Vats
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: Dallas/Spring Texas
Vats
I've got what I think is a VATS problem, I know, big surprise 
. It's an '86 and it starts and dies. No injector pulse. I have a 10k resistor that actually ohms out to 9.83. My question is whether or not that is close enough to disarm the vats and let it start. I saw on an audoivox site about alarm systems that said "pick a resistor as close to but less than what the key ohms out to". My key reads 9.50 when checked. Do the more experienced people on here think that this could be my problem? I hate buying a manual (which I know would be much better) for a car I'm just fixing to sell. It would be nice to know where the components for the entire security system are and what voltages/resistances they need to see to operate because I'd like to make it work properly. Any help is greatly appreciated. 
. It's an '86 and it starts and dies. No injector pulse. I have a 10k resistor that actually ohms out to 9.83. My question is whether or not that is close enough to disarm the vats and let it start. I saw on an audoivox site about alarm systems that said "pick a resistor as close to but less than what the key ohms out to". My key reads 9.50 when checked. Do the more experienced people on here think that this could be my problem? I hate buying a manual (which I know would be much better) for a car I'm just fixing to sell. It would be nice to know where the components for the entire security system are and what voltages/resistances they need to see to operate because I'd like to make it work properly. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,838
Likes: 341
From: Database Error Indiana
This isn't much help but my Vats experience with an 86 and an 87 involved a no crank problem. Like a totally dead battery, except the dash would still light up. No click, no crank. Never had one start and die.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 21,751
Likes: 166
From: PA
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Originally Posted by Spankyellow
This isn't much help but my Vats experience with an 86 and an 87 involved a no crank problem. Like a totally dead battery, except the dash would still light up. No click, no crank. Never had one start and die.
This is exactly how my '87 would act when the VATS was acting up. I'm sure someone will chime in if their experience was different, but this no start condition seems to be the most common VATS symptom that I have seen.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
VATS, if it detects the correct value pellet (withing 5%) closes the start enable relay to allow a crank and also tells the ECM to pulse the injectors. If you can start the car, then I doubt that VATS is your problem. Measure the fuel pressure, when you crank the car the fuel pump is energized only for two seconds and will turn back on when a switch is activated by oil pressure. You could have a defective oil pressure operated switch.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,316
Likes: 246
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
I put together some good info from my 86 manual 
http://members.shaw.ca/agent86/Vats.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/6E3-B%20Symptoms.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Co...0View%2086.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/EC...%20Sensors.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/En...ButWontRun.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Ig...System-EST.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Fu...l%20System.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Fu...mDiagnosis.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/agent86/Vats.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/6E3-B%20Symptoms.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Co...0View%2086.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/EC...%20Sensors.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/En...ButWontRun.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Ig...System-EST.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Fu...l%20System.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Fu...mDiagnosis.pdf
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: GERMANTOWN TN
Originally Posted by Spankyellow
This isn't much help but my Vats experience with an 86 and an 87 involved a no crank problem. Like a totally dead battery, except the dash would still light up. No click, no crank. Never had one start and die.
My '94 did the same thing a couple of months ago; turned out the pellet in the key had worn down and was not making good contact. Not really any help, just my $.02.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: Dallas/Spring Texas
You're a helluva guy AGENT 86 
I would give you my first born, but I don't have one yet. I'll report back tomorrow after I've checked some things. Thanks!
I would give you my first born, but I don't have one yet. I'll report back tomorrow after I've checked some things. Thanks!
Originally Posted by AGENT 86
I put together some good info from my 86 manual
http://members.shaw.ca/agent86/Vats.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/6E3-B%20Symptoms.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Co...0View%2086.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/EC...%20Sensors.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/En...ButWontRun.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Ig...System-EST.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Fu...l%20System.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Fu...mDiagnosis.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/agent86/Vats.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/6E3-B%20Symptoms.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Co...0View%2086.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/EC...%20Sensors.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/En...ButWontRun.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Ig...System-EST.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Fu...l%20System.pdf
http://members.shaw.ca/corvette86/Fu...mDiagnosis.pdf
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: Dallas/Spring Texas
Latest update: Car finally started firing the injectors. I back-probed the ecm pim with my test light where the wire from the theft deterrent module comes in and you could see it blinking so I knew it was getting its square wave signal. I did a little more looking around and figured out that the guy before me had changed out the distributor and it was one without the esc in it so the computer had no references. I had another distributor with the esc in it so I swapped it in and viola, it cranked. It's running rough, but I'm sure, with as long as it's been sitting, that a few of the injectors are probably stuck. I'll put on new plugs/wires and go from there. Thanks again to AGENT86!!!