What is a quick way to identify the anti-theft system in my vehicle, if any? I have an 88 Firebird V6, and im not sure if it has a Passkey system or VATS.

Did some of these vehicles have no anti-theft at all? And my dash is completely pulled apart and aside from the PCM I didnt find any other boxes (Passkey is a big silver box right?)

Thanks for the help, all the wiring diagrams i've looked at are confusing cause they include both the VATS and Passkey to accomidate all models I guess.

 

An '88 V6 should have nothing at all. Some '88 GTA's got VATS but it wasnt until 1989 that all thirdgens got VATS.

 

is that why my 91 rs has a sticker on the window that says "Anti theft device" im like WTF? where? what kind of device is it the VATS? what does it do?

 

Your key has a resistor in it of a certain ohm value. The vats module reads the ohm value of the key. If the ohm value is not achieved, the vats module will not enable the fuel injectors to fire aka the car aint goin anywhere. So even if you hot wired the car, the injectors would still not work because the PCM isnt recieving the proper signal from the VATS.

 

I got CHAPMAN lol

 

so your saying that little plastic and metal piece on my key is what gives the signal for it to start? well that makes me feel a bit better then cuz i dont have power locks or anything and i always thought my poor RS was a possible easy boost.