Just as a FYI. There are 15 different value chips for the key. You can buy a blank key wit any one of the chips installed, and have it cut to fit your lock. If you buy a key with the same value chip (resistor) as the original key, the VATS will accept it without any programming.

 

ALL 4th gens and some 3rd gen cars have a VATS key cylinder (ones with wires comming out) You can install a non VATS tumbler into your car if you want. Those wires are for the VATS system and they are the wires that read the key chip. The only difference between the Manual tumbler and the Automatic tumbler is the button on the manual tumbler. You can put an automatic tumbler in a manual car and visa-versa, the column does not care. Since you have the wires missing in your tumbler someone has pulled them out and since you had wires tied together then someone in the past bypassed your VATS by either tieing a chip (which is just a resistor) to the wires, or programing the BCM to see 0 ohms as the acceptable # and allow the car to start. Either way glad you were able to get the car started and running good.

Massey

 

Interesting. The car must be programmed that way because the wires are now plugged in. Funny you mentioned the resistor, as there was one connected to both wire leads inside the electrical tape when I pulled it out. The key that works now is just a blank piece of metal. No chip or anything in it, and it starts up just fine, which is what leads me to believe it is bypassed in the system?

 

Yea you can program the BCM to ignore the VATS system all together. Be careful tho your car can be easily stolen by simply jacking the column just like the theifs used to do to the Monte carlo and Cutlass's

Massey

 

What do you mean, jacking the column?