Starter? VATS? Something completely different?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque NM
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Starter? VATS? Something completely different?
My '89 auto coupe has been acting up recently. Was driving around yesterday and everything was fine, and then it wouldn't start up. The dome lights were on, and the dash lit up, but the car wouldn't start. I would turn the key, and nothing. Wife brought me my other set of keys, and the same thing happened (which rules out VATS, right?).
Called a tow truck this morning, and went to go try it beforehand, and it started up. The car hesitated a bit, but started three times in a row. Still got the car towed to my house (kinda hard to drive two cars at once). Started it up again here with no problems. Put it on some ramps, checked the battery connections and the starter connections and everything seemed to be fine. But then I tried to start it again and it wouldn't go.
Any ideas?
Called a tow truck this morning, and went to go try it beforehand, and it started up. The car hesitated a bit, but started three times in a row. Still got the car towed to my house (kinda hard to drive two cars at once). Started it up again here with no problems. Put it on some ramps, checked the battery connections and the starter connections and everything seemed to be fine. But then I tried to start it again and it wouldn't go.
Any ideas?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 5
From: One day you're a Comet...the next day you're dust... Arkansas
It could be your ignition switch assembly or VATS. My VATS used to do those kinds of things before I bypassed it. Sometimes the horns would go off for no reason. If it is VATS you can wait for it to time out. IIRC it takes 7 minutes.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Smithfield Va.
My '90 was doing that. Took it to the dealer and they found a small wire in my steering column that was wearing and had finally broken. replaced the wire and never did it again. Man, they charged me $700
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 1
From: Albuquerque NM
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Turned out it was the starter. One of the connectors on the starter had come loose, and actually broke off once I took the starter out. It was under warranty at Autozone, as I had replaced it about 4 years ago. They replaced it for free, so all it cost we was a few hours of work. 
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 426
Likes: 16
From: Concord CA
I had the same thing happen to me yesterday.. Have not looked at it yet.. Samething.. started up after about 20 min of looking and shaking.. then it started up a few time.. drove home and it would not crank / start once I got home.
I will check the starter as one of my to do items..
I will check the starter as one of my to do items..
