Try another key, I don't think you have vats. Try googling and learning about what you do have and common problems. We don't have much on your era here for the security system as they haven't become a large problem yet.

ok quick update to see if something catches some ones attention. i have checked the ignition control module, switched fuel pumps, replace the fuel filter (someone keeps telling me mass airflow sensor, or sparkplugs)

Before you keep spending money on parts, get a tuner.

And to answer your previous question about will the LS1m do what you need. To answer that...well yes kind-of. It will only scan engine parameters/touble codes/ect.

With the situation your in you should really invest in a tuner-HPT or PT. Unless you can find somebody close to you that has one.

And vats? I assume security?

There only 2 ways that I know of to correct this.
1-do the relearn procedure-maybe email Intense if you can't find it here
2-edit it out of the PCM

The relearn may or may not work-but its free and worth a shot.

You can also bypass the VATS (Vehicle Anti-Theft System if I got that right ;) ) entirely by wiring in a resistor with the same resistance as your key pellet (or something like that). Do a search on it to find out more. I'm not the expert.

:?: ok get this. today i finnally snapped (don't ask why) but i pulled out 3 of my spark plugs and yanked out every vacuume line i could find. :x left to go talk to one of the guys at AutoZone and left the keys on. so needless to say my battery was dead. came back and attemted to start my car. but as you alread could figure out the battery was dead by the time i got back. so i hooked up some jumper cables put every thing back i had taken off in anger and.........wouldn't you know it the car started right up like nothing was wrong. WTF MAN?????? :shock:

The battery going dead reset the PCM. It is now relearning.

so in a week or so it'll die out again?

I'll chime in again on what might have happened. Some GM cars, after activating the security and fuel cut-off, requires that the key be in the ignition for 10 mins (in the on position), otherwise the vehicle will not start no matter how many times you try. I guess your era is one of those cars (I know the previous generation Malibu has that feature). Disconnecting and reconnecting the battery does not help it...the key HAS to be in that state for a specific amount of time.

So, since the battery died, in effect restting the PCM and it started right up, are you suggesting that it's NOT the VATS then?

I don't beleive that is what he is saying. It did "reset" the PCM, but the security will kick back in.

We had an 00 Monte do this MANY times on us... 12hrs later of constant tooling around we figured it out...

And it would run a long time before secutiry would kill it. The guy was actually on his way home a couple times :roll: .

Are you getting a P0000 code for anything while it does this?