Vats?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 780
Likes: 0
From: New Port Richey Florida
Vats?
OK so quick trip to the grocery store last night in my 86, run in get what I want come out and turn the key...nothing not even a click, lights were fine nice and bright, checked to make sure it's in park, pop the hood wiggle battery connections all ok, try ignition again nothing..BUMMER. call my wife tell her to come rescue me and I'm thinking AAA on a Saturday night...BUMMER. While I'm waiting for the wife I reach in and turn the key one more time..starts right up WTF. Anyway now I'm thinking maybe vats problem, what do you think? Don't like getting stranded in my Vette. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Common problem on old cars
Contacts on the key resistor and terminal inside barrel may be worn/ dirty giving bad reading.
Try cleaning
Service Bulletin Number: 87-140
Date of Bulletin: 87-05
Model: CORVETTE
Year: 1987
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT
Summary: INTERMITTENT NO-START CONDITION CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM (VATS)-CAUSED BY A DAMAGED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER OR DAMAGED RESISTOR PELLET INSIDE IGNI TION KEY-
AN IMPROVED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WITH A NARROWER KEYWAY AND AN IMPROVED LONGER IGNITION KEY NOW AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO TO REPAIR CONDITION-LOCK CYLINDER P/N 26008775-ALL 1986-1987 CHEVROLET CORVETTE MODELS
Contacts on the key resistor and terminal inside barrel may be worn/ dirty giving bad reading.
Try cleaning
Service Bulletin Number: 87-140
Date of Bulletin: 87-05
Model: CORVETTE
Year: 1987
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT
Summary: INTERMITTENT NO-START CONDITION CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM (VATS)-CAUSED BY A DAMAGED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER OR DAMAGED RESISTOR PELLET INSIDE IGNI TION KEY-
AN IMPROVED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WITH A NARROWER KEYWAY AND AN IMPROVED LONGER IGNITION KEY NOW AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO TO REPAIR CONDITION-LOCK CYLINDER P/N 26008775-ALL 1986-1987 CHEVROLET CORVETTE MODELS
Last edited by rodj; May 31, 2009 at 09:19 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 780
Likes: 0
From: New Port Richey Florida
Common problem on old cars
Contacts on the key resistor and terminal inside barrel may be worn/ dirty giving bad reading.
Try cleaning
Service Bulletin Number: 87-140
Date of Bulletin: 87-05
Model: CORVETTE
Year: 1987
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT
Summary: INTERMITTENT NO-START CONDITION CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM (VATS)-CAUSED BY A DAMAGED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER OR DAMAGED RESISTOR PELLET INSIDE IGNI TION KEY-
AN IMPROVED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WITH A NARROWER KEYWAY AND AN IMPROVED LONGER IGNITION KEY NOW AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO TO REPAIR CONDITION-LOCK CYLINDER P/N 26008775-ALL 1986-1987 CHEVROLET CORVETTE MODELS
Contacts on the key resistor and terminal inside barrel may be worn/ dirty giving bad reading.
Try cleaning
Service Bulletin Number: 87-140
Date of Bulletin: 87-05
Model: CORVETTE
Year: 1987
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT
Summary: INTERMITTENT NO-START CONDITION CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM (VATS)-CAUSED BY A DAMAGED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER OR DAMAGED RESISTOR PELLET INSIDE IGNI TION KEY-
AN IMPROVED IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WITH A NARROWER KEYWAY AND AN IMPROVED LONGER IGNITION KEY NOW AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO TO REPAIR CONDITION-LOCK CYLINDER P/N 26008775-ALL 1986-1987 CHEVROLET CORVETTE MODELS
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 818
Likes: 29
From: Nashua NH
also check...
If that doesn't solve your problem you might also try moving the shift lever while you are turning the key. I had the neutral safety switch go on mine and it behaved like yours is doing. But if you jiggled the lever it made contact and would start.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,966
Likes: 4
From: Made In America
St. Jude Donor '10-'11
