I thought I had it licked when I removed the Viper aftermarket alarm system. It's been months since it acted up but this morning it won't start.

VATS is the dumbest option ever designed for a car. I think it's prevented more owners from driving their cars than thefts prevented.

I'm going to wait 15 minutes to let it reset and try again.

 

Its one of the smartest things put on cars. Corvettes used to be the most stolen car, it isn't any longer. I've typed over 300 times how to determine if your clutch safety switch (gear selector sw if auto) or your contacts in the ign lock cylinder are the cause of no start. Use the search function. I'll gladly type it again if you want me to. Keep your car in good repair!

 

If it is VATS it should store code 46. I would check this before assuming it is VATS.

 

The car is fine. The biggest problem with VATS is that there is no easy over-ride. I have no fea of my car being stolen it is rarely out of my sight. It's garage kept. Chevy should have included a switch inside the car that completely disbles vats shoiuld the owner choose to make it go away.

Anyway, my problem was definitely the VATS system. I went out after 15 minutes wiggled the key and it started up like a champ. I went for a 30 minute drive and put it back in the garage. I turned it off to clean up the interior and now it won't start again. In 15 minutes I'll be able to start it again.

 

Since you have Viper why not bypass VATS. All the Corvette major suppliers have a bypass for about $26. It took 10 minutes and is fully reversable.

 

painless wiring makes a VATS disable module. its about 50 bucks and easy to install. I had to put one in my truck when i did the TPI install since i'm using the factory key for the truck not the vats stuff.

 

All that does is disable the ignition switch cut off and makes the system think that the key is always in. It doesn't disable all the other VATS functions like fuel cut off and since the Viper has keyless entry that interferes with the factory security turn off which is the door keyswitch.

I also thought about disabling VATS on the chip but I've heard from other forum members that even though the chip has a VATS on/off sector that it doesn't completely work. Very frustrating.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

sure there's an easy sulution,by a by-pass switch off of ecklers and it should turn on fine!

 

It sounds like you have worn contacts in the ignition cylinder lock that make connection to the pellet. All you need to do is have a new igntion lock cylinder installed in your steering column. My 87 left me stuck at church one Sunday and I put a fixed resistor across the 2 pin connector from my wiring harness (goes to VATS module) and drove my car until I could schedule a lock replacement. That was about 6 years ago and I haven't had any trouble since and I drive my 87 every day.
The person I bought my 87 from bought a new 90 vette and one day they came out of work to find the window busted out and the steering column bashed but the vette hadn't moved an inch. You can bypass VATS by connecting a fixed resistor the same value as your pellet across the 2 pin connector that the 2 wires from above the steering column go to. Leave the 2 pin connector unplugged. You can use a 1/4 watt 5% resistor from Radio Shack instead of a $26 to $50 kit. The resistance has to be within about 4% of the assigned value. I saved a list of standard GM pellet values, but cannot get them in this post for some reason. Use the search function for a list of VATS pellet values. Then schedule a lock replacement!

 

Have you tried purchasing a new key? I had a VATS problem, had a new key made, and have never had the problem again.

Rik

 

I've got three keys. I tried all of them.

The VATS is just tempermental. I tried starting again now just for the hell of it and it fired up without hesitation.

Making me crazy

 

Well of course its temperamental, the contacts in the ign lock are worn out, NOTHING lasts forever!
Instead of making yourself more and more angry, FIX it. I fixed my VATS problem and it hasn't failed to start for 6 years now and I drive my 87 every day. Its in the shop now for a new heater core and we found a disintegrated bushing in the rear suspension and it will be replaced Wednesday. I choose to fix my vette instead of cussing it.

 

VATS blows. Get a bypass and move on.

 

VATS doesn't blow, it is a valuable theft detterent. Fix it and move on!

 

It's also a great deterrent from driving your own car. Too many variables in the system that can go bad with age and leave you stranded. Install a bypass with a switched ground so you can enable/disable the system per your choosing. I went round and round on the VATS in my '86 harness. Ignition cyl. contacts, pellets, starter relay, control module, any of these could fail at any time stranding you. It was fine when new, but age doesn't do it any justice. A bypass will enable you to defeat the system at any time.

 

There's a lot of helpful information here, a website created by a forum member, GIJoe:

VATSsucks.com

I've been there, done that, and I've helped contribute to that website.

A simple search here on CorvetteForum would have helped you find this site, but you already know that.

(sorry for the snarky tone of this post, but sheesh... a lot of us have put out good info here. Go read it!)

 

The VATS disable module from CC has 3 modes (VATS, No VATS, Total Disabled), ,$50, 10minute install, and you don't have to worry or post VATS issues here again... worked and works great for me...

 

I bought my 87 Corvette in 1989, it had 36,000 miles on it. I drive it every day. ONCE it wouldn't start after church and I found that the contacts in the ign lock cylinder wouldn't reliably make connection to the pellet in my ignition key. I bypassed it with a resistor and scheduled to have the lock cylinder replaced (the next day)
. That was about 6 years ago. I went on driving it every day and it has not failed to start due to VATS (couple defective batteries though) for 6 years now. I didn't let it get temperamental, I found the problem and I fixed it so that it would reliably start every day. I didn't do nothing and then complain that the !@#$%^& thing won't start every time I want to drive it. I didn't weep crocodile tears on a Corvette forum and whine about it......I FIXED It. The new lock cylinder has new contacts in it and they have reliably made connection to my ign key pellet EVERY time I attempted a start and has done so for SIX years. It is not temperamental! If I have the same problem again, I will once more replace the lock cylinder. If my headlight burns out, I will replace it, I won't epoxy a flashlight onto the hood like those that permanently bypass their VATS. 99% of thefts are done by bashing the column and jumping the ignition and if you permanently bypass VATS, then you are a candidate for your vette being stolen from you. My corvette is 20 years old and has been driven every day for its entire life and my VATS sytem is reliable and works fine. Yours can too if you keep it in good repair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Keep in mind that all these guys giving you advice have earlier model C4s with a separate VATS module. Starting in 1990, the VATS function was integrated into the CCM. Other than fooling the computer regarding the key resistance, you can't just "bypass" VATS in the later C4s.

 

That's what I tried explaining 3 posts ago. There is no easy fix for VATS. Even if I replace the ignition lock cylinder it still doesn't mean that if the door lock cylinder doesn't make good contact that the car still won't start because the security system isn't disabled.

The point I was trying to get across is that I can take a car not working because of a mechanical malfunction, s**t happens. But I think it's a stupid design for car to stop working and leave its owner stranded for something as minor as a keyswitch.

If GM had designed it properly there would be a switch, with it's own separate key, that would disable the VATS entirely at the owners discretion. They could have hidden it in the glove box.

Anyway it started up fine again last night. I haven't tried it today.