VATS
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 27
From: Long Beach NY
VATS
Well I went to start my car after work and nothing. I tried a different key, same thing. Fortunately I had the VATS bypass ready under the steering column, all I had to do was drop the hush pad and connect it. When I got home I reconnected to see if it still wouldn't work. Everything worked fine. I tried duplicating the situation, opened pass door with key, used the power lock to open driver door. The car turned over fine, this morning worked fine as well.
Any ideas? Does VATS do this occasionally?
Barrier :confused: :confused:
Any ideas? Does VATS do this occasionally?
Barrier :confused: :confused:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,699
Likes: 2
From: The Black Hole LA
Re: VATS (Barrier)
I have had this problem on a '90 Firebird and on my current '86 vette. Incase you don't know how vats works, the black piece on your key is a resistor, sort of, and the key cylinder in the column has a piece that reads the resistance on the key and if it is right it allows you to start the car. What happens with older cars is the the cylinder and the key starts to wear and therfor when you try to put the key in the resistor does not make contact and the computer kills the cars electrical system for a certain period of time (I forget how long exactly, 2-3 min I think). After that time has past you should be able to start the car, provided that you make good connection this time. With my 86 all I needed was a new key and it did not do it anymore. With my firebird the cylinder was so worn out that it had to be changed. Hope this helps.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 4
From: Medford, Or
Re: VATS (Barrier)
Barrier-I owned a '91 Vette that did this. The VAT module sends a signal to the PCM when the correct resistance is measured across the key. Late model Corvette & Camaros keys have a resistor embedded within the key. If the VAT module doesn't get the correct voltage drop, then it doesn't send a acknowledge signal to the PCM. The PCM will than disable the starter, fuel injectors and fuel pump. On my C3 LT1/4L60E conversion I received the original key from the donor car and found the correct resistance. I simulated this key resistance with a carbon resistor and put it in series with a toggle switch and hide the switch. It works great. When the switch is open the starter, fuel pump, and injectors won't operate.
Dan
Dan
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: VATS (Barrier)
Since your VATS bypass allowed a start, I suspect the contacts in the ign sw are getting worn and don't reliably connect to the pellet. You can prove this by unplugging the VATS connector and measuring the resistance on the pins from the ign sw. The resistance should be the same as the pellet. If higher than 10k ohms, then the ign sw needs changing. Key needs to be in the ign of course.
