Need some help, Bad!
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Need some help, Bad!
I have 92 C4 base model, having a battery drain and possibly electrical issue. Ran of gas because the electronic display gave bad reading. Now it will not start. Replaced the entire stirring column because the turn signal had a problem. Advised trying to just replace the turn signal arm would just be the tip of the iceberg. So I replaced the column. Now the car won't turn over at all. Vehicle is a shot but the guys at the shop says it is electrical but what does that mean?
Does anybody know anyone in the Atlanta area, Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Conyers that has experience with the C4 and can help diagnose electrical and starting problem. Seems to a mountain of a problem but I think it is just something I have never seen.
Any help would be appreciated very much.
Does anybody know anyone in the Atlanta area, Stone Mountain, Lithonia, Conyers that has experience with the C4 and can help diagnose electrical and starting problem. Seems to a mountain of a problem but I think it is just something I have never seen.
Any help would be appreciated very much.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
Since you changed the whole column you most likely have a differant vats code.
I have never tried it but if you ohm your old key chip then get that blank and cut it to match the new key it should work. If I am not right someone will tell us.
I have never tried it but if you ohm your old key chip then get that blank and cut it to match the new key it should work. If I am not right someone will tell us.
Last edited by antfarmer2; Jun 26, 2016 at 08:17 PM.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
I changed the stirring column as a result of the left turn signal, but this all started with this battery drain, where I would need a jump to get started. Then time went and then about two weeks ago ran out of gas and after putting gas in, driving to gas station filling up, the next time I stopped it behaved as if I ran out of gas. After trying and trying it would finally start. But if it sat more than a couple of hours it behaved as if I was out of gas. It just went down hill from there. After talking with the mechanic and a local guy I can get c4 parts said it is better to replace the entire column than changing part after part on the column and it still not solve the problem. I bought new keys with the VATS number 6, and I don't think that is the problem. It has something to do with the power, electrical or in cranking sequence. Just don't know what.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
need some help, bad!
I changed the stirring column as a result of the left turn signal, but this all started with this battery drain, where I would need a jump to get started. Then time went and then about two weeks ago ran out of gas and after putting gas in, driving to gas station filling up, the next time I stopped it behaved as if I ran out of gas. After trying and trying it would finally start. But if it sat more than a couple of hours it behaved as if I was out of gas. It just went down hill from there. After talking with the mechanic and a local guy I can get c4 parts said it is better to replace the entire column than changing part after part on the column and it still not solve the problem. I bought new keys with the VATS number 6, and I don't think that is the problem. It has something to do with the power, electrical or in cranking sequence. Just don't know what.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
If car is still using VATS - key with chip. Is security light staying on? If so the new column's key blank most likely doesn't match module in car. Take original key and new to you key to someone who makes keys. Get a new key made using original blank number and New key's pattern or code. Other choice would be to bypass VATS system using resistance value of original key.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Ohm your old key and tell us the number I can tell you from here also give us the new key number.
What do you mean, OHM the old key, but as I stated the starting problems where before I changed the column and the guy who sold me the column has been in the vette business for years, and tested the old key and the new key for the correct VATS Number. So right now, the column replacement is secondary, but the primary problem is the battery drain which is in some way electrical, but I have know clue and trying to avoid pitching a bag full of pennies at the problem because that is all I have.
What do you mean, OHM the old key, but as I stated the starting problems where before I changed the column and the guy who sold me the column has been in the vette business for years, and tested the old key and the new key for the correct VATS Number. So right now, the column replacement is secondary, but the primary problem is the battery drain which is in some way electrical, but I have know clue and trying to avoid pitching a bag full of pennies at the problem because that is all I have.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
I just asked for a free test. Your expert replaced the column for what? Most likely just caused more problems. Does the car start now? The battery drain can be found by a ohm meter and pulling fuses. Tell us what you want to do and answer the questions or we can not help you. I for one am not taken your experts info as he is the one that is lost.
Look on youtube to see how the read the vats code with a ohm meter.
You might just have a bad battery.
What is your fuel pressure and does it have spark?
Look on youtube to see how the read the vats code with a ohm meter.
You might just have a bad battery.
What is your fuel pressure and does it have spark?
Last edited by antfarmer2; Jun 26, 2016 at 09:06 PM.
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Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Need Help bad!
I just asked for a free test. Your expert replaced the column for what? Most likely just caused more problems. Does the car start now? The battery drain can be found by a ohm meter and pulling fuses. Tell us what you want to do and answer the questions or we can not help you. I for one am not taken your experts info as he is the one that is lost.
Look on youtube to see how the read the vats code with a ohm meter.
You might just have a bad battery.
What is your fuel pressure and does it have spark?
Look on youtube to see how the read the vats code with a ohm meter.
You might just have a bad battery.
What is your fuel pressure and does it have spark?
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
I changed the stirring column as a result of the left turn signal, but this all started with this battery drain, where I would need a jump to get started. Then time went and then about two weeks ago ran out of gas and after putting gas in, driving to gas station filling up, the next time I stopped it behaved as if I ran out of gas. After trying and trying it would finally start. But if it sat more than a couple of hours it behaved as if I was out of gas. It just went down hill from there. After talking with the mechanic and a local guy I can get c4 parts said it is better to replace the entire column than changing part after part on the column and it still not solve the problem. I bought new keys with the VATS number 6, and I don't think that is the problem. It has something to do with the power, electrical or in cranking sequence. Just don't know what.
Never heard of changing a steering column because it sounding like it was out of gas.
Last edited by antfarmer2; Jun 26, 2016 at 09:53 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Couple of hours away but this guy and his shop know Corvettes and especially the C4: www.petrisenterprises.com
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,853
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From: Hamilton Virginia
To me you have seperate issues that should have been addressed one by one before you even f@cked with the steering column.
Battery drain : could have just been a battery that was old. Pulling fuses and testing with a meter should have been done for that first before anything else.
Gas gauge not reading correctly : Time goes by I think most vehicles gauge will not read correctly. I know my 92 c4 shows I am at a half tank but really at a quarter tank. You can learn to judge that by looking at the gauge and seeing where its at, then filling it up and seeing how many gallons it takes.
Car not starting all the time after running out of gas: I bet you had trash at the bottom of your tank. you need to check your fuel pressure and replace your fuel filter.
Turn signal not working correctly: replace the turn signal arm, not the whole steering column. was anything else not working in the column ?
Now your issue with not starting after the new column:
If the key issue doesn't solve it, put your old column back in ( I know its a bitch to do), and see if the car try's to start. Buy a new battery.
Report back.
Battery drain : could have just been a battery that was old. Pulling fuses and testing with a meter should have been done for that first before anything else.
Gas gauge not reading correctly : Time goes by I think most vehicles gauge will not read correctly. I know my 92 c4 shows I am at a half tank but really at a quarter tank. You can learn to judge that by looking at the gauge and seeing where its at, then filling it up and seeing how many gallons it takes.
Car not starting all the time after running out of gas: I bet you had trash at the bottom of your tank. you need to check your fuel pressure and replace your fuel filter.
Turn signal not working correctly: replace the turn signal arm, not the whole steering column. was anything else not working in the column ?
Now your issue with not starting after the new column:
If the key issue doesn't solve it, put your old column back in ( I know its a bitch to do), and see if the car try's to start. Buy a new battery.
Report back.