After almost 10 years this stupid system has reared it's ugly head. When I purchased my '86 it had a recall and the systems was replaced. It had one or two occasions after that and was fine for almost 20 years. Now all of a sudden it had started acting up. I've cleaned the resistor and after the 5 minutes it starts. Any simple suggestions other than tear it apart and by-pass it?

 

Cleaning the pellet and the contacts in the lock cylinder are all you can do, but you could try getting a new key, it may help.... The next step would be to replace the lock cylinder or bypass the lock cylinder with the resistor..When my cylinder was replaced, one of the wires was almost broken in half , I was told this is what usually causes them to stop working...I had the new cylinder put in , but I also bypassed the lock cylinder just to make sure it doesn't happen again...In case you don't have this site saved, here's the link on how to bypass the complete vats system...WW

http://www.vatssucks.com/

 

Have you cleaned the cylinder aspect that reads the key? Do you have several keys? I don't know that I'd rush to the 'bypass'.

 

when starter fails, you replace it.

when brakes wear out, they get replaced.

Why is it that everybody looks at VATS and wants to bypass/go-around/delete/jury-rig/re-engineer/grey tape the system when IT has a failure?

Why not simply repair it? You just got thru saying that its been fine for 20 years.

This baffles me. Seriously. Never seen anything like this.
Now, here comes the argument that "I don't want something in my car that can leave my wife & kids stranded somewhere"

Doesn't that include the engine, starter, tires, and just about ANY other part of the car that can keep it from being driven? Stupid argument but its thrown out there daily.

VATS parts DO fail due to vibration age, moisture, time...million other reasons. BUT, its just as rare or even less common than starter failures. Thing is, every time time the fuel pump relay fails to couple the pump to the ignition, VATS gets blamed so TRUE VATS failures are unknown. More likely about 5% of whats reported.

VATS modules are for sale on FleaBAy and many Corvette stores online. The starter enable relay is at every auto parts store in America. So are keys and key readers are even at home depot...

The "key bypass" is NOT a VATS bypass. That's only a key bypass and the key is almost NEVER the source of the problem. Unless the tabs in the ign switch break off and fall out the key is fine. People do this jury rig and go to bed with a very false sense of (in)security thinking they just defeated their VATS system...and they are now safe.
Kinda funny while extremely ironic.

Personally, I do not care if you want to start ripping your car apart and hacking the wire harness up. Its your car. But, I like to "repair" things that fail, not .....jury rig.

There IS a cheap, inexpensive VATS decoder module bypass for sale on FleaBay. It works, its not a jury-rig POS and it utilizes the technology designed by GM.
Once installed, anybody that can turn the ignition switch CAN start the car and drive away. Your wife, the crack head 2 doors down, anybody....
This REAL bypass that will forever eliminate the possibility of ANY future VATS failures only cost $14.
For $14 you can have all that security. <------ now that's a perfect oxymoron !

I have one that I used while I was diagnosing some "starter issues" . Like everyone else I thought it was VATS because the starter would not engage. So I assumed it was VATS. Turned out to be a cracked starter solenoid that would do the "no start" deal sometimes. But, the bypass module performed flawlessly. It sends its 30Hz signal to the ECM just like a VATS decoder would.

If anyone is interested in defeating their VATS and wants to do so by installing this bypass, just ask and I will look for the link. Remember, if you wipe VATS out of the prom its GONE. If you bypass the decoder, you CAN have it back whenever you desire. Whenever you feel safe again and have completed your therapy.
Its funny....VATS insecurity. More oxymoronic BS coming from something that has made your life more enjoyable....by KEEPING your car in YOUR driveway!

Let me know if anyone wants that link...

 

leesvet , I see your a field engineer, but you would make one hell of a Baptist minister.......WW

 

I''m in the congregation......if you would only expound on every tech issue like thiat, I might learn something...

 

my 90 L98 coupe 280,000 miles on her, had VATS failure for the first time it was the typical problem broken sensor wire in the column.
replaced lock cylinder and keys, problem solved. i have another lock and keys in my parts stash for the next 200,000 miles

 

you know why everyone jumps to replace is because of all the misturths and faluse diagiones out there and lets not forget it is mysterous little thing that does things we dont understand. I will say forever that vats is the most misdinoised thing on these cars

 

You also pointed out a lot the reasons why it is not an effective security system at the same time.

Most people who would want to steal a VATS equipped car could spend a short amount of time online buy a VATS delete module the kind you mentioned, find a wiring diagram to install it online, and have no need for the correct resistance key when stealing the car. Even on cars that VATS disables the start relay the relay is not hard to bypass.

 

You still have a mon in 12 chance of haveing the right resistance so you have 1 in 12 chances of getting it the first time. In different forms this same system is used on most car lines in production today not to shabby for 80's tech. This system was vert effective

 

The kind of device he was referring to bypasses the key and the resistance, painless also sell a device that does this. Use one of these and there is no need to guess resistance.

http://www.painlesswiring.com/webcat...v.php?sl=64024
http://www.painlesswiring.com/webcat...v.php?sl=64023

But yes it was a good system in the 80s but not today, also why I see no reason to put much effort into keeping it working.

 

You can program it out of the memcal, and ground the yellow wire on the relay and be done with it.

vatssucks.com

 

Im not worried about security as a reason of keeping these things operational. I personally feel the more compleat the car the more actractive they may be to the next buyer

 

If you can I'd like to check out that link. Thanks Dave

 

Dave, I don't read his long winded scolding's, but everything you need to know about VATS delete can be here.

www.vatssucks.com