So I was going to make my first trip to the track today.. Everything ready to go.. Just have to stop at the gas station on my way to Englishtown.. I get to the gas station, have him fill it up to about a half a tank.. then go to start my car.. Nothing.. All my acessories come on, and the batter has more then enough juice.. but the starter doesnt want to turn at all. Crazy thing is, when I try to start it, there is no attempted draw on the battery.. I have a feeling it is the dreaded VATS SDS.. Anyone out there have any other ideas?? Any way to get around that stupid little chip in my key??

-Mark

 

MarkLt1....

Yes there is a way around the Vats, but don't be to quick to jump to that conclusion.....

Last year, I thought I was having problems with my Vats, but what was happening was that it would start up great after sitting overnight or during the day while I was at work, but If I went somewhere and tried to restart the car after sitting for only a little bit it would not turn over.

My problem ended up being a heat soaked starter......

Since our cars run warm, and usually the starter is right next to manifold it gets pretty hot.......

I would recommend checking the starter (There are some posts here about running a wire directly from the starter to the battery to start the car) before jumping to the conclusion that it is the VATs.

 

Husker- I would have beleived it a heat soaked starter, but the car hadnt even had a chance to warm up yet when this happened (the gas station is about a block from my place). And, now the car starts.. but I dont know if it will be starting reliably..

-Mark

 

Measure the battery volts in start when the starter won't crank, it should not be less than 9.0 volts, or you have a discharged battery or a corroded battery cable connection, or a battery at the end of its life. Clean the battery cable connections first. Power to the starter solenoid goes through the ign sw "start" contacts , through the start enable relay (activated by VATS), through the clutch switch (xmsn selector sw if auto), and then to the starter solenoid contact (s terminal on the starter). When you hit the start position on the ign sw and the starter doesn't run, you should hear the start enable relay click behind the center of the dash. If you don't, then you may have a VATS problem. If you hear the click but no start, then jump the clutch or xmsn sw and try again, they may be defective. If no click, then you should try your spare ign key as its pellet contacts aren't worn like you everyday key. Still no start, then unplug the 2 pin connector from the ign sw (on my 87 its under the carpet by the steering column) and measure the ohms on the wires from the steering column with the ign key inserted. The resistance should be the same as that measured across the pellet. If higher than 10k ohms, you need a new ign sw which has new pellet contacts. You can clip a fixed resistor on the wires going to the passenger side and the same value as the pellet to fool VATS until you can arrange to get the ign sw installed. Don't put a VATS bypass in because 99% of cars are stolen by bashing the column and jumping the ignition. Good Luck.

 

I had that problem the other day. I even went as far as to install a new battery. The problem for me was a blown 20 amp fuse. Fuse #1 "Interor Lighting" its in the fuse block next to the battery. Its worth a look you never know. :crazy: