88 Vette (VATS?) problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 926
Likes: 2
From: chandler az
88 Vette (VATS?) problem
I need help with a bizarre problem I have had twice now. I get in the car after driving to the babysitters and turn the key all the dash lights up turn the key and nothing (dash is still lit up). How do I know if the VATS is acting up. My key does not have a resistor. I undid the negative batt cable and re connected and it started right up. :mad
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 824
Likes: 2
From: Camden SC
Re: 88 Vette (VATS?) problem (brookman)
In stock form, the 88 had the VATS pellet. Suspect someone did the VATS bypass, didn't want to pay extra for the keys, and just made the key from a standard blank.
You may want to check the vats connector/bypass resistor. Drop the panels from the drivers side knee area and look for two small wires, (they sould come out of the steering column with the standard bundle )much smaller than turn signal bundle etc, then some small black box/square connector or possibly a small resistor/ connector arrangement. Several ways/points they could have bypassed this. Check for connections coming loose, etc. You would be wise to find out what this resistance is so you know. Once you loose the ability to determine what resistance the module is looking for, gets pretty tough.
Not sure about the VATS "time out" for an 88. Could be from around 3-4 minutes to around 10 for later years. Individual service manual will tell. I would get the service manual, the VATS/starting schematics tells all.
Let us know.
dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3 speed shocks
[Modified by dlmeyers, 5:59 PM 10/24/2002]
You may want to check the vats connector/bypass resistor. Drop the panels from the drivers side knee area and look for two small wires, (they sould come out of the steering column with the standard bundle )much smaller than turn signal bundle etc, then some small black box/square connector or possibly a small resistor/ connector arrangement. Several ways/points they could have bypassed this. Check for connections coming loose, etc. You would be wise to find out what this resistance is so you know. Once you loose the ability to determine what resistance the module is looking for, gets pretty tough.
Not sure about the VATS "time out" for an 88. Could be from around 3-4 minutes to around 10 for later years. Individual service manual will tell. I would get the service manual, the VATS/starting schematics tells all.
Let us know.
dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3 speed shocks
[Modified by dlmeyers, 5:59 PM 10/24/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: 88 Vette (VATS?) problem (brookman)
Your VATS system has to be bypassed. VATS, if it detects the correct pellet resistance closes a relay which completes a 12 v path to the clutch sw ( xmsn selector sw if auto) and then on to the starter solenoid. You might jump the clutch sw ( xmsn selector if auto) the next time it won't crank to see if it cranks. The bypass is most likely a resistor connected to the wires going to the VATS module and you should check this connection. A poor battery cable connection can also do the same thing. I recommend you remove both batt cables (neg first), clean the cable lugs and the battery posts and reconnect the cables (neg last).
