C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Starter or VATS?

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Old Jun 19, 2015 | 08:14 PM
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Default Starter or VATS?

I got code 46 (VATS "theft system failure") when I tried to start my car today but with all the on/off testing I did yesterday I think I may have fried the starter. How can I tell if it's VATS related or a dead starter?
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Old Jun 19, 2015 | 08:43 PM
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You could bypass the ignition switch and go directly to the starter to check if the starter is bad ..I have a hand held push button starter switch to spin the starter, but you could just use a jumper cable from the positive battery cable lug to the ignition wire lug on the starter ,this would spin the starter but you have to be careful when doing it this way .Even with a bad starter you should still hear the solinoid click once you get the vats working again, unless the solinoid is fried also.....WW

Last edited by WW7; Jun 19, 2015 at 08:52 PM.
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Old Jun 19, 2015 | 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by WW7
.Even with a bad starter you should still hear the solinoid click once you get the vats working again, unless the solinoid is fried also.....WW
No click from the started at all so I'm guessing VATS is the culprit. I have vats bypassed in the chip and ordered a key bypass to take care of that bit.
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Old Jun 19, 2015 | 11:51 PM
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You should be able to hear the starter enable relay clicking (behind the DIC) when you try to start the engine. If that is not happening then your problem is not the solenoid or starter.
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Old Jun 20, 2015 | 05:17 AM
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Originally Posted by fast.asleep
No click from the started at all so I'm guessing VATS is the culprit. I have vats bypassed in the chip and ordered a key bypass to take care of that bit.
There are 3 parts to the vats system...If you have done the delete in the chip, you still need to do the bypass/delete for the key and the "starter enable relay bypass"...All 3 must be done to completely eliminate vats from the car.. The vats delete site with all this info is called ( Vatssucks.com ) ......WW

Last edited by WW7; Jun 20, 2015 at 05:26 AM.
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Old Jun 20, 2015 | 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by WW7
There are 3 parts to the vats system...If you have done the delete in the chip, you still need to do the bypass/delete for the key and the "starter enable relay bypass"...All 3 must be done to completely eliminate vats from the car.. The vats delete site with all this info is called ( Vatssucks.com ) ......WW
awesome site. One more question: My AutoXray reports "theft system failure" does that mean my VATS module is dead? (From what I read on the site I'm not really bypassing vats so much as fooling it into thinking everything is ok)
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Old Jun 21, 2015 | 01:09 AM
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Clear the ECM codes and see if the 46 is still there.
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Old Jun 21, 2015 | 12:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Cliff Harris
Clear the ECM codes and see if the 46 is still there.

I'm waiting for the last part of the bypass (pass key bypass from mid America). Im hoping it will be here by Friday. I'll post my results then

BTW: I emailed Corvettejoe and it turns out that while I am fooling the system with these bypasses it wouldn't matter if VATS was bad or not with these bypasses in place.
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