VATS Key Question
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8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Columbus Ohio
VATS Key Question
I just recently purchased a 1998 C5 and the car is fantastic. I was looking through the documentation from the previous owner and found a small tab attached to a key chain with no keys. The tab has a bar code and the number "5" printed several times down the side. Is the "5" the VATS key number? I need to have a spare key made. Any help would be appreciated!
Le Mans Master
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From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Not sure about that. I have the same key card and will take a look. I determined the VAT on my key by taking an ohm reading across the resistor and looking at the chart that someone posted here not long ago.
An volt/ohm meter is cheap and simple to use. Everyone should have one in their kit. Just touch the probes together, calibrate the meter to zero with the adjuster screw, then measure the resistance across the resistor on the key by touching a probe on either side and checking the value, usually X100 on the ohm scale.
You've got me curious enough to go look at my key tag now, though. If the number on the tag matches my VAT, then I'll post a follow up.
An volt/ohm meter is cheap and simple to use. Everyone should have one in their kit. Just touch the probes together, calibrate the meter to zero with the adjuster screw, then measure the resistance across the resistor on the key by touching a probe on either side and checking the value, usually X100 on the ohm scale.
You've got me curious enough to go look at my key tag now, though. If the number on the tag matches my VAT, then I'll post a follow up.
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VATS key codes
You need to read the resistance of the key. If you have a digital volt meter, set it on ohms mode and measure the resistance of the pellet on your key. The BCM is programmed for a specific resistance value. The BCM measures the voltage drop across the key pellet. If it is within +/-10%, then the car will start.
The 15 resistor codes are:
Key# Value (Ohms)
1 392
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
You need to read the resistance of the key. If you have a digital volt meter, set it on ohms mode and measure the resistance of the pellet on your key. The BCM is programmed for a specific resistance value. The BCM measures the voltage drop across the key pellet. If it is within +/-10%, then the car will start.
The 15 resistor codes are:
Key# Value (Ohms)
1 392
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
Race Director
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From: Indianapolis IN
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Call any Chevy dealer's parts department, give them the VIN, and you will get your V.A.T.S. info quickly. I did this monday so I could order my new CorvetteKey and I had the V.A.T.S. number in 2 or 3 minutes.
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Originally Posted by KernelDee
Call any Chevy dealer's parts department, give them the VIN, and you will get your V.A.T.S. info quickly. I did this monday so I could order my new CorvetteKey and I had the V.A.T.S. number in 2 or 3 minutes.
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From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
GM VATS key
My son bought a Pontiac at a police auction 2 days ago. We went to a Pontiac dealer right after he bought it. After we gave them the paperwork and my license, they punched in the VIN on their computer. Less than 1 minute later the parts guy put the correct VATS key blank in a machine that looked like a printer. It cut the key in a few seconds and we were off. Not cheap though. about $30 or more.
