Not a good day
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 352
From: Carson City Nevada
Not a good day
Well, I went out to the garage to go for a little spin this morning. Found out my car (99 coupe) was locked......with the key in it..........my only key and fob. I called a local locksmith. He said with the fob set to passive the door would lock right up again. Went down to the local Chevy dealer to get a key for it. Luckily, I was over there a couple of days ago to price a spare key and fob. I thought the price was to high, compared to Eckler's, so I didn't get either. I did get the resitance reading, though. (thank god) Anyway, they had every other key (23) with the right resistance reading except you know who. It will be here Tuesday. The parts guy said that if I didn't know which (resistance) key it was, the car would have to be towed in and if the VATS couldn't be figured out, a new lock would have to be installed. Just a warning. If you bought your car used with one set of keys, GET A SPARE NOW! I don't think I want to use the passive part of it anymore.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 438
Likes: 0
Take a meter and measure the resistor in the key. There is a post on this board that lists the resistance of each numbered blank key. Order the proper key and have the blank cut at any store. You don't even need to get the dealer involved.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 352
From: Carson City Nevada
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 352
From: Carson City Nevada
Woohoo! It worked this time, ksvette. I just had to really shake it hard for several seconds. It's kind of hard to find a solid place to push on it to get it rocking without the plastic bending in somewhere. What a pain. So I guess that method really does work. Thanks to all for your suggestions.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Glad you got back into the car
Here are the resistor values if you don't have them
VATS key codes:
The BCM measures the resistance value of the resistance of the pellet and allows the fuel system to operate. If it is within +/-10% the car will start.
To check your key value:
Set your digital volt meter to “ohms mode” and measure the value across the pellet.
The 15 resistor codes are:
Resistance Value (Ohms)
1 0.402 (acceptable range .386-.438)
2 0.523 (acceptable range .502-.564)
3 0.681 (acceptable range .650-.728)
4 0.887 (acceptable range .850-.942)
5 1.130 (acceptable range 1.085-1.195)
6 1.470 (acceptable range 1.411-1.549)
7 1.870 (acceptable range 1.795-1.965)
8 2.370 (acceptable range 2.275-2.485)
9 3.010 (acceptable range 2.890-3.150)
10 3.740 (acceptable range 3.590-3.910)
11 4.750 (acceptable range 4.560-4.960)
12 6.040 (acceptable range 5.798-6.302)
13 7.500 (acceptable range 7.200-7.820)
14 9.530 (acceptable range 9.149-9.931)
15 11.801 (acceptable range 11.320-12.290)
Here are the resistor values if you don't have them
VATS key codes:
The BCM measures the resistance value of the resistance of the pellet and allows the fuel system to operate. If it is within +/-10% the car will start.
To check your key value:
Set your digital volt meter to “ohms mode” and measure the value across the pellet.
The 15 resistor codes are:
Resistance Value (Ohms)
1 0.402 (acceptable range .386-.438)
2 0.523 (acceptable range .502-.564)
3 0.681 (acceptable range .650-.728)
4 0.887 (acceptable range .850-.942)
5 1.130 (acceptable range 1.085-1.195)
6 1.470 (acceptable range 1.411-1.549)
7 1.870 (acceptable range 1.795-1.965)
8 2.370 (acceptable range 2.275-2.485)
9 3.010 (acceptable range 2.890-3.150)
10 3.740 (acceptable range 3.590-3.910)
11 4.750 (acceptable range 4.560-4.960)
12 6.040 (acceptable range 5.798-6.302)
13 7.500 (acceptable range 7.200-7.820)
14 9.530 (acceptable range 9.149-9.931)
15 11.801 (acceptable range 11.320-12.290)
Last edited by DeeGee; Oct 5, 2008 at 02:07 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,192
Likes: 4,180
From: Kannapolis NC
At least yours was in the garage. I locked my keys in the car one time outside and it started to rain. To make it worse the top was down. I had to hitch a ride home to get my spare set and get back before it got too wet inside. I made it back and got the door unlocked and the top up in time, thank God.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,469
Likes: 4
At least yours was in the garage. I locked my keys in the car one time outside and it started to rain. To make it worse the top was down. I had to hitch a ride home to get my spare set and get back before it got too wet inside. I made it back and got the door unlocked and the top up in time, thank God.
} in my wallet. So far havnt had to use it
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 749
Likes: 3
From: West Yarmouth MA.
I went a year and a half with one key and too many close calls of misplacing mine. I finally bit the bullet on a spare key for like 45 bucks. It killed me to buy it but piece of mind is priceless.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 4
From: NW Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
for future reference. I surprised the dealer didn't know this. no one may ever be in that exact situation again but.....
since the dealer had the code to cut the key, he could have used a key blank from a truck to cut a key that would have unlocked the door. the VATS pellet is for the ignition switch only.
since the dealer had the code to cut the key, he could have used a key blank from a truck to cut a key that would have unlocked the door. the VATS pellet is for the ignition switch only.
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Glad you got it unlocked, but yes, get a spare key ASAP. 