When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have an 87 that has now decided to intermitantly not start. It will start strong and well one time, slowly the next, with a lot of starter spin before cranking and not at all on another. And this can all be within the same day just hours or minutes apart!! :smash:
I have disconnected the battery and waited, reconnected it and it starts. The last time though, this did'nt work :mad
I took the old fashion route and "tapped" on the starter :smash:
This time it started.
Now it doesn't start at all.
By the way, I have full dash lights, radio and other power, yet no cranking. Volts show 11.
There's no "clicking", "whirring" or other sounds to indicate the starter is attempting to do it's job. Just dead with power.
Any ideas? I've heard abouth the VATS system causing similar problems. Is there a bypass for this system. If so, PLEASE provide the info. I'm up for it by now!
i think the fuse for vats is in the dash behind the warning lights . it's not too bad to get to , but when my vats kicks in , i cannot even turn the car over so i do not think that is your trouble . check the coil .
I would guess that it is your starter going out. 11 volts should be plenty and if it were you VATS then nothing would happen at all. I know it is a pita but take the starter off and take it to Autozone and they can test it for you for free. Also the exhaust runs right next to the starter and if the starter gets to hot it will go dead until it cools down again. You can buy a heat shield to solve this. Hope this helps
When it won't crank, can you hear the start enable relay click behind the center of the dash when you hit the "start" position?? If so, it isn't VATS. 11 volts if true shows a discharged battery or a poor cable connection. First check the battery voltage with a voltmeter, the dash voltmeters (mine anyway) read low. I would definetely remove the battery cables, ground first and clean them and the battery posts and re install, ground last. When cranking, the battery voltage should not fall below 9.0 volts or the battery is discharged or at the end of its life or the battery connection is poor. IM me and I will tell you how to confirm that its VATS or not. Jump your clutch switch (xmsn selector sw if auto) when it won't crank, could be the switch.
When I first turn it on, I do hear the fuel pump cycling on. When I go to start, I hear a "click" behind the dash as asked in an earlier post.
Even if it's not the VATS, I am picking up a bypass for it tomorrrow. Rather kill that gremlin now than wait until I'm in a hurry or in the middle of BFE :smash: