VATS or low battery?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 1
From: Hartland WI
VATS or low battery? UPDATED - still confused
Car has been running but the other night we got stranded when the car wouldn't start - turn the key and get a click and nothing. plenty of battery for the lights etc. I'm figuring something with the VATS, but its 11:00 on Friday night not much to do. Then, for some reason I flip the power locks a few times, turn the key and - boom fires right up and runds great.
don't try her on Saturday but today I go out to warm her up and same thing. This time the door lock trick will not work.
I seem to recall reading on here somewhere that a low battery will cause the system to shutdown even though the lights and stuff still work.
I don't have a spare key - need to get one - but I've put a charger on it and she seems to be taking a charge - will try to fire it again later.
VATS or battery?
Thanks
don't try her on Saturday but today I go out to warm her up and same thing. This time the door lock trick will not work.
I seem to recall reading on here somewhere that a low battery will cause the system to shutdown even though the lights and stuff still work.
I don't have a spare key - need to get one - but I've put a charger on it and she seems to be taking a charge - will try to fire it again later.
VATS or battery?
Thanks
Last edited by rstackjd; May 23, 2005 at 09:21 AM. Reason: update
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Classic bad battery connections. Remove both battery cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs, battery posts and the bolts and replace (neg last). It takes a low resistance good connection to the battery to supply the 100+ amps the starter requires. You want your battery connections to be like your lover, bright and tight! 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 6,470
Likes: 2
From: levittown pa. usa Even a bad day with my `Vette, is better than a good day at work
St. Jude Donor '10
Originally Posted by Pete K
Probably not vats. Vats will not even allow he solenoid to click.
When I have problems with the VATS on my `87, when I turn the key; everything lights up, but when I turn the key all the way--SILENCE---no click.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,817
Likes: 1
From: Hartland WI
Update
Perplexed - new data:
fully charged the battery yesterday, cleaned posts. Got in this morning and same thing - dash lights up, turn key anc click, nothing more. jiggle battery cables - all tight, number of tries - click, nothing. Then, all of a sudden, 9th or 10th try - fires and runs great!
Voltage meter read 13.6 when I started driving but by the time I got to work (about 20 miles, 1/2 hour) its reading 13.4 - does that tell anyone anything?
Not throwing any codes.
Car is 1988 automatic.
Thanks
fully charged the battery yesterday, cleaned posts. Got in this morning and same thing - dash lights up, turn key anc click, nothing more. jiggle battery cables - all tight, number of tries - click, nothing. Then, all of a sudden, 9th or 10th try - fires and runs great!
Voltage meter read 13.6 when I started driving but by the time I got to work (about 20 miles, 1/2 hour) its reading 13.4 - does that tell anyone anything?
Not throwing any codes.
Car is 1988 automatic.
Thanks
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Change your starter.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,295
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From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...
St. Jude Donor '03
What about the clutch switch? 
I'm having some of the same issues and I believe my clutch engagement switch is shorting out. The car has excellent electric power during startup. Its just acting like it does when you forget to engage the clutch. Of course the clutch is on the floor.
I'm having some of the same issues and I believe my clutch engagement switch is shorting out. The car has excellent electric power during startup. Its just acting like it does when you forget to engage the clutch. Of course the clutch is on the floor.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Automatics have a gear selector switch on the gear shifter and the starter solenoid power goes through it. Try jumping the gear selector switch and cranking. You can also jump 12v to the jumped gear selector switch to test the starter, it should crank.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Makes 2 of us....
I just pulled my 1987 out of storage about a month ago and had both a NEW starter and alternator installed. The car has been running fine since UNTIL..............about 2 days ago where I can start the car but if I shut if off and try to restart...nothing. Its obvious the starter solenoid is being disabled but why???? Next trip tomorrow, Monday will be to the local Advance Auto Parts store to buy an Autocraft Titanium battery and see where that takes me. For $65 its worth replacing anways. . I let you know if success was achieved. Any other thoughts anyone?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,066
Likes: 3
From: Milpitas ca
Had been getting the same problems the past couple of weeks. Turn Key and nothing but a click. Had battery,cables, and starter checked out and it turned out to be Starter. Replaced yesterday and now fires right up.
