My VATS experience
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 103
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From: Ft Liquordale Florida
My VATS experience
It's weird how all the VATS posts on here involve the Wire going from the key cylinder, yet, the 2 instances I have had with it turned out to be the module. The module was seeing the key and activating the starter enable relay but no injector pulse. I found the module was not sending the signal to the ECM to pulse the injectors.
I bought a bypass module for my 'vette but one of my students has an '89 Camaro with the same problem.
I don't remember where I got the bypass module, anyone know.
I bought a bypass module for my 'vette but one of my students has an '89 Camaro with the same problem.
I don't remember where I got the bypass module, anyone know.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Ft Liquordale Florida
thanks but my VATS module is recognizing the key, it is just not producing a signal to go to the ECM to start pulsing injectors.
none of the fixes for the broken wire in steering column will work
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
A very high percent of stolen vehicles are done by bashing the column and jumping the ignition. YOU are now a candidate! Good luck! I prefer to repair my VATS and keep my Corvette. I bought my 87 from someone that ordered a 90 and shortly after taking delivery, they came out of work to find the drivers window broken out, the steering column busted open, but the 90 vette hadn't moved an inch.
If your left headlight quits, are you going to epoxy a flashlight onto your hood?
Keep your car in good repair!
If your left headlight quits, are you going to epoxy a flashlight onto your hood?
Keep your car in good repair!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,830
Likes: 147
From: Gainesville FL
Very interesting!
I have an intermittent no start condition that has left me stranded before yet the engine has always cranked so I assumed it must not be VATS.
However it did not have spark. Does the VATS module give a signal to the ECM for spark as well?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,830
Likes: 147
From: Gainesville FL
thepartsladi had VATS modules
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,292
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From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
VATS closes the start enable relay and sends a square wave to the ECM to allow injector pulses. VATS does not control spark. You need to look at the spark coil, spark module, and the pickup coil, all of which must work to get spark.
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,290
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From: Salem NH
A very high percent of stolen vehicles are done by bashing the column and jumping the ignition. YOU are now a candidate! Good luck! I prefer to repair my VATS and keep my Corvette. I bought my 87 from someone that ordered a 90 and shortly after taking delivery, they came out of work to find the drivers window broken out, the steering column busted open, but the 90 vette hadn't moved an inch.
If your left headlight quits, are you going to epoxy a flashlight onto your hood?
Keep your car in good repair!
If your left headlight quits, are you going to epoxy a flashlight onto your hood?
Keep your car in good repair!
-- Joe
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
VATS does NOT send a signal, it "sinks" (grounds) an output voltage of 5v from the ecm at 30 hz.
build or buy a 30 hz VATS simulator, bypass the starter enable relay, no more problem ever...add a hidden "kill" switch if you are part of a high-crime scene.
a VATS simulator is not just a resistor.
build or buy a 30 hz VATS simulator, bypass the starter enable relay, no more problem ever...add a hidden "kill" switch if you are part of a high-crime scene.
a VATS simulator is not just a resistor.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
VATS does not control spark...your problem is most likely a sick "ignition module" in the distributor, if "no starts" are occuring more often with a hot engine, the igniyion module is very highly suspect.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
VATS does NOT send a signal, it "sinks" (grounds) an output voltage of 5v from the ecm at 30 hz.
build or buy a 30 hz VATS simulator, bypass the starter enable relay, no more problem ever...add a hidden "kill" switch if you are part of a high-crime scene.
a VATS simulator is not just a resistor.
build or buy a 30 hz VATS simulator, bypass the starter enable relay, no more problem ever...add a hidden "kill" switch if you are part of a high-crime scene.
a VATS simulator is not just a resistor.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
those not "challenged" in electronics may desire to build their own VATS sim...takes under $10 of raddyshack parts...if an external 5v source is pulsed and sent TO the ecm, at best the ecm will do nothing...the 5v output FROM the ecm must be treated to a 30hz sink for the ecm to fire the injectors...sorry if this was not explained clearly.
btw, late c4's need a 50hz sink (94+ IIRC).
btw, late c4's need a 50hz sink (94+ IIRC).
Last edited by redrose; Oct 17, 2008 at 02:05 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,286
Likes: 6
From: Palm Beach
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Ft Liquordale Florida
A very high percent of stolen vehicles are done by bashing the column and jumping the ignition. YOU are now a candidate! Good luck! I prefer to repair my VATS and keep my Corvette. I bought my 87 from someone that ordered a 90 and shortly after taking delivery, they came out of work to find the drivers window broken out, the steering column busted open, but the 90 vette hadn't moved an inch.
If your left headlight quits, are you going to epoxy a flashlight onto your hood?
Keep your car in good repair!
If your left headlight quits, are you going to epoxy a flashlight onto your hood?
Keep your car in good repair!
HOW?????
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Ft Liquordale Florida
VATS does NOT send a signal, it "sinks" (grounds) an output voltage of 5v from the ecm at 30 hz.
build or buy a 30 hz VATS simulator, bypass the starter enable relay, no more problem ever...add a hidden "kill" switch if you are part of a high-crime scene.
a VATS simulator is not just a resistor.
build or buy a 30 hz VATS simulator, bypass the starter enable relay, no more problem ever...add a hidden "kill" switch if you are part of a high-crime scene.
a VATS simulator is not just a resistor.
so it is possible that the processor is not sending the signal, can I check this with a DVOM?
If I have the module plugged in and try and start the car, I should see ground on the dark blue wire, correct.
And I should also see a 30Hz signal from processor,right?
I remember when I bought mine the company told me that there were 2 different modules. One was 30Hz and the other 50Hz
