Where is the chip, and how do I get to it?

VATS went out on me about 2 years ago.... and for two long patient years I've had my key's resistor chip lodged in between the two stripped wires under my steering column. (yes.... for TWO long years I've had to deal with bumping the wires with my legs and finding the little chip to lodge back inbetween two wires to start my car)

I've decided to call up the Fuel Injection boys and have em make me a chip. I've always dreaded having my car stolen but I'll just get a loud obnoxious alarm.

How do I replace the computer chip?

 

Also.....


Where's the best place to get a chip from? Fuel Injection just sent me an email quoting $150 for a new chip w/o VATS.

 

A cheaper solution...get an ohm meter and find out what the resistance value of your key's chip is, go to radio shack and by a resistor of the same (or VERY close) value and solider it in where you have the chip wedged in. Cost is about 25 cents for the resistor, beats $150 for a chip.

If you are intent on getting a chip get one of Craig Moates' adaptors and blank chip ($60-$70) and ask if someone on the DIY prom section will burn you a stock chip with VATS disabled. (do it in a PM since asking for a prom burn on there is not allowed)

Your Prom is inside the ECM, up under the passenger side dash. Drop the kick panel and look up there for a silver box with a LOT of wires going to it. Pull the ECM down and out, remove the cover plate and the memcal will be under it (prom chip is part of the memcal), remove it just like removing a stick of RAM from your computer.

 

Doing the resistor thing.... is the car guaranteed to start everytime or will there be a possibility that I might STILL have to sit through a 3 minute VATS hiccup and twiddle my thumbs while my date looks out the passenger window like, "I need to meet that guy in the brand new Tahoe....." ?

 

If you solider it in place it will work just like it did when the chip was in your key and working properly