the vats bypass box is simple to wire. its just a switched 12v, a ground, and an output to the ecm. the downside is theyre like $50. you can sweet talk someone local into disabling the VATS system in your computer for cheap, or get a prom with it already done, but that requires cracking open the computer.

normally the contacts in the cylinder wear and dont make good contact. id measure the resistance in both the run and start position on the column before ruling it out entirely.

 

I did that today, the cylinder doesn't show resistance in the start or run position. Went to Radioshack this evening and got the right resistor to try the resistor trick with tomorrow.

Also, if the resistor trick fails, I'm just going to do a new ECM. Gain a whole lot of stuff from that beyond just disabling the VATS and its more within my skill set to do.

 

marked for curiosity...No VATS in my 87 TA...luckliy

 

Well, for now the resistor is working for me. I'm not getting the lock cylinder replaced, so I just need to remember to unplug the resistor.