The keys are the same. Thats how the duplicate was made in the first place.

 

Eliminating the VATS system has nothing to do with your alarm system. If a thief can get by the factory alarm they won't have a problem buying the kit from GM to determine which resistance value they need to bypass VATS anyways. I'd just get rid of it. It won't ever malfunction again that way.

 

Moving to General Maintenace & Repair.....

 

the thing is those hardware keys are made cheap i went threw three cuz i was to cheap to go to GM finally after saying enough i did and i have not had a problem. check your key see if its dirty and clean it with an eraser. i had the same problem

 

New key from GM was like $90 I believe. Just do VATS bypass for like $1. DONE.

 

I'm all for bypassing it as it is a common problem and you WILL sooner or later have a problem with it.My alarm system works just fine.The wiring that they use in the VATS system is PATHETIC.Wires almost as thin as a thread.No shocker that tey breakdown.

But in the end it is your car and I certainly don't make the payments on it so...your call man...I would at least look up the info about bypassing it,might be useful info should you be stranded somewhere.

Good luck...

 

Thanks again for the info guys. I tried the duplicate key again, and now it is working fine again. The problem is now I am not 100% confident that the duplicate key will work every time and not leave me stranded somewhere.

Would this still be the VATS system since the GM key has never failed me?

 

Just bypass VATS. It is the resistor in your key that is acting up, not the physical key. The "little chip" is simply a resistor. Go to RadioShack and buy a multimeter to get the correct value for the ohm reading on your key. Then buy that value resistor. Do a search. All you do is solder it inline on a wire underneath the steering wheel. Cover it up in black electrical tape and then put the plastic cover back over all the wires and you are done. I'll try to find the picture I took of the wire you have to solder in to. It is simple as that. $0.99 and 10 minutes of your time and no more worrying.

 

Here is the photo. This is on the driver's side underneath the steering wheel.

 

Thanks Chae, I need to do this tomorrow. My car is not starting now, damn vats.