96 LT4, 126K miles (orig clutch)

I'll have to check the battery, but it seems to have plenty of "juice". All the gauges light up full power. When I turn the ignition all the way nothing happens. All the gauges stay on (i.e. no drain), the car does NOT try to crank. I would think if it was the battery I would get some dimming when I try to crank the car, but they stay lit.

For what its worth, this happened a year or so ago and I put the car in neutral, rolled it a foot or so and when I tried to crank it up she turned just fine. That did not work now.

I did push start it last night with no problem.

Any ideas would be greatly welcome!

 

Try shining up your chip in your key ! If that doesn't do it get the switch and key reader checked.
Might just take ground off battery to reset everything after reading the codes.
There are several fixes to fix this problem and likely it will continue to happen if only intermittently.
Check C 4 FAQs at the top for more info.
The cars are getting older now.

 

I may be wrong, but I think Larry00 is trying to say you may be having a problem with the VATS system. Since there is no change in the lights on the dash when you try to start the car that indicates the starter is not drawing any current. It could be the VATS not recognizing your key, or it could be a starter solenoid problem, or possibly a loose or dirty connection at your battery or starter. If you walk away for about 10 minutes and try it again and it starts right up it is probably the VATS. Cleaning the key may do wonders for it .

 

yeah VATS or clutch safety switch would be top of my list.

 

I agree with Larry00, I had the same problem last year. Pulling off the neg cable for 30 seconds and the vet just fired right up.

 

I had this problem a couple months ago. The chip in the key starts to go bad. Once I got a new key, I never had a problem again.

 

Thanks guys.

Did not think of the VATS. I went home at lunch and tried with a different key and had no luck so I don't think it is the key.

Question - Does anyone know if the VATS is the problem would I be able to push start the car?

 

VATS measures the resistance of the pellet in the ign key and if it exceeds 4% from the stored value, the ECM won't allow the start enable relay to close thus not allowing cranking, and it won't allow the injectors to be pulsed, and it won't allow the fuel pump to run. So, you can push your vette to 150 mph and it won't start if VATS is the cause.
OK, let me type this for the 375th time:
If you can hear the starter solenoid click, then likely you have bad contacts in the starter that switch 12v to the starter motor and these can be replaced, yours are worn out. If no solenoid clicking, then unplug the clutch safety switch and jump the socket, measure the voltage on the jumper, it should be 12v with ign in crank. You can jump 12v to the jumper and the starter should crank. The clutch safety switch goes to the starter solenoid. If no 12v, then remove the kick panel above the drivers feet and find the 2 wires from above the steering column that goes to a 2 pin connector and unplug. Insert your ign key and measure the resistance across the wires from the steering column, they should measure the same as the pellet. If more than 4% off, you need a new ign lock which will have new contacts that make connection to the pellet. You can temporily bypass VATS by connecting a 1/4 watt (or higher) resistor the same value as your pellet across the 2 wires from the harness (these go to the VATS module). You can buy resistors from Radio Shack. It is also possible that the start enable relay may be defective, preventing cranking. The 96 will not allow you to keep the resistor connected all the time like older C4's, you must remove the resistor and reconnect it on each crank attempt. Don't permanently bypass VATS because 99% of thefts are done by bashing the column and jumping the ign.

 

Don't forget about bad starter solenoid.

 

Thanks again everyone.

jfb, From what you posted:

1. Since I CAN pushstart the car (in my original post) it isn't the VATS, correct?
2. There is no selenoid clicking so that is probably OK.

So it sounds like the things to check (using your instructions) are a) the clutch safety switch and if that is OK b) test the ingition lock?

 

If you can push start your C4, then VATS is ok. Jump 12v to the clutch safety switch jumper and the starter should crank the engine. If not, then you have a defective starter solenoid or starter or both. You could also have a defective start enable relay.
Also, push start the car ONLY as a test, continued push starting will destroy the OD. You are not allowed to ask me how I know this!

 

As far as I know a LT4 does not have an overdrive as such. I believe it is a 6 speed manual.

 

Oops thats right.