trulytex

Here...... Here...... Brother!

jfb

Partial Quote: I have tried every Fix known to Man to remedy this VATS Issue!
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What you didn't do when it wouldn't crank is to follow power from the battery through the VATS system all the way to the starter solenoid and somewhere in that path you would have had to find out why the starter solenoid didn't get 12v when the ign sw was in crank position! Replacing parts one by one didn't fix your problem because they weren't defective. On my 87, power comes from the battery to a jump start terminal to a fuseable link through the firewall connector to a wiring harness splice to the ignition sw socket to another splice to the start enable relay socket to the clutch safety switch socket to a wiring harness splice back through the firewall connector and to the starter solenoid. A grounded 12v lamp could have tested each one of these points to determine where you stopped getting 12v going to the starter relay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can bypass VATS, its an easy fix, as easy as, but more expensive than using a 12v lamp to find out where the defect is. What always gives me a chuckle is what are you going to do if after installing the bypass it stops working in the future? That has happened here.

ApexerER

I fixed mine really easy, I had a new ignition key made for mine. I didn't worry about the chip since I was eliminating the vats so it cost me two bucks. Then I took a cut off wheel and cut my origional ignition key just above and below the resistor in the key so i basically just had a tiny little resistor. Then i soldered the vats wires to either side of the key, made sure i couldn't pull them off and taped it up under the dash. It has been like that for over a year now with no problems.

LT4BUD

1)....cleaning the key can help,,,some salty sweat buildup screws up the resistance value....just wiping the surface with clean dry cloth might do the trick

2) You only need to wait a little over 3 minutes for the system to reset before you try again

3)Also if you try to start it before the VATS resets, the time starts all over again.....so for example if you try to start it every two minutes after a problem it will NEVER start even if you have corrected the problem by for example cleaning off the key..

Voice of experience...two times, both times cleaning key and waiting 5 minutes worked

darkstallion_69

When i originally bought my 94 vette a year ago a week after buying it I went to start it and it refused. It started 15 mins later and never did it again for 8 months until recently. Now it doesnt start every ******* day. And every single time it starts after 5 mins. I have noticed though that one side of my key the metal contact that comes out is almost smooth while the other side is not. I Might buy a new key or just do the vats bypass.

erikv79

Millah

I just bump start mine when the VATS system shuts it down. Good thing I have a stick. But it is embarrising sometimes. Think I will try and get another key made before I look at bypassing VATS. But that will be the next step if the new key dont work.

DWC4

Two good lessons duly noted. I have a spare good key, guess I'll keep it handy as well. Lots of great info in this thread from everyone, thanks.

CREWZIN

Mine is just starting to have trouble and 3-4 minutes is all you have to wait till it starts. I have a couple extra keys, one that's never been used so I'll switch to that and see if it helps.

P.S. OK, just looked at the old key and half the little silver chip can't be seen on either side of the key. Dirt, worn off, can't tell. Looked at the key I've never used and there's 3 times as much silver "chip" length on it. Hopefully, using the new key I won't have any more problems. I did try it momentarily in the garage and it started right up.

rodj

As a footnote.
if you can bump start the car ( or jump the starter terminals ) then problem is with the starter enable relay side of VATS only.
If the key wasn't being read correctly then VATS would not allow the injectors to fire so you could push car as long as you like and it would still not fire up.
A new key would change nothing
Bypassing the relay will solve this particular problem while still keeping the fuel shutoff component active for theft protection