What does a dead VATS system do ?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,870
Likes: 25
From: Long Island, NY
What does a dead VATS system do ?
All,
Last Sat at the Track, my car died right after I got there. When I turned the key, there was nothing, not a click or a sound, voltage was above 12.5 volts.
I waited about 30 minutes and the car started right up. It started for the rest of the day, about 15 starts.
What could the issue be ? Is it the VATS ?
Vic
Last Sat at the Track, my car died right after I got there. When I turned the key, there was nothing, not a click or a sound, voltage was above 12.5 volts.
I waited about 30 minutes and the car started right up. It started for the rest of the day, about 15 starts.
What could the issue be ? Is it the VATS ?
Vic
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,500
Likes: 879
From: Saratoga Springs NY
2024 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C4 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Re: What does a dead VATS system do ? (Vic'89)
I would say..Get the key bypass and never worry about that again!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
Re: What does a dead VATS system do ? (Vic'89)
Thats the VATS alright, you have to wait 7min for it to reset itself.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: What does a dead VATS system do ? (Vic'89)
If this problem repeats, you probably have worn ignition switch contacts that make with the pellet in your ignition key. First try your spare ign key as its pellet contacts aren't as worn as your everyday key. If no luck, the next time it won't crank, find the wires from the ign sw (on my 87 they go to a 2 pin connector and come out the bottom of the steering column under the carpet), unplug them and with the ign sw inserted measure the resistance on the wires from the steering column. It should measure the same as your pellet. If over 13k ohms, you will need to replace the ignition switch. You can jump a fixed resistor the same value as your pellet onto the wires going over to the passenger side (VATS module) and VATS will think you have the correct key. This will allow you to drive the car until you can get a new ignition switch installed. I recommend that you do not bypass VATS because 99% of car thefts are done by bashing the column and jumping the ignition.
