Damn thieves!!

 

Luckily VATS (pass key) did its job and the car didn't move.

 

damn dude, hope you catch them or insurance covers that, that looks nasty, hope you get it all fixed soon tho

 

VATS?.... explain this.. security item.. plz.?

 

Vats is a system in vehicles, which the ignition key has a chip in it, that when inserted into the ingition on the column, reads the chip, and if the chip is correct it starts, if not then it wont start, and will time out for 4 or 5 minutes i think

 

VATS= Vehicle Anti Theft System (i think)

The key has a microchip in it. The computer won't let the car start unless the microchip is present.

 

the correct microchip if i may add, their are 15 diff types

 

I thought in Camaro's it was just a resistor palette though, and it passes current through to see if it's the right ohm resistor...

 

Where did they try to steal it from? Work or home? Points in between?

 

Look around, I posted about this once tooo

same deal, no exterior damage, just that damage...

replaced the spring, cog for like $40, the plastic bits were about $130

my deductible is $300

my tilt bit is still a bit broke but it all works fine.

 

you are correct! There is no microchip, it is nothing more than a resistor.

 

Thats stinks hope they get caught.

 

the reason i was saying microchip and not resistor, is that i dont think people want this forum being a ametuer theifs guide to curcimventing vats

 

I had always been told that the pelet in the VATS key is a chip of some kind.

I found that hard to believe.

Well, one day, my key cylinder died, the wire going from the connection to the VATS relay and the key burnt out inside the steering column and the car left me on the side of the road.

Eventually I took an ohm reading on the key and put a series of resistors in line with the wire to act like the key was inserted.

The car started just fine and ran perfect, only thing was the security light was on.

Replacing the key cylinder and getting two new keys cut later and all is fine.

Makes me think that perhaps it is a resistor pelet and I was just close enough to trip the relay, but not close enough to satisfy the code in the ECM.

I lernt that the VATS is actually programed into the EGM of the car and it is not entirely dependant on the relay I mentioned.

Perhaps this is a two part system??

 

it is a 2 part sys, it works by reading the reistance of the pellet in the key, if correct, Vroom, if not, well i think alot of people know already they are 2 ways it disables the starting system, by not energizing the starter relay, and if equipped, wont send a signal to the ecm to pulse the fuel injectors

 

Umm, unfortunatley my drivers door is scratched, dented, has a hole in it and the lock mechanism is all f***ed up.

 

what were they going after on that side of the sterring column? isnt the key on the other side?

 

The pass keys on newer gm cars and trucks have a micochip in them though. BTW the vats was only on 89 and up thirdgens, for those who did not know.

Kevin

 

Yeah, um, no. Most 88's have VATS, and a few 87 Ive seen have had it as well.

 

 

Without the vats, all you need to do to start the car is break that bit, then you can move the actuator rod to the ignition switch...

in effect, bypassing the key

 

ahh thanks now i know how to steal a car

 

That's why I always make sure that my "lock plate" engages the steering wheel and I always have my wheels turned left or right so that trying to tow it would be a major PITA. You will have to break the lock plate. It was, however, stolen twice before I purchased it.

Alarm on, light flashing, and a wheel "club" just to add extra visual deterrent. Takes a whole 3 seconds to put it on and take it off.

Lock nuts under the caps of the tires also.

 

When my car got broken into, that's EXACTLY how my door skin looked as well... I had to replace the entire door skin thanks to them!! Thankfully nothing else was done to the inside of my car like that, they just took my Oakley sunglasses...

I'm glad to see that they didn't get away with the car!!

 

what a way to break into the car. guess the theif didn't know all you need to do is get ahold of the window and pull, you can get a few inches without causing any real damage, handy when you lock the keys in

 

Should have had The Club.

 

Instead of pulling back on the window just stick a long thin pole in the corner of the window and reach it across to the lock tab on the other side of the car. I've done it a few times with no damage.

 

I perfer the old school using a coat hanger or deal...i jsut do it a lil different than most people and guess what!? it even works on a 2003 caddillac...so yea hehe very effective :0)

 

That was my thoughts exactly when someone did it to my car, would have saved me a LOT of money and time!!!

 

looks like some junkie didn't get his/her daily drug shot

 

I've never seen an 88 with VATS. My 88 formula and my friends 88 GTA don't have it.
I also haven't run across an 86-88 thirdgen bin file with VATS in it.

VATS disables the car for 10-15 minutes. I tried to start my friends 92 Firebird with his resistorless master key and it didn't start, had to wait until the VATS reset to start it.

