At least 50% of the time while exiting the drivers side, the alarm goes off. Earlier i noticed that the "door ajar" light flickered while driving along. I adjusted the door tighter, got rid of the flickering light, but it still plagues me with false alarms. I hate to bypass it, but i don't know what else to do. I live in the sticks so i am not too worried about theft. Is there a cheap/simple way to disarm the VATS?

 

The VATS technically is the factory antitheft system that operates off a resistor in your key. That is am easy bypass, there are 2 wire going to your ignition column in a sheath (sorry I can't remember the wire colors) just cut the wires and jump the car sides of them with a resistor. You get the resistors value by using a multimeter to measure the resistance between the 2 sides of the black ship in your key. Make sure you don't touch the key with your hands while doing this.
There are 12 different resistances used I believe, your will be one. There is a GM website that gives the allowable range that each resistance can be (ie is your resistance is actually 4.5K ohms then you can actually use from 4258-4895 ohms) This is a super simple process, it too me about 3 minutes to do to my car when the VATS started acting up, including finding the right resistor.
But it seems to me that you are having difficulties with your factory alarm, which can also prevent you from starting your car. I don't have any experience on disabling that, although my 88's facotry alarm was somehow :confused: After someone tried to break into it once, the factory alarm never worked, I couldn't get it to arm itself.

 

Hey Chief, thanks for your reply. I will try to track down the wires you are referring to. My car has not failed to start. I'm not sure i understand the difference between the VATS and the alarm system. I thought it was all the same. My situation has gotten embarrassing, ie. going off at a funeral. It always happens the same: I stop, park, turn off ignition, lock the doors, and as i am exiting the car, it goes off. If anyone knows more about how to identify the correct wires, i would appreaciate knowing. IN the meantime, i will start figuring out which resistance my key is.

 

VATS prevents the engine from being started if it does not detect the correct value of resistance in the pellet in the ignition key. You are describing problems with your theft detterent circuit and most likely the problem is with a door/hatch switch or a wire going to the switch. Bypassing VATS is a bad idea because 99% of cars are stolen by bashing the column and jumping the ignition.

 

Is it feasible that i can disable the alarm system at least for testing purposes and leave the vats intact, and if so, how? Does anyone know why there are two push button switches in the door jambs?





[Modified by Darrell G, 7:30 AM 10/27/2002]

 

You can turn off the theft detterent system by pulling the 15 amp theft fuse.
The doors have a switch for theft detterent and a switch for the courtesy lights

 

The VATS has nothing to do with the horns or door ajar lights.

To prevent inadvertant alarm operation, DO NOT, I say again, DO NOT use the auto door lock/electric door lock buttons on either inside door. When you use this button(s) to lock the doors, you get that nice "click" locking the door locks, AND IT ARMS the horn security system(Universal Theft Deterrent System (UTDS). When you ARM the system, the door ajar light will set off the alarm. When this alarm goes off, some years disable the start enable relay should you try to start the car with horns blowing. This is not VATS.

I am speculating you have a good alarm system and a malfunctioning door ajar switch.

To prevent the alarm from arming and still lock your doors, use your keys to lock the doors from the outside. When you lock the doors from the outside, the alarm system is NOT ARMED. GM added this feature allowing the owner to determine when they wanted the UTDS disarmed.

If you lock the car from the inside, ie the auto door lock buttons (thus arming the system), close the door, walk off, and the door ajar light illuminates, you will likely hear horns blowing for several minutes.

Lots of information on this system in the owners manual. Had to read mine twice.

dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3 speed shocks


[Modified by dlmeyers, 4:19 PM 10/28/2002]


[Modified by dlmeyers, 4:29 PM 10/28/2002]


[Modified by dlmeyers, 4:32 PM 10/28/2002]