I have lost my only key to my 1986 Corvette. I have pulled the cylinder lock out of it and retrieved the key code that is stamped on it. Called up the dealer and was told that stamped code is only for the cut of the key itself and will not tell me the VATS resistance code. Does anybody know if this is true and if there is any way to find out the resister number without the key. I know there are 15 different types, thanks for any advice.

 

You could have gotten the key code off the vin # . And it is true about the vats. You can get all the resistors to by pass it off ebay for cheap.

 

A locksmith/dealer may have this device, or similar:
http://www.handsontools.com/Kent-Moo...-A_p_6625.html

If so, these instructions should help:

http://members.shaw.ca/dankai/Vats%20Electrical.pdf

SCROLL TO BOTTOM..DUPLICATION OF KEYS

 

That is a waste of $856.

20 cents worth of resistors and and egg timer (cell phone) will do the exact same job.

However, for the low low price of $500, plus shipping, I can build one for you that will do the same thing.

OR

You could build your own for less than 20 bucks.

VATS CODE . RESISTOR VALUE IN OHMS
1. 402
2. 523
3. 681
4. 887
5. 1130
6. 1470
7. 1870
8. 2370
9. 3010
10. 3740
11. 4750
12. 6040
13. 7500
14. 9530
15. 11800

 

Yea I would really like to keep the VATS system intact. kg4fku how do you go about building this device? This would be great if I could find out the correct number.

 

May have misread my post.... was suggesting that a locksmith/dealer may have the unit.... not suggesting the OP buy one.

 

If not in a big hurry you can buy all the resistors for under $3.00 from ebay use them to test when you find the right one have your key cut.

 

but will cost to get them out there. or get your car there.

 

Oops. I guess I did.

 

Reach under the front of the seat and flip the u shaped wire and pull the seat bottom out and see if your keys are there.

 

Depends on how tech savvy you are. Do you know how simple circuits work? Can you use a soldering iron?

There are multiple ways to do this. One is a single rotary **** (like the factory one) known as a wafer switch. Another is by 15 dip switches with resistors of the appropriate resistance attached. Yet another would be thru a single tunable resistor pot. You could do a forth way by cumulative resistance of multiple switches which would work kind of like an abacus. However, that requires math and at this late in the day I am not willing to flex that muscle.

Personally I would use the 15 separate dip switches with resistors attached to each. Why? Because I already have the switches laying around.

First off you need to get your supplies.
1. All required resistors
2. Switch of your desire
3. small gauge wire (18-24)
4. project box of the correct size
5. solder
6. soldering iron
7. band-aids
8. factory GM connector
9. timer of your choosing (iPhone)
10. circuit board

All of these supplies used to be readily available at any Radio Shack. If you can still find one. If you are lucky enough to have a FRY's then I am jealous. I miss FRY's.....

Once you have all of your supplies you need to decide how you will place your items in the box and how the circuits will interact. Do you want to use a circuit board or just solder the resistors to the switches.

After you have that figured out then the rest is just putting it together.

 

Or just put jumper wires on the right wires with alligator clips and try each resistor till you find the right one. You need to wait each time for the car to reset.

 

or you could just wire in each individual resistor.....

 

You don't even need all those resistors. Just go to Radio Shack and get a variable potentiometer...the one I bought when I did this "trick" was less than $2.00, IIRC. Solder two wires to it, use a meter to set it to the first value in the chart "kg4fku" posted, then plug it into your harness at the bottom of the column. Try the different resistance values (waiting the required time in between attempts), until it starts....then you know.

EDIT: In fact, HERE is the unit I bought and used...it's up to $3.49 now

 

Hey I did mention the potentiometer in my "build a better mouse thing whatever"

The only thing about a pot is you have to set it before you use it. If you try to set it while the car is looking for a key then it will lock out again for four minutes.

 

wow I like that

 

When you say plug it into your harness at the bottom of the column, what do you mean by this?

 

There is a plug that runs from the ignition switch, under the column and to the computer. There is a connector under the column (above the gas and brake pedals) that enable the removal of the key switch and column.

Here is a thread that explains the whole thing.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...n-late-c4.htmlhttps://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...n-late-c4.html

 

Oops! Sorry I missed that!

Yes, you'd set it, try it, then w/the key off, set to the next value w/your meter, and then KO...try it again. When I did it w/my car, I hit it on the second try.

 

Awesome thanks for all the help everybody. I am going to give it a shot and hopefully get it done! I will re post on here for an update. Thanks again!