Intermittant starting
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Hamburg, N.Y.
Intermittant starting I've got quite the problem. I have a 2001 Firebird and I'm guessing I have a problem with the ignition key and the security system. Sometimes my car will start and other times the security system light stays on and won't let me start the car. I've been told the system is not reading the key sometimes. Is there a way to bypass the system? I was told I can pull the steering wheel and find the wires to this system and just add a 5 ohm resister in it. If this is doable can anyone tell me what wires (color) I would be looking for? I was told that installing a new key and lock set-up would cost about $350.00. HELP !!! Thanks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
The system you're talking about is called VATS - Vehicle Anti Theft System. The key has a resistor pellet that matches one of 14 values that has been programmed into the Body Control Module (BCM). A 5-ohm resistor won't work. The resistance used to bypass must match the programmed value and 5-ohms isn't one of them.
First you should try cleaning the key contacts and the contacts inside the ignition cylinder. Since your problem is intermittent, this will likely take care of it. Use a pencil eraser and some rubbing alcohol to clean the key contacts. Use spray contact (or tuner) cleaner from Radio Shack to clean inside the ignition cylinder.
If that doesn't work, instructions for bypassing VATS are posted numerous times in this forum. A search for "VATS bypass" should get you lots of information.
First you should try cleaning the key contacts and the contacts inside the ignition cylinder. Since your problem is intermittent, this will likely take care of it. Use a pencil eraser and some rubbing alcohol to clean the key contacts. Use spray contact (or tuner) cleaner from Radio Shack to clean inside the ignition cylinder.
If that doesn't work, instructions for bypassing VATS are posted numerous times in this forum. A search for "VATS bypass" should get you lots of information.
Thread Starter
11 Second Club
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Hamburg, N.Y.
The system you're talking about is called VATS - Vehicle Anti Theft System. The key has a resistor pellet that matches one of 14 values that has been programmed into the Body Control Module (BCM). A 5-ohm resistor won't work. The resistance used to bypass must match the programmed value and 5-ohms isn't one of them.
First you should try cleaning the key contacts and the contacts inside the ignition cylinder. Since your problem is intermittent, this will likely take care of it. Use a pencil eraser and some rubbing alcohol to clean the key contacts. Use spray contact (or tuner) cleaner from Radio Shack to clean inside the ignition cylinder.
If that doesn't work, instructions for bypassing VATS are posted numerous times in this forum. A search for "VATS bypass" should get you lots of information.
First you should try cleaning the key contacts and the contacts inside the ignition cylinder. Since your problem is intermittent, this will likely take care of it. Use a pencil eraser and some rubbing alcohol to clean the key contacts. Use spray contact (or tuner) cleaner from Radio Shack to clean inside the ignition cylinder.
If that doesn't work, instructions for bypassing VATS are posted numerous times in this forum. A search for "VATS bypass" should get you lots of information.
