I have done the VATS Bypass mod on my 89 IROC and am now having a battery drain problem.

Will bypassing the VATS cause a battery drain? You know, by leaving the "bypass" in? Should I run it through a switch and only switch it on when I'm ready to start the car?

Since this is the only thing I've changed I wonder if that would cause the ECM to stay powered on and drain the battery after removing the key.

How much is a new ignition switch? I checked them out online but none of them specify the pellet value or anything.

Would it be worth it to change it instead of bypassing it as far as worrying about the battery drain?

Thanks a lot.

 

The VATS bypass should not cause any drain.

Ignition cylinders do not have pellet values. They only read the value in the key.

 

I understand that, I mean that they don't mention being VATS compatable setups.

They just look like plain lock cylinders. They may use a stock photo for the pictures though. I guess the only real way to find out is go to the store and look at it.

Thanks

After I posted the question I did a search about battery drains. I think that I'm going to get a test light and start checking circuits until I find the problem. I can charge the battery and it will be fine for 6 days, no problems. On the 7th day it'll be dead, I mean no interior light or anything dead. So dead that my Jump box won't connect properly. I think it has to see a certain voltage before the green "connection" light will come on.

 

You sure your battery is good?

 

I bought the battery brand new in April 07.

I picked up a test light yesterday. I'm going to hook it up between the negative cable and terminal. If it light's up, there's a drain I'm assuming. There's no radio in it now and nothing else I can think of that would have a constant to draw power. If the light's on, I'll start pulling fuses, hopefully it will go out when I pull one, then I will know what circuit it's on.

If I can't find one there, I'll take the battery back and make them check it.

 

I had the same problem on mine along time ago, and it was the glove box light. The switch fell out, and was on all the time.