Electricblue80

Getting my 90 auto back in running condition after it has been sitting up for a few years. We got the old gas out and put new gas in and changed the fuel filter. Put a charge on the old battery and the engine would turn over but very slowly. Got a new battery and installed it and now it will not turn over at all. All the lights work and are bright. Turn the key and the dash lights go out but no sound.

I understand these cars have a VATS. I have reason to believe the VATS pellet signal has been bypassed before. The key doesn't have a pellet in it. I know there is the start enable relay and the neutral switch.

Wondering what could have happened to cause a no crank problem from just changing the battery?

Thanks, Matt.

86PACER

Take a voltage reading at the small starter solenoid wire (purple on my '86) while the key is in the "cranking" position. This will tell you right away if it's VATS or not.

If you get battery voltage there, it ain't vats. Starter is probably gone.

If no voltage to starter solenoid wire, start backtracing. Bypass the neutral switch, and starter enable relay one at a time and see what happenes.

http://www.vatssucks.com/

89 Bob L

Did you check all of the connections to make sure they are clean? Try bypassing the starter selenoid tol determine if it could be the starter.

Chris Kennedy

Hi!

What I would recommend doing is to REALLY tighten down the negative battery cable. For some reason, even though the lights will go on, etc., unless the cable is really tightened down the car won't start. What you describe has happened to me, and that's what the problem was----weird, but true. Try it, and just don't assume the cable is tight enough because the lights go on.

Cheers,
/s/ Chris Kennedy

c4cruiser

Check the conditions of the metal rings on the cable ends where they attach to the battery. Sometimes the negative cable ring will get corroded or the plastic cover will not allow that ring to make good contact.

85 500 horse

Just as a test, you could put the other battery back and see what happens. Since the other battery enabled the car to start and the new one does not, swapping the old battery back will tell you some facts.