Okay, so first I'll state that i am still trying to learn about the ECM wiring along with the VATS system, but this 89 IROC TPI was sitting for quite a while due to a potential rod knock, I havent been able to get it started to verify this, but yea thats besides the point.
My grandfather, the original owner, lost the key with the resistor on it, so after tearing the whole thing apart to find that it had the vats system, we decided to take it to the dealership to read the ecm and get a new key, problem is, they cant get a reading from the ecm and they don't know why, therefore they can't make a new key. Apparently they might bypass the system, but I'm thinking that wouldnt work either because i seem suspicious of other problems. Any thoughts?....I just would rather try figure it out then have them work for 20 hours and get charged for wasted time. What could possibly prevent the reading? Thanks for the help.

 

Start reading here - you may solve your own problem.

https://www.thirdgen.org/vats_passkey_system

Corky