Stereo & Electronics - VATS resistor bypass?

I have tried to bypass the VATS system with a resistor that matched my key....The key measured 1.1 ohm....All I could find was a 1 ohm resistor 1/4 watt..well It didn't work. I know I need to find a 1.1 ohm but do I need a 1/4 watt or a 1/2 watt or does it matter?

I have never seen a pass-key with that low a resistance value.


Did you check on the pellet of the key on each contact?

It should have a resistance value in the thousands or K.

Maybe you got a reading of 1.1 k?

That is 1100 ohms.

If you got 1.1 ohm that is basicly no resistance.

I did check the pellet of the key on each contact.....Maybe I had the volts on the wrong settings...which value do I set it to? It did read 1.1 so maybe I need to get an 1100 ohms resistor?

Depending on the meter there prolly is 3 setting if it doesnt auto range?

Is this an anolag or digital?


You want to measure in K or thousands
There are settings for strait ohms & fo M as in mega or 100k = 1m ohm.

So if you read it in K scale it is 1100 ohms.

PLus, you may have to solder two or three together to get within (I think it is 5%) of the measured reisitance of your chip in your key. I had to do that.

Ok guys, thanks for the info...I'll go by Radioshack and pick one up. Can you guys give me an example of what your key read in ohms when you bypassed it? I'll let you know how it goes....

Ok I checked the key again and it read 1.126 @ 2k....so do I still need a 1100 ohm resistor? Will that work? I went to Radioshack, but they didn't have an 1100 ohm resistor.

It's fixed! I bought the right resistors and it fixed it....Thanks for all the help!

What watt rating resistors should I be using? I bought 1/2 watt rated on a guess. So what I gather is the orange sheath with the white wires in it that goes to the connector, I'm planning to disconnect the orange sheathed white wires and in it's place put a 10k ohm 1/2 watt resistor looped each end to the connector. I measured the key at 11k ohm, but I also measured the 10kR at 11k-ohm so pretty sure my meter is cheap...

Anyway what my real question is, is what watt rating should my resistor be? I'm not electrical engineer, and I didn't even stay at a holiday inn express last night, but I was putting some simple math to it and nothing seemed right. Let's say 12v and 1 amp, power would be P=I*E = 12W. My R is 1/2w rated. So hoping the V is way under 12 in this circuit and/or the amperage is way under 1A. Well anyway if someone in the know could reassure me that my 1/2w resistor won't burn down my car it would be much appreciated.

1/8 is fine. Also, most resistors have a 5% tolerance. Maybe the one you got had 10% (some do) or was "bad."

1/8 is fine. Also, most resistors have a 5% tolerance. Maybe the one you got had 10% (some do) or was "bad."

Ok, but I didn't buy 1/8, I bought 1/2, will that be ok? By my meter, both the key and the R measured the same 11k so that should be the right R value. I am wondering though how close the value has to be to be right, but I think this one will do.

oh and I measured all the R's in the pack (5), and they all were about the same, so I'm sure it's my uber-cheap meter. Yes I zeroed it out too.

You can always use a higher wattage resistor. 1/2 watt is fine.

u will be fine

that was my thinking. So here's how it went. Wanted to use a connector, but couldn't find a suitable substitute, so I cut the wires :cringe:. Did some amateur soldering...plugged in the connector with the resistor...turned the key...nothing!!! doh!!! At that point I was thinking, damn forgot to check the circuit with the key in. So I put the key in and tested the loop in the column at the cut...same resistance doh! Cut my wires for nothing, the vats was working fine all along :(. So I was like wtf, jacked the car up, looked at the starter, grabbed a mallet and whacked the starter a few times and wiggles some wires down there...voila, the car started up lol. So all that vats crap which I never thought it was anyway, and it appears to be my starter. On the bright side, I'm that much more familiar with my car. On the down side, I disabled my vats. But that's ok because now I can get a second key for not 50 bucks or whatever it is. Any advice on straightening out my starter?

Edit: BTW, I'm still not absolutely sure it was the starter, because years ago I thought it was the starter relay and it turned out not being it. Hoping the starter will cure it :)

i wanted to make sure the resistance was right when i did mine so i used like 10 resistors together to get the amount i wanted

oh its like 10% tolerance you dont have to get it on exactly

yeah mine did work with the one 10k resistor once I whacked my starter :bang: