VATS bypass module, anyone use it????
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 623
Likes: 5
From: Eeerrrwhere south, tx
VATS bypass module, anyone use it???? When loooking around for a standalone harness I kept reading that they included a bypass module to get your swap running, so I googled it and ran across this. http://www.3rdbrakeflasher.com/index...170471a74a6d3b According to the site it doesn't need the BCM, the main reason VATS screws with our cars to begin with. So do you guys think this could work for our swaps without having to pay $100 just to get our cars started? I know eventually they need tuning to delete all the air, abs, etc crap but for the time being this seems to be something worth trying, anyone using one?
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,148
Likes: 12
From: Downers Grove, IL
I havent used one, but I have heard they work ok. The stumbling block is that they only work for a limited # of cars now. They work on the 98-02 f-bodies and IIRC the pre 02 vettes, but the GTO, and trucks all use a different system and the bypass will not work unless you re-program the PCM.
The two vendors I spoke to offering this or a similar product could not give me a definitive list of vehicles it did or didn't support and didn't seem to care. 
I spent the cash, bought HP Tuners and a wide band because I was losing all the smog stuff and I knew I was going to do future upgrades. Money well spent and problem solved.
I spent the cash, bought HP Tuners and a wide band because I was losing all the smog stuff and I knew I was going to do future upgrades. Money well spent and problem solved.
i just bought it lol... just 25 bucks... hell i spend that just cruisng my car on the weekend in gas... so i can just stay home this weekend... ill let ya know if its worth it or not..
I've had one on my Nova for almost 11 years, back in the day before everyone was swapping LS1's, it was the only way to bypass the VATS. It's always worked so I never got it tuned out, but I have often wondered what the hell I would do if it gave up the ghost somewhere a long way from home. And like G-body said, they only work on 2002 and older F bodies and some Vettes, but NOT any trucks, so If you're working with a truck PCM, don't waste your money. With HPTuners you can change the VATS setting to the F body type instead of the serial type the trucks use, but I don't know why you would want to.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 623
Likes: 5
From: Eeerrrwhere south, tx
I've had one on my Nova for almost 11 years, back in the day before everyone was swapping LS1's, it was the only way to bypass the VATS. It's always worked so I never got it tuned out, but I have often wondered what the hell I would do if it gave up the ghost somewhere a long way from home. And like G-body said, they only work on 2002 and older F bodies and some Vettes, but NOT any trucks, so If you're working with a truck PCM, don't waste your money. With HPTuners you can change the VATS setting to the F body type instead of the serial type the trucks use, but I don't know why you would want to.
Trending Topics
After having someone almost steal my car (busted the column and had the ignition on)... the VATS system was the only thing that saved it.
since then, ive kept some form of a VATS system on every GM car ive wanted to keep.
Its really easy to retrofit.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'
Brett Foote
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?
Pouria Savadkouei
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Orange County, CA
I have a 2002 f-body LS1 and harness and I made this bypass from the schematic someone posted... think its in FAQ. I will look for the post.
Another question about this: how long will the engine stay running if the VATS is not bypassed? Anyone know? I ran the engine only for 10 secs total to test the bypass, hope it works! Video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baR8fjrmI5U
Another question about this: how long will the engine stay running if the VATS is not bypassed? Anyone know? I ran the engine only for 10 secs total to test the bypass, hope it works! Video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baR8fjrmI5U
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Orange County, CA
https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversio...ml#post5448735
by the way, nice job and thanks to the designer... 70 LS1 , I believe.
by the way, nice job and thanks to the designer... 70 LS1 , I believe.
if you have a factory VATS car, like my 91 camaro was, you could set it so that the cars stock VATS system worked with the LS1.
After having someone almost steal my car (busted the column and had the ignition on)... the VATS system was the only thing that saved it.
since then, ive kept some form of a VATS system on every GM car ive wanted to keep.
Its really easy to retrofit.
After having someone almost steal my car (busted the column and had the ignition on)... the VATS system was the only thing that saved it.
since then, ive kept some form of a VATS system on every GM car ive wanted to keep.
Its really easy to retrofit.
I'm very interested. I'm doing a 91 corvette swap right now and our systems are very similar.
There is a wire in the harness that you connect it to. Also I don't think it will run at all if you don't bypass it or have it taken out of the pcm.
On a 91 camaro the VATS system is almost standalone.
the key wires go down to a box thats well hidden under the dash.. this box has the starter relay disable in it, and an output wire that sends a square wave signal out to the ECM.
All you have to do is connect that signal wire to the PCM and leave the rest of it alone.
and even if you don't connect it to the PCM, if you leave it there it remains an effective starter disable.
this is going off my memory of something i did back 8 years ago... That said.
On a 91 camaro the vats system is almost standalone.
The key wires go down to a box thats well hidden under the dash.. This box has the starter relay disable in it, and an output wire that sends a square wave signal out to the ecm.
All you have to do is connect that signal wire to the pcm and leave the rest of it alone.
And even if you don't connect it to the pcm, if you leave it there it remains an effective starter disable.
On a 91 camaro the vats system is almost standalone.
The key wires go down to a box thats well hidden under the dash.. This box has the starter relay disable in it, and an output wire that sends a square wave signal out to the ecm.
All you have to do is connect that signal wire to the pcm and leave the rest of it alone.
And even if you don't connect it to the pcm, if you leave it there it remains an effective starter disable.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 623
Likes: 5
From: Eeerrrwhere south, tx
this is going off my memory of something I did back 8 years ago... that said.
On a 91 camaro the VATS system is almost standalone.
the key wires go down to a box thats well hidden under the dash.. this box has the starter relay disable in it, and an output wire that sends a square wave signal out to the ECM.
All you have to do is connect that signal wire to the PCM and leave the rest of it alone.
and even if you don't connect it to the PCM, if you leave it there it remains an effective starter disable.
On a 91 camaro the VATS system is almost standalone.
the key wires go down to a box thats well hidden under the dash.. this box has the starter relay disable in it, and an output wire that sends a square wave signal out to the ECM.
All you have to do is connect that signal wire to the PCM and leave the rest of it alone.
and even if you don't connect it to the PCM, if you leave it there it remains an effective starter disable.
Thanks
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Portland, Oregon
I bought one of the 25 dollar vats delete small boxes off ebay - wired it in properly, it blinked like it was supposed to but vats kept intervening - had a friend come over with hp tuners, clicked vats off and it worked after that. I had an 01 ls1 dropout, everyone said they worked for me, I expected it to. hopefully you'll not have any issues.
you can blame vats if the motor catches, starts and nearly immediately dies, no 5-10 seconds, it fires, catches, turns a few times and dies. I could hold my foot on the pedal and it would cleanly rev up and then die
you can blame vats if the motor catches, starts and nearly immediately dies, no 5-10 seconds, it fires, catches, turns a few times and dies. I could hold my foot on the pedal and it would cleanly rev up and then die
