my car has vats, but its disabled in the prom. the keys to the car are missing in action and ive just got the car in running condition again. how hard is it going about changing out the ignition? its an 89 iroc z.

 

You may be able to get keys made at your dealer with your VIN or a locksmith can come out and make you keys. -John

 

a dealer could really make keys for a car that old with the vin?

 

He can if the lock cylinder is the original one that came with the car from the factory. If it is not, then you will have to replace the lock cylinder and key.

 

The dealer sure can get the key code from the VIN. THis happened to me 2 years ago. I got the key code fromthe dealer and had a locksmith cut me a new key. Since you have VATS disalbed in the ECM, you wont have to worry about what value the chip is on the key. Call up the dealer and see what they say. They will need to see your registation to show proof of ownership before they fork over the key code. SOme dealers even make keys in house so you may luck out and only have to make one pitstop. ...........................

......OH and GET 2 KEYS MADE THIS TIME.

 

As I mentioned in my previous post BOTTLEDZr28, what you have said is only TRUE IF and I emphasize the word IF, he has the original key and lock cylinder still in the car. If he does not have this, then the dealer will not be able to help him regardless of what documentation he has. I have changed lock cylinders on my car three times and I don't know how many times it was changed before I got it. Do you think the dealer will know what code I have now by looking at the VIN? I am not trying to start a flame war or argument here, just trying to point out a couple of things.

 

I totally agree with you there and Im sure he does too but your not gonna know if you have the orginal locks and stuff until you get your new keys made and they dont work so basically if you never changed the locks out and have now lost your keys then the ONLY way to get new keys is to go to the dealer with your VIN and start there. if they dont fit then guess what, someone changed them out somewhere in the cars past. So the next logically thing to do would be to buy all new locks and a new ignition setup. There is no other way around these steps.

 

But then you have just spent around 25 bucks per key for nothing and the last time I checked you can get a new ignition cylinder that comes with two keys for less than the 25 bucks that 1 vats key will cost you.Since he has vats disabled in his prom he doesn't even need a ignition that has the vats feature. If you could get a key cut with the vats chip for the same money a regular key costs then I would agree with you.What he can do is go to a dealer have them cut a non vats key according to his vin# and if it works then problem solved if it don't then your only out a buck to try it and then go to a parts store,not a dealer (expensive)and buy a non vats ignition cylinder. Just my 2 cents.

 

we already knows his vats is disabled so why would he pay $25 for a vats key to begin with. You tell the dealer you want a key made without a chip in it. its that simple. why are you people loking so far into this. IF you dont want to do business with a dealer then get the key code from them and go to a local locksmithand have a key cut there. You people make it sound like its a big deal to get new keys made. The guys gonna spend a few bucks max on new keys if his code matches the locks.

 

I agree with BOTTLEDZr28, just go by the dealership and have them cut you a new key based on your VIN. If you have to replace the cylinder, remember that the vats cylinder is bigger than a non-vats. Therefor a non-vats cylinder will fit loose in the collar. Here are a few sites which I have book-marked which might be of use:

http://home.t-online.de/home/O_Scholz/vats.html

http://sethirdgen.org/vats.htm

http://www.bulldogsecurity.com/troubleshooting.htm

This will give you an idea on how to take the Steering column a part:

http://www.carcraft.com/howto/56459/

Its quite simple once you take a good look at it. I converted the one in my Camino to a tilt column with the bright light switch just by using a couple of spares. While the Camino has being stripped down to be rebuilt, I'm changing the column again this time adding a collar inwhich I can install, yes install a Vats. I'm also changing the shift collar to a non-shift collar and removed the shift tube since I'll be adding a floor shifter. I'm not trying to bragg, I'm just trying to show how easy it is. I do recommend going by Advance and picking up the correct tools. The locking plate can be a real #%@%#^ without it. Also the Locking plate tool comes in two flaviours: with or without air bags. One last thing, if your steering wheel is already loose (alot of tilts are) there are 4 torqe head bolts that bolt the bottom half of the tilt to the column. These bolts like to work their way loose. Just take them out and use some locktight on them. If this is the case, you'll need to take the tilt apart to do that. Again just go by Advance and get the tool. Before you pull the pins, remove the tilt spring. It has a round chrome retainer with a square opening. Push it in then turn to left (if memory serves me correctly) to remove. The upper part of the steering shaft will also have to come out. Just bend it down and it will pop out.

Any questions or comments just let me know and I'll try to answer them.

Bill

 

Sorry your rite I was reading to much into this. It was late last night when I started reading this thred. I have switched a vats ignition for a non vats one and never noticed the cylinder fitting any looser tho.