 

gee that looks fimilar... my car:




i just got the new steering column collar from a junkyard car, and had a friend redo it... cost like $10 in parts

because, even if you turn the key on that side, theres a big steel pin holding the wheel still

by busting out that side, they remove the pin and then turn the same thing that the lock cyl would turn.

basicly that trick will work for any 70s+ GM car... but most theifs dont know about VATS... and since all the years look so similar to a non 3rdgen person, they go to steal it, bust it open, it doesnt start.

 

I feel your pain man. That sucks. I have had about $3,000 worth of stuff stolen out of or off of my car. Just this last weekend I had all four tires and rims stolen off of my car. I know exactly what you are going through. I also had my stereo stolen out of my car about a year ago and had the passenger side key hole broken to get into the car. I had the original rims on the car so it is not like the rims were worth a lot but hey someone needed them more than I did so I guess they got them. Good luck getting it fixed.


tigersZ

 

Exactly.

 

Sorry bro,
I hate seeing that picture! I hope ya get her fixed up again. Someone has tried to steal mine 3 times in the last 6 years and did the same **** to my steering column. The first time they tried I didn't even have a damn carb on my car!
Good luck and hopefully they'll fall off a cliff for messing with your ride.
Peace

 

Your correct. It's definatley not a computer chip. It is a resistor. Do the new GM vehicles have compter chips? My 2003 Chevy truck key looks a little to small for a chip. All the computer chip keys I have seen are F'n huge.

 

Hello guys,
I just joined your forum in search of some information to help my daughter.
She had her keys stolen last week and I would like to change the ignition lock and keys and the door locks on her 1995 Firebird with 3.4L and standard transmission.
The confusing part for me is the talk about the key having been a microchipped key or resistor key. We don't have the keys any more to examine. AutoZone appears to have a replacement cylinder lock and keys for about 40 dollars. Will this work or is there some electronic system on these cars that would present a problem? I don't know if the 1995 models had something called a Vats system. If someone would let me know, I would appreciate this.
Thanks,
Alton

 

heres what you need to do:
first, call a dealer and see if he can make a key from your VIN.. if he can, great.. if not:

put the new lock cyl in... it will have a TINY connector with two TINY wires coming off of it.. be sure to hook that up.

goto the dealer... they can either lookup the correct resistance code, or they may need/want the car to hook it upto the test box ($$$)...

once you know the code, you can buy a GM keyblank.

take the "keys" the lock cyl comes with to the dealer or a locksmith... they can cut the key pattern into the VATS keyblank.

 

^%$$%^$ thieves! sorry about that dude, that does suck. hope they get caught and that the repairs on your car are fast and cheap.

 

I really appreciate the information. I am unfamiliar with the VAT system. What would happen if I did not connect the wiring to the cylinder lockset? Is there a method to do a changeout without the all the hassle? Maybe a jumper across the two little wires you describe? Does the VAT system cause a delay of a few minutes when there is a malfunction? Sorry for all the questions...I have been repairing cars for 35 years but this system is new to me!
Thanks,
Alton

 

if you know the correct resistance resistor, you can jumper the wires with that.

the system is simple..
if the correct resistor is there, it sends a 60hz (i think) signal to the PCM and it enables the starter relay.

if the correct resistor is not there, it does not send a signal. the starter relay is still disabled. and a 4min counter starts. even if the correct key is inserted, it will not work for 4 mins.

if you retry a incorrect key, it will add 4 mins to the existing timer, up to a max of twenty-something mins


there are 15 keys.
its simple, but very effective.

 

Thats to bad, I know what it is like. My car was beat up by some kids that were high at midnight. They smashed the windsheild, drivers side door window, and the bulge hood. Too bad for them, my dad saw them. We called the police and they came out of hiding to see what was going on, and the police rolled up behind them and caught them. they all had to pay the price. One lookout, one for my firebird, and one for the honda behind my firebird. It totally messed up the carpet, seats, and paint. After that, my dad let it sit. He decided to part it out. So I decided to buy it because I get my license in less than 3 weeks, and I knew he didn't REALLY want to part it out.

 

The AAA guy uses a slim jim and he had my door open in under a minute.

My aftermarket alarm system would have gone off and disabled the ignition. I disabled the VATS because more than once the correct key was not recognized by the ECM.

 

1989 was the first year for VATS in f-bodies. The VATS is a resistor that is actually easy to foiled with a handheld voltmeter and some blank keys. The GM steering column is one of the easiest to peel and get the car to start. I am suprised, because thirdgens are not anywhere near stolen much these days because parts are cheap and easy to come and not worth the risk to steal an entire car.

 

Hopefully the scumbags get shot and killed. Rid us of the problem.

 

death to car thieves