Ok read as many of the post as I could on the VAT. Measured the resistance and got 1.12 k Ohms. Went to Radio Shack and got resistors to wire inline. One question before I proceed, do I need to remove the contacts on the key after installing the resistor or can I leave them, I tend to think I need to remove them.

Also does this resistance appear to be in the right range. Thanks for your assistance

 

Just unplug it under the kick panel and splice the resistors in where it used to be plugged in - really thin whitish-yellow wires iirc. As long as the resistance of what you put together is the same resistance as the pellet in your key, more or less.

 

Check this link:

http://www.12vp.com/info_resistors.htm

That resistance seems to fit - the 5th resistor in the list - 1.130 ohms - very close to what you measured - should be a brown, brown, orange, brown resistor according to the list in that link.

If you want to be sure, after install (and before you lose the pellet key), have a regular key (no pellet) cut at the hardware store for $1.49 and test it - just tell the guy you want the standard gm key with no pellet.

For anyone else that ever needs to know - that link supplies the resistance for all 15 options - print the page and save for the future.

Also, I had pellet keys cut at Ace Hardware - $19.95 for a pellet key - but the interesting part was how they determine which of the 15. They have a box with a key cylinder in it, and it has 15 LED's labeled 1-15. They stick your key in, and turn, and it lights one of the 15 LED's. I would assume that these LED's labeled 1-15 correspond with the list in this link. My assumption is based on the fact that, whatever company makes this box would logically put in the resistors and LED's in some kind of order, and lowest resistance value to highest resistance value just makes sense. Thus, anyone should be able to take their VATS key to Ace Hardware, get the number (1-15), and look on the list in this link to see what resistance the pellet is.

At least go to Ace and get your number, and write it down - then get a $1.49 key cut as a spare rather than a $19.95 spare. Later you can always go to ace and get a new key, even if you lose the original pellet key, just by knowing which number pellet you have (at Ace).

 

Thank you gentlemen you confirmed what I was hoping was the correct procedure to follow. Although the ACE thing was new and one hell of alot cheaper then the dealer-They want 75/buck to cut a proper key.

Thanks again for the response.

 

The local Ace hardware here refused to even touch it, but that may be partly cause I'm out in the sticks.

When mine went out in the GTA I bypassed it for a little while but eventually I got a new cylinder with a dumby key and the correct # blank from gmpartsdirect.com for about $50 shipped. Then I took the blank to Ace to have it cut and they said no way cause they didn't want to screw up a $15 blank - took it to the local Chevy dealer and they cut it for free, go figure, lol.

 

So I too am doing this, and I got the same reading on the pellet of my key. Do you think I can get away with a 1-kohm - 1/2 watt resistor. It's Brown, Black, Red, Gold.

 

#5 VATS key; 1.130 - 1.195

https://www.thirdgen.org/vats_passkey_system

 

So that means I need an 11K ohm 1% Tolerance resistor?

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by vetteoz View Post
#5 VATS key; 1.130 - 1.195
No you need a resistor (or combination of resistors) with a total resistance of 1130 ohms (1085-1195 ohms).
You can get a blank key here is you need one.:
they values at this site are x1000.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1989-2002-CA...dd9a40&vxp=mtr