So my normal key that I've been using to drive my car for the last 2 yrs that I've owned it finally stopped working friday night. So I got lucky to the fact that my spare works great.

How is it that the key stops working? And how soon should I expect that not to work much longer??

Had the same thing happen to my '94 Camaro. Cleaned the resistor chip'* contacts, worked a little while longer. Really, the contacts inside the lock cylinder needed replaced. I did a B.*. fix by measuring the actual resistance of the key'* chip, made a replacement out of resistors from radio-shack and soldered it into the harness under the dash permanently. (The cost to replace the lock cylinder was looking like $100 for the cylinder and two keys. The resistors I used to fake out the VATS module were 50 cents)

Ya I've done that before.....

So it'* looking like it'* time to keep resistors in my car along with a pair of wire strippers....LOL

Or, doing the correct way and replace the lock cylinder. It'* been 5-6 years ago when I went looking for a solution and the only option was to buy a new lock "kit" from a dealer. It'* possible that one of the aftermarket companies has stepped up with a replacement lock cylinder that is cheaper.

The resistor trick isn't something I'd wait to do. If I remember correctly, the value on the keys is always an odd-ball resistance that needs two or three resistors in series-parrallel to match the key'* value

Ya I know how to bypass it with the resistors, I had to do it at bonne fest last year on one of our MN members cars so he could get home on time to his woman LOL

Just put in a remote starter, it eliminates the Vat system.

Why would you pay that much for resistors?

Nate.. check the resistor in the key that no longer works. It is possible for them to give out. If you get no reading on it..it simply gave up.. Bypass or use the other key.

It must have given up, because my spare key'* been working with no issues at all for the last few days.

I wouldn't mind remote start though, kinda one of those things I'd like to have, but kinda pointless with no A/C and the car really never gets driven in the winter.

AND it eliminates the VATS in exactly the same way, cut the wires and solder in resistors.

http://www.12vp.com/info_resistors.htm

Took one resistor for mine. 5 for a buck at Radio Shuck.