Expert: Rob Painter - 9/19/2009

Question
i lost my keys to my 94 sts i had keys made at berg and they didnt work so i went and bought an ignition switch and it still wont crank its saying starting disabled due to theft system how do i reprogram the car so it will crank?

Answer
Hello,

Bad news--you can't reprogram the VATS (Resistor key in the key blade. Very simple system, very antiquated, does not prevent theft and more of a problem for the owner than a thief like you are seeing.

Personally, I would tell you to bypass this garbage and be done with it, but that is now harder than ever because who knows what Berg did?

Measuring the key is easy as for the resistor, but it sounds like the right resistor was not used by Berg.

If the ignition lock has a key that can rotate it, it will be more difficult than a normal bypass, but it can be done and I can talk you through it. If you do bypass the system you have to install a hidden starter kill switch. To steal your car with no protection is 30 seconds with a screwdriver and old cars are stolen all the time.

If bypassed and no starter kill, car gets stolen and you file a claim with insurance company, your claim WILL BE DENIED, because the insurance investigators and their so called expert locksmiths are too ignorant to realize that these cars can be stolen.

To them, the car is "Unstealable." This will possibly get you charged with fraud as well. I see this scenario all the time with vehicles equipped with so-called anti-theft systems from the factory.

You can spend hundreds of dollars having someone with an "Interogator" determine the resistance code in the vehicle, or you can spend about $130 for parts and labor to have it bypassed forever and install a hidden starter kill.

These things were notorious for stranding owners when those two little wires from the lock cylinder brake internally.

I average about 10 email requests a day on how to bypass these systems because of starting problems.

I charge a consulting fee to walk the owner through the bypass. Since these vehicles are different between models, the bypass is specific to that make and model.

The bypass and installation of a hidden starter kill is not hard, but is a step by step procedure that can be time consuming. All information is guaranteed. http://www.autotheftexpert.com and go to the factory security bypass link.

My email is robo14@aol.com

If you bypass the system, if you loose keys, all you have to do is have mechanical key blanks cut and the VATS will never strand you again.

Dealers were gouging people up to $500 for repair of this situation and a locksmith was half.

So many people think they can just reset these systems. There is no such thing on the VATS. No matter what you do, if you do not bypass or have the system interrogated, it will never run again.

Rob