well hello all,today I had a friend come look at my car and see if he colud help out,I told him that I put some foil around the old key just at the little resistors on the key,and when I put it in the ignition I saw smoke coming from out of the defrost vents top of dash driverside,then i told him that i had a newer switch just installed a couple of days ago and i still get the no crank no start no nothing.He asked me if the battery was charged and I said it keeps diing since i put the foil on the key,and i seen smoke.He said did it have a security feature on the car i said yes,pass-key,we checked all the fuses and none were blown,andpassenger side fuse panel none were blown,he said that it might have fried the computer when i put that foil on the key,and if not that it some wires touching causing the security to stay on,can someone tell me what have i done to my car.1993 olds regency ninety eight.

By wrapping foil around the key you've placed a direct short across the VATS resistor, this is obviously an adverse condition. Why did you do this? I'm at a loss here.

oldsmess, i am completely stupified that you would make 5 threads about the same topic in shortly over a one week span

Please don't start any more threads about this same topic. You've made it so anyone trying to help needs to look at 5 threads to find all the details.

It sounds like your best bet would be going to a junkyard and getting a lock cylinder with key & a VATS module from the same car.

There is a voltage supply that gets pushed thru the chip on the key- so when you wrapped the key in foil, you grounded out that + voltage supply with the grounded ignition = smoke

Oldsmess, any more posts you make about this problem must be within this thread or they will be deleted. If you're lucky, you haven't fried the computer since its on the passenger'* side and smoke came out the driver'* side.

well sorry for the amount of threads i posted,but like i said b4 i was just in a desperate state,and markwb I was told by my brother,he said he had the same problem b4 and he wrapped foil around the key to make the key contact the little points inside the cylinder,so i thought that i could try that,im no electrician by no means just wa in a desperate state to try and start my car,thanks for all the replys and again i apologize for the to many thread posts I did sorry guys.

OK. Let'* get back to work. The pellet in the key is just a resistor. It'* very simple to see if the Vats module is reading the proper resistance through the lock cylinder. You'll need a Multimeter in order to perform these checks. If you don't already have a meter they can be purchased for less than $20 at stores like Sears & Radio Shack. It'* a must have for the do-it-yourselfer. All you need is a simple one that'll check resistance & DC volts. Set the meter to check resistance (Ohms) & place the probes on both sides of the key pellet. Now disconnect the two wires coming from the lock cylinder at the Vats module. Put the key in the ignition & check the resistance reading of the two wires. The reading should be very close to what you got while checking the key pellet. If the readings aren't close you need to do the Vats bypass (1 or 2 dollars) or change the lock cylinder & wires (could be $50 or more).

The Vats bypass is done by purchasing a resistor with the same resistance as the key pellet & wiring it up to the Vats module. You can get these at Radio Shack or stores that install remote starters.

sounds like the typical GM Passlock syndrome.... Had the same thing with my impala