WTF just happened?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,556
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From: Jenison MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
WTF just happened?
Ok this car is going to break down on me some time between now and the end of CFCI.. Last night I went out to roll up the windows. I put the key and turned it. and nothing happened. I mean NOTHING. it turned without ANY resistance. No clicking at the on point and no startup. I turned it back and forth a few times put the key in and out a few time and then all of a sudden it worked. I drove it to work today and no problems. But I cross my fingers every time I started it. I hear on here a lot that the VATS system will leave you one day. Is that what's going on? Is it that if it does not read the chip thingy in the key, it will just turn and not do anything? Or am I looking to pull the column out again and replace the tumbler? Any thoughts on this one? 
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,648
Likes: 1
From: Denham Springs Louisiana
Same thing has happened to me a couple of times. When I turned the key...only a few lights on the dash came on, but no ticking or turning over or anything. After a few minutes, it cranked up like nothing was ever wrong. I hear that this is the VATS system and some people tell you to clean the cjip on the key with some alcohol and q-tip. There is a way to bypass the VATS but I haven't done so...but I;m sure someone will be able to help. Good Luck! 
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 354
Likes: 1
From: BARTLETT TN
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-11-'12-'13
Her fsr mine did the same thing that yous has done and guess what mine was? The cables on the battery had built up corrosion and it wasnt getting contact to start. Now I had no lights or nothing so I thought it was the battery but it wasnt. I just took off the cables from the battery rubbed them down with a wire brush then rubbed on some lit. grease from auto store reinstalled and wow what a diff. The grease is so it wont ever do it again. I hope your fix is as easy as mine. 
see ya steve
see ya steve
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,556
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From: Jenison MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Ok so from the sounds of it, it does have something tho do with the VATS chip thing in the key. Either - dirty, going bad, or maybe even a bad battery connection. I just don't want this thing leaving me stuck 800 miles from home at the Criuse-in. 
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 11,043
Likes: 3
From: San Jose Pat Tillman - American Hero
Originally Posted by MikeC4
...be careful.....when you say no resistance when you turn the key from ignition to start...that may be your ignition switch(tumbler) going bad inside your steering column...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 5,556
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From: Jenison MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
Originally Posted by Perfusion
I was just gonna say...'cause I've had the VATS issue with both of my C4s (past and present), and never did I have the resistance symptom you described.
Ok so now if it is the tumbler, what would I have to do to get a new one? would I need one set for my key or get a new key with the same chip as the one I have now?
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