So Ive always had issues with my vats. But the car would always start. So now it appears that's not working anymore. So I saw a video on the net on how to jump the system with a wire. Sure enough it fires up for a second. But wont stay running. Is this because its jumped. And if so im guessing I cant keep it like this. And have to purchase one of those bypass things ? And does anybody know any secrets on finding out what number I have. Or do I really have to go to a dealer to get that info ? Thanks for any help....

 

For starters, what year car? How many keys do you have? generally speaking if it cranks and starts, VATS isn't considered the issue. You need to maybe better explain your situation. Do you have any codes either current or maybe in history for your car? Check engine light now or ever?

 

: also what make you think it is vatts. vatts is one of the most misunderstood things on these cars and get the blane for a lot of problems it has nothing to do with. Give us more information

 

I know its the vatts. Because when you wait 3 minutes the car would always start. Now when I used a jump wire on the vats. The car turns over and starts and runs for a few seconds. The question is. Is the something built in the vats that isn't letting the car run ? Possible the reason they make you buy those plugs at Ecklers. I have 2 keys.

 

does the car crank and not start or does in not crank?

 

Before you jump the vats. It does nothing. I know my car. Its the vats. What I don't know is when the vats is jumped does it not allow the car to run ?

 

I have never seen a vats issuse keep a car from running if it is cranking. I is built into the system not to shut the car off if it is running. It is for safty reasons this is done, In other words vats cannot shut off a running car

 

But im thinking because its a security system. Maybe its not allowing it to get fuel. The car ran fine b4 all this. Again it has being doing this for years. You go to start the car. Nothing happens. You wait 3 minutes. And the car fires right up. Then just recently the 3 minute thing stopped working. So I pulled the fuse for the vats and it fired right up. But this last time. Nothing I tried worked. Till I jumped it. Then it turned right over. But only ran for a few seconds......

 

Looks like I may have been right ....


When VATS has not detected anything wrong and is working properly, it will send a 5v 30Hz signal to the ECM to tell it to enable the fuel injection system during cranking. Once the the engine is running, it no longer needs this signal. If the VATS system has tripped, this signal is killed and therefore the ECM will not enable the fuel injection system to start the engine with.

 

You should have stored codes to detect your issue if it's FEDS. Here's a link to do the diagnostics using the DIC. Check for CCM codes first. You're looking for maybe 54:

http://tech.corvettecentral.com/2011...trouble-codes/

You mentioned in your first post - I've always had trouble with ...

You never went on to explain your issue and then just mention "I know it is" - Mine and the other post only asked for more information and then it's more easily discussed. Make notes of all CCM and ECM codes. You mention it's been like this. How long? Notes on codes are important now if you'd like to get beyond this.

Post a link to this video that did the diagnostics that you mention in your first post.

 

again if the car is running it is built into the system so it can not kill the car if something fails. Think about this you and your best girl are going down the rd you start across rail road tracks and for some reason the vatts acted up and killed the car right in front of a train. This is why it is built into the system to once it is running it cannot shut the car off

 

I have an 88 so im guessing there is no codes ?

 

I understand that. But because I jumped that vats with a wire. Its not allowing the fuel pump to engage. Ive figured out my Question. Thanks for trying to help....


If you watch this video. You will see what I mean when I say jumped the vats.

 

Also I have never seen a vehicle with vats have a problem and it crank and stops the fuel. Im sure it can happen but with over 35 yrs in the bussiness I have never seen it. Vats issues are rare most of the time misdianoised for other problem that is why I keep asking questions. After the ing cylender repairs and tsp of the first Vats cars I think I have seen 3 vats problems in over 35 yrs. unless the key was messd up

 

You never mentioned the year and I just read your last post and that crossed my mind.

 

Rare. I searched and found a ton of posts about them leaving people stranded.

 

Yeah sorry. I was just looking for an answer if my jumping the wire was cutting off the fuel. And Im 99 percent sure it is.

 

I went back and read your second post and it was (still is) very difficult to surmise what you had done. The video is a little misleading and I see what might have confused you. It seems like you do have a fuel enable problem and most I think build a signal generator to accomplish that aspect of it. To answer your question after your post of the year and the video, if that's what you did then yes I'd say you created the issue you have.

Good luck with your fix. How do you intend to accomplish it? That could be interesting! There are some interesting tests to confirm the fuel enable failure.

back to you!

 

Tons of post Im sure but hoow many were truly vats problems?? I have delt with tons of GM vehicles from the day they came out with VATS I know what Iv seen with over 35yrs of being in the bussiness. Like I said after the tsb on the first ign cylinders for the most part VAT problems were solved. People who installed the resiter only elinited a very small part of the system and it really did nothing. You belive what you want I know what I know. If you are going to come on here and ask for help mayme you should go about it in a better way. Knocking people who can help is not the way,

 

VATS does two things:

1 - Send a 30Hz (50 Hz in later cars) signal to the ECM. If the ECM does not see that signal when the ignition is turned on it will not fire the injectors. If this happens it will set error code 46.

2 - Enable the starter interrupt relay. If the engine will crank then VATS is OK. This is not a 100% sure test because people bypass the starter enable relay, as you have done. Sometimes the engine will not crank because there is a problem in the starter interrupt relay or the starter solenoid or starter or wiring or connections. Then VATS gets blamed when it is something else causing the problem.

VATS works by measuring the resistance of the pellet in the key. If it doesn't see the correct resistance then it kicks in and disables the starter and the 30 Hz signal to the ECM. VATS can disable the car if the key pellet is dirty, the contacts inside the ignition cylinder are not making a good connection or if a key pellet contact wire is broken inside the steering column.

The key pellet resistance check is only done when the ignition is first turned on. VATS cannot shut down a running engine.

It sounds like VATS is kicking in and the engine is running off the fuel from the cold start injector. When it runs out of fuel the engine dies. You could test for this by unplugging either the cold start injector or the cold start thermo switch on the front of the intake manifold (it has the same kind of connector as the fuel injectors). I suspect the engine will not start if you do this.