Car won't start, Help
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 578
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh NC
Car won't start, Help
Tonight my car wouldn't start after giving me no previous trouble. The battery had 12 volts and when i turned the key all the accessory power came on, but there was no noise from the starter or any attempt to turn the engine over. After 20 minutes or so, it started like nothing was wrong and drove fine afterwards.
I was wondering what could be the cause of this? I remember reading past threads about the key not being recognized due to wear; and was also wondering if the sensor that detects whether the clutch is depressed could be going bad?
Thanks
I was wondering what could be the cause of this? I remember reading past threads about the key not being recognized due to wear; and was also wondering if the sensor that detects whether the clutch is depressed could be going bad?
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Its 6 minutes to wait when VATS doesn't recognize the pellet (I think its after the 2nd try). When it does this, try your spare key as its pellet isn't worn like your everyday key. When it won't start, jump the clutch safety switch and try again. Pull the kick panel above drivers feet and find the two wires from the ign tumbler (white on my 87) that go to a connector. Unplug and measure the resistance on the wires from the tumbler with your key in place. It should measure the same as the key pellet. If over 13k ohms, you need a new tumbler which has new contacts that make with the pellet. You can temporarily bypass VATS until you schedule a replacement by clipping a 5% 1/4 watt resistor (from Radio Shack) the same value as your pellet across the wires going into the wiring harness ( to VATS module). Don't permanently bypass VATS as 99% of thefts are done by bashing the column and jumping the ignition.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 2
From: Obama=death for America
Sure sounds like the VATS. Don't use that same key for a while and see if the problem happens again. If it doesn't, ditch the bad key and get another one made. You can never have too many spare VATS keys. Another great technical GM invention - if it didn't fail all the time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 6,130
Likes: 2
From: seattle WA
You might even try cleaning the key-I was experiencing some problems on my 87, cleaned the key with Rubbing alcohol-sure seemed to take care of my problem.Funny how little things can seem to cause
major problems.
major problems.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 42
From: Baltimore, MD USA
When you insert the key and turn the ignition key to run (Don't start the engine) look at the Security light in the Instrument panel.
If the CCM reads the Key pellet properly (Correct Value) the Security light will go out.
If the Security light stays on, the Key Pellet is not being read correctly and the problem could be a dirty or worn Key Pellet, bad contacts in the ignition cylinder or bad CCM.
If the CCM reads the Key pellet properly (Correct Value) the Security light will go out.
If the Security light stays on, the Key Pellet is not being read correctly and the problem could be a dirty or worn Key Pellet, bad contacts in the ignition cylinder or bad CCM.
