U4GN_Blackmagic

Well I went to work and was gonna turn my car off after I parked it when the key lock tumbler didn't work lol .. It was stuck and wouldn't move at all so I had to break it to turn it off and hotwire it to get it home .. It sucked but its funny a 11 dollar part can give you such a prob. Just thought I would share my funny morning with you guys ..

Avernus

wow that kinda sucks. glad it didn't make you mad though. Like if too short to be mad about everything!

89importeater

same thing happened to me a while back but i have vats so that cheap part for you truned out to be about 100 or so for me. i hate vats.

U4GN_Blackmagic

yea I bet I am just getting back from the parts store it was 11.00 bucks .. so now I got to find a diagram or something to show me how to take this out and put it back in.. Haven't had to do this before ..

racing geek

iTrader: (5)

I don't have a problem turning the key forward to start it or backwards to take the key out, but the key never wants to go all the way back so the auxiliary(I think thats what its called) power turns on. Is this a sign that tumbler is going bad? Also, what is vats?

Sorry for my ignorance,
Mike

86NiteRider

iTrader: (10)

VATS is the security system built into the 90 and later Camaros. It features a chip in the key that makes a regular five dollar key into a $50 or more experience if you lose your keys.

Xoferif

Mine wouldn't turn back into the accessory position either until I tore my steering column apart and shot some white lithium grease on everything....works like a charm now...

The VATS system....basically, there's a resistor on the key...when you insert the key, there are contacts in the ignition which check the resistance...if the resistance isn't correct, then the security system won't turn off and you won't be able to start the car.

While I had my steering column apart, I also bypassed the VATS system just so that it couldn't give me any problems in the future....it's really easy to do....I simply just cut the two wires right next to the tumbler....pulled 'em down and out of the steering column...checked the resistance of the resistor in my key (9.4k ohms)...went and got a 10k resistor (which actually read 9.7k)...soldered it inbetween the wires...put electrical tape around it...wound up the wire all nice and neat and tied it up and out of the way....it's great not having to worry about it.