I HAVE AN 87 IROC AND AM JUST WONDERING WHEN GM STATRED PUTTING VATS ON THE CAMAROS?

 

Don't know(doubt it) if every third gen had it but I ve never seen one without it.when I had ignition key cut at a dealership for my 'vert he looked at me funny when he asked what year my car was and I told him 89.he told me according to his computer they weren't offered till late 90 -91 on corvettes and 4th gen for fbodies.dunno if it was a computer error or what. Btw the key they cut works fine just has that new key snugness about it. Hope this was a little helpful

 

1989 was the first year for VATS in F-Bodies.

 

THANKS, I DIDN'T THINK MINE HAD IT

 

Not doubting u but u got a link to verify that? My buddy had an 86 firebird in high school that had vats.if I recall right everything was original in the car except for the motor(carbed 350)

 

1988 GTA was first F body to have VATS.

Others got it in 1989.

 

ive had 2 1987 birds, and a 88 and 89 gta, all had vats.

 

Excerpt below is from the gtasourcepage.com, which has a very good reputation for getting the facts right:

In 1988, the GTAs were also the first F-body model to get the new VATS II "Pass-Key" anti-theft system as standard equipment in order to help reduce rising vehicle thefts. GM had great luck installing it in the Chevrolet Corvette for 1987 and Corvette thefts were reduced by 40%. The system used a micro-chip resistor embedded in the ignition key shaft that would electronically "shake hands" with the anti-theft module up under the dash. The module would give its "permission" for the car to start if and ONLY if the correct resistance value was recognized. Either an incorrect or, on occasion, a dirty or scarred original key would then disable the car's ignition and fuel systems, necessitating a little trip to your local Pontiac establishment........

 

Regardless of what friends say they had or what you think they had, VATS became available in 1989. The GTA got it in '88, but the rest of the f-bodies didn't get it until '89. No need to provide proof, it's documented in GM documents and original low mile cars and the memory of those around at the time.

 

Yes and as I pointed out in my post earlier a major gm dealerships computer said none of our cars should have had it. Not to be an *** I m just curious about this now.so links to scanned gm documents or something official please?

 

God I love this place!

Hey grasshopper, got any more questions that'll shake the
tree's?

 

i do seem to have that effect both online and in person
but if you don`t ask questions you can`t always find the awnsers

i only asked because i have a loss of injector pulse after my 305 tpi heats up and just wanted to rule it out as a possibillity
i have changed plugs, wires, cap, rotor, coolant sensor, a couple of relays and bad wires to sensors,spark control modual....then it still happens
mechanic says it has no injector pulse now. pressure is good but it dies after it warms up but runs fine until then
so i`m searching everything i can to help out my mechanic

 

Have you tried another ECM?

 

sorry i forgot to mention that, thats the first thing i did was buy a new ecm and swapped it out....didn`t help

 

Well, here are pages from the 89 brochure courtesy of camarosource.ca. The 2nd paragraph mentions it and the second page shows the key.

 

According to my Camaro White Book, Pass-Key was introduced in 1989.

"An electronic Pass Key anti-theft system was introduced in 1989. This consisted of special ignition key with a color coded pallet to prevent starting with anything but the proper key. A similar system was standard with Corvettes starting in 1986 with remarkable results."

 

I am the original owner of my 89, and it has VATS.
I don't understand why people bypass VATS, instead of repairing it?

 

Same reason people don't repair emissions equipment...it's not necessary to drive, and it's cheaper to take off than it is to fix.

Now, guess which cars usually command higher prices....