rom what I have read of other member's posts you can disable the VATS through reprogramming the ECM. As a 12 volt installer for over 11 years I have easily disabled the VATS for remote start installs (with the customers permission.) All you need is a digital volt ohm meter or access to one. Locate a 2 wire harness coming from the column. The harness will have 2 thin white wires and is covered in orange sheathing. This harness will terminate at a black 2 pin plug. Exiting the black plug will be 2 thicker wires (easier to work with) They are white/black and purple/white. Cut both of them at least an inch down from the plug. Next place your key into the ignition. do not turn the key. Place the probes of the meter set to OHMS on the cut white/black purple/white wires from the plug. This will give you the resistance in OHMS of the resistor/pellet in your key. Write this number down. Go to Radio Shack and buy the resistor or combo of resistor that match your key. Jump the 2 wires leading to the VATS module together with the resistor/s. Not the harness from the column. This will give the VATS module a consistant reading upon every startup since the contacts in the switch can go bad. Any questions feel free to ask