C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

vats on a 92 reprogam

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Old May 16, 2009 | 11:00 PM
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Default vats on a 92 reprogam

lost key to my 92 vette had a shop in town tell me if i put in a new tumbler with new vats that he could program the ecm to match the key has anyone heard of this can it be reprogramed
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Old May 16, 2009 | 11:50 PM
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Originally Posted by kbak1
lost key to my 92 vette had a shop in town tell me if i put in a new tumbler with new vats that he could program the ecm to match the key has anyone heard of this can it be reprogramed
when you buy a new tumbler/key kit they read your old key and get you a matched tumbler key set. theres no programming necessary
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Old May 17, 2009 | 08:53 AM
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Default lost key

hard to read old key when it is lost i dont hae it
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Old May 17, 2009 | 09:05 AM
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then what you do is buy a ecklers resitance kit and try all 15 codes till you get the right one. only downside to it is after a wrong resistance is read you have to wait 5-10 minutes before trying another. once you find the correct resistance have a key cut that matches that resistance
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Old May 17, 2009 | 01:59 PM
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If you've done "nothing" yet you could attempt this! Take your registration, insurance card and corresponding "picture ID" to a local GM dealer and have them retrieve the key codes "as built"! A catch here is that information that is 10+ years old is usually not available to include the VATS code.
You might get "lucky" or the information may include only the key profile. If it includes only the key profile/code have them cut you a "work key"! That's a brass blank that has "no chip"!

If that rotates the cylinder you're at least not going to need to tear the damned thing apart! That saves you a good bit of effort and money.

Can the VATS be relearned? I don't know.

I thought the next step would be to use a VATS interrogator (dealer or locksmith) will have and dial in a resistance and rotate the key. If it starts and runs that's the VATS code. Then do a chipped key with the correct resistance. There's a 4 minute "rest period" between attempts.

I had a friend who "insisted" he saved time by starting in the middle using an 8, he then went 1 higher and then 1 lower from the start. If it's a 2 or a 15 it's a long way!

8-7-9-6-10-5-11-4-12-3-13-2-14 final 15

If you know someone at a dealer they may loan/rent the interrogator. It's very straight forward and it's only one connection at the column base.

Where are you located?

Last edited by WVZR-1; May 17, 2009 at 02:03 PM.
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Old May 17, 2009 | 02:06 PM
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Originally Posted by WVZR-1
If you've done "nothing" yet you could attempt this! Take your registration, insurance card and corresponding "picture ID" to a local GM dealer and have them retrieve the key codes "as built"! A catch here is that information that is 10+ years old is usually not available to include the VATS code.
You might get "lucky" or the information may include only the key profile. If it includes only the key profile/code have them cut you a "work key"! That's a brass blank that has "no chip"!

If that rotates the cylinder you're at least not going to need to tear the damned thing apart! That saves you a good bit of effort and money.

Can the VATS be relearned? I don't know.

I thought the next step would be to use a VATS interrogator (dealer or locksmith) will have and dial in a resistance and rotate the key. If it starts and runs that's the VATS code. Then do a chipped key with the correct resistance. There's a 4 minute "rest period" between attempts.

I had a friend who "insisted" he saved time by starting in the middle using an 8, he then went 1 higher and then 1 lower from the start. If it's a 2 or a 15 it's a long way!

8-7-9-6-10-5-11-4-12-3-13-2-14 final 15

If you know someone at a dealer they may loan/rent the interrogator. It's very straight forward and it's only one connection at the column base.

Where are you located?
registration/vin number wont do a thing for you. when a new uncoded box is first installed in the car when new and the first time the ignition is turned on is when that decoder box is coded to the key. You have to do the try the 15 codes till you get the right one, there is no fast way around this.
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Old May 17, 2009 | 02:26 PM
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Originally Posted by jeffp1167
registration/vin number wont do a thing for you. when a new uncoded box is first installed in the car when new and the first time the ignition is turned on is when that decoder box is coded to the key. You have to do the try the 15 codes till you get the right one, there is no fast way around this.
If he has the key "profile" or code and the cylinder "rotates" with the "work-key" he now doesn't need to buy the $50 - $70 lock cylinder and replace it! There's a good bit of aggravation saved by not needing to tear into the column! He IS NOT replacing any ELECTRONICS!

Read the procedure as I explained it "one more time"!! If he's lucky (very lucky) the VATS will be reteived with the codes from the dealer! Unlikely but possible. This isn't my "first" VATS experience and no I've never lost mine and had to accomplish this BUT I have for many others!!
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Old May 18, 2009 | 06:36 AM
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tryed the local dealership they are not much help. they did cut a blank by using vin # but didnt turn tumblers so i ordered new one from eckler have old one out waiting for new one to show up.would love to by-pass this sys. thanks for all the info. anyway to bypass without knowing the vats code?
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Old May 18, 2009 | 06:41 AM
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oh yea i am in elko nv problem with trying each code with keys is the dealership says its 150.oo key. ecklers sells for only 14.95 each. could be expensive buying all 15
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Old May 18, 2009 | 07:29 PM
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Originally Posted by kbak1
tryed the local dealership they are not much help. they did cut a blank by using vin # but didnt turn tumblers so i ordered new one from eckler have old one out waiting for new one to show up.would love to by-pass this sys. thanks for all the info. anyway to bypass without knowing the vats code?

Was the key "BRASS"? Did they cut you a pair of keys? Door and ignition? I've PM'd you! Did the door key work?
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