So, like most people I know, my VATS is screwed up.

I found the resistance of my key, soldered in the right resistors, and it worked fine.

For awhile.

Now it likes to not work. Most times it'll start on the second attempt (after 4 minutes) Occasionally though, it won't start for 40-45 minutes, and I don't know why.

The resistance is correct, the solders are good, it just...doesn't work sometimes. It'll go through cycles of working for 2 months at a time with no skips, then for a week or so it'll just be nothing but headaches.

Any ideas as to why this is? I'd really rather not go through the hassle of tearing out my entire steering column but...I need my car to start haha.

 

why would you need to tear out your column? i never did when i bypassed my VATS, i just found the wires cut em and put the resistor in line, it could be a possibility that while you were soldering the resistors got too much heat which in turn bumps it up, your setup may be just crossing the threshold for resistance, why im not sure but i had a similar issue with my setup, got em too hot and it would do that crazy ill start for you now but tomorrow when youre late for work im gonna leave you stranded deal lol try soldering up a new set and give that a shot

 

To fix it correctly you have to go all the way up to the ignition...bypassing =/= fixing.

 

well when i bypassed my vats its because i got a new steering column without a vats setup, and if you wanna get technical deleting VATS is a permanent fix to a low tech security problem. WOrst idea GM ever had IMO, now atleast lol its just a PITA because 90% of third gen owners end up getting rid of it or spending a great deal of time fighting it

 

No, you go somewhere inline of the two resistor wires. Either at the bottom of the column or near the VATS module

It can be a permanent solution, but its not hard to reverse. Get the correct key and reconnect the wires