Help me figure out my problem! PLEASE!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,748
Likes: 0
Help me figure out my problem! PLEASE!
Here is the story. I went to the bank today and It’s raining out pretty bad so I go to the drive up and I'm waiting so I turn my car off. I get my money and go to start my car and it won’t turn over. There is power going to everything radio, windows and everything else. I kept on try to start and nothing. I wait about 5min turn it nothing happens. I go into the bank and call someone to come get me and I get someone to pick me up and I go back to the car to wait and I tried to start it and it started right up. I just got home and turned it off and waited about 5min and tried to start it and it started right up. I took the car out earlier in the day and stopped at a bunch of places and had no problems. The car is in good running shape KNOCK KNOCK! Does anyone know what’s going on here?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Instructor
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Alhambra CA
Re: Help me figure out my problem! PLEASE! (C4@your_door)
Sounds like the VATS malfunctioned. Very common problem. Nothing really can be done about it, other than disabling the system with a resistor or shutting it off in the ECM.
[Modified by USCZBT, 1:42 PM 5/13/2002]
[Modified by USCZBT, 1:42 PM 5/13/2002]
Pro
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 715
Likes: 0
From: NYC NY
Re: Help me figure out my problem! PLEASE! (C4@your_door)
Don't completely rule out starter problems, though. If you were driving for a while the starter may have gotten hot (especially if you have headers), and that's usually when starter problems first show up. But since it was raining this may not be the case.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Help me figure out my problem! PLEASE! (C4@your_door)
If you can hear a relay click behind the center of the dash when you hit the start position, then it isn't VATS. Look at the voltmeter and see if it drops 1 or more volts when you hit the starter. If it does drop 1v or more, then you need to remove the battery cables and clean the cable lugs and the battery posts and replace. In fact, that is so easy a job, I would just do that automatically.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: Alhambra CA
Re: Help me figure out my problem! PLEASE! (C4-Wolf)
Don't completely rule out starter problems, though. If you were driving for a while the starter may have gotten hot (especially if you have headers), and that's usually when starter problems first show up. But since it was raining this may not be the case.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 958
Likes: 1
From: SF Bay area, CA USA
Re: Help me figure out my problem! PLEASE! (C4@your_door)
Start with the simple stuff. Pull you battery cables and make sure they are clean and tight. Mine used to come loose once and a while until I replaced the bolts.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 421
Likes: 0
From: Glen Burnie Md
Re: Help me figure out my problem! PLEASE! (C4@your_door)
C4,
I had a similiar problem a few years back.
Turned out to be my battery.
Apparently what was happening...the plates in the battery were actually 'melting together', and wouldn't start again until the battery cooled.
This happened twice, and both times I had to wait about 10 minutes before the car would start.
Same symtoms as your problem. Shut it down...go to start...nothing...but as you, I did have my radio, lights, etc..
Got a new battery (mine was something like a 5 year warranty battery, but only two years old).
No more problems.
My suggestion: get your battery checked out (Amp Gauge). I took my car to the Battery Warehouse where I bought the battery...they put the tester on the battery, and in less then 20 seconds the amperage went from 500+ to less then 100. That was their explanation to me (plates melting together).
Good Luck!!
I had a similiar problem a few years back.
Turned out to be my battery.
Apparently what was happening...the plates in the battery were actually 'melting together', and wouldn't start again until the battery cooled.
This happened twice, and both times I had to wait about 10 minutes before the car would start.
Same symtoms as your problem. Shut it down...go to start...nothing...but as you, I did have my radio, lights, etc..
Got a new battery (mine was something like a 5 year warranty battery, but only two years old).
No more problems.
My suggestion: get your battery checked out (Amp Gauge). I took my car to the Battery Warehouse where I bought the battery...they put the tester on the battery, and in less then 20 seconds the amperage went from 500+ to less then 100. That was their explanation to me (plates melting together).
Good Luck!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 0
From: 20 forward gears to shift through in MD
Re: Help me figure out my problem! PLEASE! (C4@your_door)
I tend to agree on the VATS being the cause. Once I got in the car during a rainstorm and forgot that I had not wiped the ignition key off (it had gotten wet.) Well, the car wouldn't start (as in nothing). Checked the owners manual, figured it was the VATS, pulled the key out, wiped it off, waited about 5-7 minutes, tried again, and it fired right up. Needless to say I ALWAYS wipe off the key if there is ANY water on it before trying to start my 94. :yesnod:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 7,410
Likes: 252
From: Little Elm TX
Re: Help me figure out my problem! PLEASE! (Denney)
I tend to agree on the VATS being the cause. Once I got in the car during a rainstorm and forgot that I had not wiped the ignition key off (it had gotten wet.) Well, the car wouldn't start (as in nothing). Checked the owners manual, figured it was the VATS, pulled the key out, wiped it off, waited about 5-7 minutes, tried again, and it fired right up. Needless to say I ALWAYS wipe off the key if there is ANY water on it before trying to start my 94. :yesnod:
I've had the same problem. Try and keep the keys in my pocket now till AFTER I get in and close the door.