Key with Diode? '91 Park Ave.

[jjking9]

Im having an issue finding a key replacement. I have two keys (3 spare total, 2 with diodes and one with out) that should be able to start my car, but dont. Both have 'diodes' and are from two different places. They both look slightly different. One is from a Buick Dealership and the other is from a place that specializes in keys. Unsure of the name.

One thing I did notice, the two keys with diodes dont fit flush when inserted, but the one without the diode fits flush. Im really confused as to why its not working. The dealership doesnt know and google led me here.

Any help would be appreciated.

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF, the one without a resistor cannot start the car , do the other ones turn in the ign, but the vehicle will not crank over?

[spinne1]

If you want to use a non-diode key to start your car, you can bypass the VATS module. I'll quote my response to a different post below:

The bypass is your easiest and best solution. First, use a voltmeter to determine the resistance of your key's resistor. Check this figure against the resistance chart in the link below and find the closest value. Next, go to radio shack and buy resistors that add to close to the exact resistance that your key should be. Next, solder each resister together to make a chain to match the resistance of your key. Next, remove your glove box. Now, there is a black box towards the left side of the opening under a ledge. This is the VATS control box. If you remove the wire harness, you want to cut the purple/white wire and the white/black wire about 6 to 8 inches from the box (or whatever gives you plenty of work room). To be sure, the wires are in positions B8 and B7 on the wiring harness. Now, solder the resistor you made to the two wires going into the wiring harness that you cut (leave the other ends of the wires you cut free--they don't go anywhere for all practical purposes anymore). Use that black heat shrink tubing for putting the resistors together and also for the finished resistors to wiring job (or just use black electrical tape). Now, put the black box back if you removed it, or just put the electrical wiring harness back if you did not. Test it now using your key to see if the car starts (and without any red security light). If it works, then you no longer need a key with a resistor. You can dupe the resistor key at Lowe's and use that new key if you wanted.

You can also use this page as a guide:

http://vats.likeabigdog.com/

Note that I suggest putting the wire in near the box behind the glove box, while the site linked suggests putting your resistor chain under the steering wheel. I think my solution is better for two reasons. One, the access is easier doing it my way. Second, the orange wires in question are very small and flimsy and could develop an open with too much fidgeting. Either way is the same thing as the two orange wires connect to the two wires I suggest you use and nowhere else.