make
GM (1982-1995)
Category
Powertrain - Computer and Auxiliary Controls
Severity
Check Engine Light

How to read it

Code 46 reads as 4 flashes, pause, 6 flashes on the check-engine light. Jump terminals A and B on the ALDL connector with the key off, then turn the key on with the engine off and count the check-engine flashes.

New to flash codes? The How to Read GM OBD-I Codes with a Paperclip walks through the test and what the numbers mean. The general OBD-I guide covers the rest.

What does GM code 46 mean?

Pass Key Theft Deterrent System Error

Common causes of 46

  • Worn ignition key resistor pellet
  • Damaged key cylinder contacts
  • Open wiring in the steering column
  • Failed VATS decoder module

How to fix 46

  1. Try a spare key to rule out a worn resistor pellet
  2. Measure key pellet resistance and compare to specification
  3. Inspect column wiring for breaks from tilt wheel movement
  4. Test the VATS decoder inputs per the service manual
  5. Clear codes only after the correct key resistance is read reliably

Source

Qualified source review

Sources and review

Review: qualified. Read the source limits below.

  • GM and Chevrolet OBD1 Trouble Codes (ALDL Fault Code List)

    live reference page (troublecodes.net)

    Supports: code identity and GM meaning

    Fetched directly. Single publisher, so the record is qualified, not verified. Causes and check order are curator-written from the circuit the code names.

    https://www.troublecodes.net/gm/

Last updated 2026-09-19.

Report a correction for 46. Include your vehicle, the issue and a source if you have one.

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