I was trying to determine the value of my key to get a spare made since I only have 1 key. My pellet won't ohm out. It shows no reading on the meter. It is a new Greenlee digital multimeter I use at work, so I know it works. I verified the meter also by ohming out some fuses I have and it appears to work fine. When I ohm my pellet, it reads nothing - as if its not touching anything. I started thinking about it, and I don't have a security light in my gauges either. The car starts, runs and drives fine. I just want an extra/spare key. Does this mean my VATS has been bypassed by a previous owner or my key pellet is bad? Its a 1996 Z28. Thanks.

 

Well, if the pellet won't measure at all, then it must be bad. If you have no security light, the light is burnt out or VATS may have been bypassed with a resistor (more likely, if the pellet is bad).

If you look under the dash and find a resistor wired in, you can measure it (or read the color code) to find out what pellet value you would need to get for a new spare key.

 

I will check for a resistor tommorrow. Thanks!

 

I you find a resistor wired in, you have the choice of leaving it there and keeping the VATS bypassed. You would then not need to buy a key that has a pellet in it (cheaper).

 

i have noticed those keys can be a pain with a multimeter. check with your local dealer, they should have a reader to tell right away what pellet number it is. if they dont get a reading then i would say its a bad pellet.

 

I don't see a resitor wired in under the column. Where would it be? Maybe I am ohming the key incorrectly? Do I need to clean the contacts first or am I doing it wrong. One lead on each side of the pellet?

 

Make sure you are holding the leads to the center raised part of the pellet. One lead on each side. You might try cleaning them up with some 100 grit sandpaper if you aren't getting a reading.

 

 

thats how I did it. SHould I try the sandpaper?

 

I prefer to use electrical contact (tuner) cleaner rather than an abrasive. I tried to use my spare key that has not been touched in 10 years. It wouldn't start the car due to oxidation on the contact points. The tuner cleaner removed the crud and the car started.

Warren