[QUICK] CAR WON'T START, VATS????
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
[QUICK] CAR WON'T START, VATS????
Ok, I've been helping a friend work on his car for a few hours, meanwhile it has been snowing. When I went out to start up my car and let it warm up a little it wouldn't start. No nothing. The lights are on but nobody is home. Everything is cool, but the starter doesn't even click.
I'm wondering if that's a VATSs problem. I was going to try another key, but by the time I got home I decided it would be foolish to venture back out in the snow just to try and start my car when I know it is safe a friends house. The battery is only a few months old and like I said everything seems fine, just no click on the starter. That's what really makes me think VATS. It almost acts like it does if you try to start it without pressing the clutch. Sound familiar to anybody? Please help quickly, I need that car back at my house ASAP.
I'm wondering if that's a VATSs problem. I was going to try another key, but by the time I got home I decided it would be foolish to venture back out in the snow just to try and start my car when I know it is safe a friends house. The battery is only a few months old and like I said everything seems fine, just no click on the starter. That's what really makes me think VATS. It almost acts like it does if you try to start it without pressing the clutch. Sound familiar to anybody? Please help quickly, I need that car back at my house ASAP.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: [QUICK] CAR WON'T START, VATS???? (Nathan Plemons)
sure sounds like VATS...
the other options are not a pretty... ignition switch... it could be the clutch switch... maybe.
try another key... good luck!! and wait for the snow to stop!!! Vettes+Snow = potential disaster...
the other options are not a pretty... ignition switch... it could be the clutch switch... maybe.
try another key... good luck!! and wait for the snow to stop!!! Vettes+Snow = potential disaster...
Elite Torch Red Member
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 57,805
Likes: 23
From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
CI 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Vet
CI-II Burnout & Drag Champ
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Re: [QUICK] CAR WON'T START, VATS???? (bogus)
This happened to Rex Ruby at Skyline last year. He waited 15 minutes and tried again and all was fine.
I think if you disconnect the battery, you can let the computer reset itself? I'm not to sure, but I have heard others mention that.
I think if you disconnect the battery, you can let the computer reset itself? I'm not to sure, but I have heard others mention that.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: [QUICK] CAR WON'T START, VATS???? (Nathan Plemons)
It could be VATS. Power to the start solenoid starts through a fusible link to the ignition switch to the start enable relay contacts to the clutch switch to the starter solenoid. If the contacts on the ign sw aren't making with the pellet, then VATS won't close the start enable relay. You should be able to hear the start enable relay click behind the radio if it is quiet enough. I would jump the clutch switch to eliminate that and if no start, then measure the voltage on the jumped clutch switch when you hit the starter. If the start enable relay is closing, then you will measure 12 volts. If not, then you will need to defeat the VATS by clipping a resistor the same value as the pellet onto the wires going over to the VATS module (might be the ECM in your car).
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
From: glendale Arizona
Re: [QUICK] CAR WON'T START, VATS???? (Nathan Plemons)
I had a similar problem last summer, bypassed the vats and still no start sometimes, run a jumper wire from the little post on your starter and the next time this occures have someone turn the key on and press in the clutch, touch the jumper wire to the positive side of battery, the motor should turn over,if it does and starts this eliminates anything under the hood and your problem is in the dash, after many frustrating trys mine was the starter relay, but I kept the jumper wire just for safety sakes (just in case)
:jester :jester :jester :jester :jester
:jester :jester :jester :jester :jester
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: [QUICK] CAR WON'T START, VATS???? (Nathan Plemons)
Well she fired right up this morning using a different key. I haven't yet tried the key I normally use, I'll do that when I get back from work.
Any of you familiar with the area know that 1 inch of snow will destroy this town. Quantity of snow aside, ICE is worse, it was terrible last night and not too nice this morning. Too bad I still have to go to class and work. I kinda had to drive the Vette also. My parents took the 4wd Blazer rather than the 2wd pickup truck with no weight in the back. My only other option was my brother's Camaro. Yeah right, it's an auto and it doesn't have traction control.
I'm not normally a large fan of traction control, but in the case of his car I wouldn't be able to manipulate the gears so it would always go to first. Not a good thing. I was able to drift on in just fine in the vette, I could choose my gears and the traction control never even came into play.
Any of you familiar with the area know that 1 inch of snow will destroy this town. Quantity of snow aside, ICE is worse, it was terrible last night and not too nice this morning. Too bad I still have to go to class and work. I kinda had to drive the Vette also. My parents took the 4wd Blazer rather than the 2wd pickup truck with no weight in the back. My only other option was my brother's Camaro. Yeah right, it's an auto and it doesn't have traction control.
I'm not normally a large fan of traction control, but in the case of his car I wouldn't be able to manipulate the gears so it would always go to first. Not a good thing. I was able to drift on in just fine in the vette, I could choose my gears and the traction control never even came into play.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: [QUICK] CAR WON'T START, VATS???? (Nathan Plemons)
Dude!!! GREAT!!!! I am so glad it started!!!
and the weather is coming my way next! we are expecting 5" or so around here... it is supposed to start tomorrow afternoon...
and the weather is coming my way next! we are expecting 5" or so around here... it is supposed to start tomorrow afternoon...
Racer
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
From: glendale Arizona
Re: [QUICK] CAR WON'T START, VATS???? (Nathan Plemons)
SNOW, WHAT IS SNOW? UNKNOWN HERE IN PHOENIX, ITS COLD HERE TODAY 62 DEGREES, TIME TO GET THE WINTER COAT OUT. (LOL) (ROTFF)
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski