A key problem
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 49
From: Franklin IN
A key problem
Sorry yes this posted in the general section. It is something I have never seen any where in the C-5 forum so I'm looking for all the help I can get.
Here is my problem. I have a 99 and I had two keys. One would work no matter which way you inserted it in the ignition. The other would only work one way. Thinking it was a bad key I ordered another blank at 50.00 bucks.
I took the good key with me when I went to pick up the new blank. They cut the new key from the good old one but it acts just the other bad one. The new one works only one way. Anyone got any ideas I am totally puzzled?
Here is my problem. I have a 99 and I had two keys. One would work no matter which way you inserted it in the ignition. The other would only work one way. Thinking it was a bad key I ordered another blank at 50.00 bucks.
I took the good key with me when I went to pick up the new blank. They cut the new key from the good old one but it acts just the other bad one. The new one works only one way. Anyone got any ideas I am totally puzzled?
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,824
Likes: 1
From: Middleboro Massachusetts
Sounds like it could be the ignition is worn. Inside the cylinder are two contacts that read the key's resistor pellet. When these get worn, they tend not to read the keys resistor pellet or give an intermittent reading.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 49
From: Franklin IN
The car has only about 35,000 miles on it. Do you know how diffucult it is to replace the switch?
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,824
Likes: 1
From: Middleboro Massachusetts
Mine went at approx. the same mileage. The dealer wants $90.00 for the new ignition cylinder. You can also fix it for under $10.00 by bypassing the VATS is what I did. This may be what your problem is. If you want more info. on the bypass, let me know.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,512
Likes: 49
From: Franklin IN
Sure I'd like to by pass the Vatts it's just a PITS as far as I'm concerned. How did you do it?
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,824
Likes: 1
From: Middleboro Massachusetts
Go to radio shack and buy a 10K (10,000ohm) potentiometer. The potentiometer is adjustable and you can dial in the 7500ohm using the ohm meter. In the back of the ignition there is a plug. The plug has 2 wires, a white wire with a black stripe, and a purple wire with a white stripe. What you need to do is solder two wire leads onto the potentiometer that read 7500ohm across them. These two wire leads you will insert into the back of the plug, one where the white wire with a black stripe is, and one where the purple wire with a white stripe is.
This will give you a 7500ohm reading to your VATS at all times. Put it all back together leaving the potentiometer set for 7500ohm plugged into the back of the ignition. You should be able to use both of your keys in either direction to start the car without any problems from then on.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
