Chevrolet 2003 Corvette Bedienungsanleitung PDF herunterladen (Seite 2)

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Ledger Articles - 2007

By Steve Young

VATS Basics

The system itself operates on a very simple principal. In addition

to the standard side-bar ignition, there is a resistor embedded into

the key. When the key is inserted into the lock and turned, an

electrical current runs through the resistor. The amount of current

drop caused by the resistor is measured by a computer. If the

current drop matches the pre-set value stored in memory, the car

is allowed to start. If the current drop is higher or lower than the

pre-set value, the vehicle will be prevented from starting – even

with the correct key – for several minutes. No alarm sounds and

the only indication that the vehicle has been disabled is an indica-

tor on the dash.

The time delay feature was the main reason that VATS proved so

successful. Studies showed that if a would-be car thief could be

slowed down, even for a few minutes, they would look for an easier

target. VATS equipped vehicles soon became some of the least

stolen vehicles on the road. The insurance companies went from

charging a surcharge for owing a Corvette to offering a discount on

the Corvette or any other vehicle that was equipped with the VATS

system.

What Vehicles are Equipped with VATS?

VATS was used strictly on GM vehicles, and a list of vehicles is shown in sidebar one along with this article. As you can see,

the number of vehicles equipped with the VATS system peaked in the late 1990s, as transponder systems and other anti-theft

systems were developed. The last VATS equipped vehicle sold was the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird which were

both discontinued after the 2003 model year.

How do I duplicate a VATS key?

Originally there were fteen different resistor values chosen for the VATS system. These values are numbered 1 – 15, with

the number one key having the least resistance and the number fteen key having the most resistance. Due to technical

problems involving the systems ability to accurately read the very low resistance of the number one key, the number one value

was discontinued on new vehicles in the 1989 model year. When the system was implemented on the newer 10-cut locks in

1995, only fourteen values were used on the double-sided keys.

Duplicating a VATS key requires two steps. First you must read the resistance value of the customer’s key and then duplicate

the cuts on the correct key blank. The resistance value of the key can be determined with a simple volt/ohm meter, but most

locksmiths use a device known generically as a VATS interrogator to determine the resistor value of the customer’s key. If you

chose to use a volt/ohm meter, you will need a conversion chart such as the one shown in sidebar two to convert the ohms

reading from the meter into the resistor value for the key. When reading a key this way, you will need to bear in mind that

actual reading that you get from the key may vary by as much as 3% from the “Target Value.” This variation is built into the

system in order to make it easier to operate.

Most VATS Interrogators automatically compensate for the 3% plus or minus variation allowed in the keys and simply give

you a numerical value of one through fteen when the key is inserted into the unit. (We’ll discuss VATS interrogators in detail

later.) Once you have selected a key blank with the same resistor value as the customer’s original, all you have to do is dupli-

cate the key as you would any other GM key.

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