Starter interrupt on 87
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Olympia wa
Starter interrupt on 87
Help. Lately my starter interrupt has been activating for no apparant reason. Usually I sit for about 5 min and it goes off and the car will start, but today it wouldn't come back at all. Anybody have any idea how to disable this thing..its a pain. 
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Starter interrupt on 87 (B387)
Most likely your VATS is preventing the starter to crank due to the contacts in the ign tumbler not making with the pellet. You can prove this by removing the driver side hush panel and unplugging the two end wires of the single line of connectors. These wires are the contacts that make with the pellet and are orange and brown and come out of the steering column midway. With the key in the ign, measure the resistance of the unplugged wires from the steering column. It should measure the same as the pellet. If higher than 13k ohms, you need a new tumbler. You can temporarily defeat VATS by clipping a fixed resistor (from Radio Shack) the same value as the pellet, across the wires going over to the passenger side (VATS module). Don't do this permanently because 99% of thefts are done by bashing the column and jumping the ign. If the ign tumbler is ok, then jump the clutch safety switch (gear selector sw if auto) and try a crank.
You might first try your spare key as its pellet contacts are not worn like your everyday key. After several attempts with the wrong resistance, VATS makes you wait 6 minutes before you can start the engine assuming the correct pellet resistance is detected by VATS.
You might first try your spare key as its pellet contacts are not worn like your everyday key. After several attempts with the wrong resistance, VATS makes you wait 6 minutes before you can start the engine assuming the correct pellet resistance is detected by VATS.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Olympia wa
Re: Starter interrupt on 87 (jfb)
Thanks jfb. This car has 137000 rounds, and I only have one set of keys. It does seem strange that if the key was the problem that it would start it even after it has reset. The tumbler makes sense, but the inconsistancy is still odd. Does each pellet have a different resistance? I really appreciate your help.
B387
B387
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Re: Starter interrupt on 87 (B387)
There are about 8 different pellet resistors used. The archives should turn up a list of the values that were posted about a year ago. The contacts in the ign tumbler usually get intermittent before they completely fail. This happened to me several years ago and I used the fixed resistor until I could schedule a tumbler replacement.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,390
Likes: 693
From: Boise ID
Re: Starter interrupt on 87 (B387)
This is from the Tech Tips section which has the resistor values
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=153&TopicID=2
BTW I have not been to the Tech Tips for awhile, that sucker is getting big!
https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=153&TopicID=2
BTW I have not been to the Tech Tips for awhile, that sucker is getting big!
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
Re: Starter interrupt on 87 (jfb)
There are about 8 different pellet resistors used. The archives should turn up a list of the values that were posted about a year ago. The contacts in the ign tumbler usually get intermittent before they completely fail. This happened to me several years ago and I used the fixed resistor until I could schedule a tumbler replacement.
Mine did the same thing, measure the resistance of your key and then measure it at the connection on the steering column. On mine, the resistance was the same, but when I moved the key around, it went way up.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
5 Best & 5 Worst Corvette Daily Drivers
Joe Kucinski
The Headlights of Every Corvette Generation Explained
Joe Kucinski
5 Best & 5 Most Overrated Corvette Track Packages of All Time!
Joe Kucinski
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
Re: Starter interrupt on 87 (SS409 425HP)
skybolt31,
Is that you I see over Westfield in N110GM? My house is up on the ridge south of Barnes.
Is that you I see over Westfield in N110GM? My house is up on the ridge south of Barnes.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 416
Likes: 2
From: Westfield MA
Re: Starter interrupt on 87 (skybolt31)
I stop in every now and then. Some of the time I'm flying in N318KA which is one of our instrumented test bed helicopters. It actually belongs to the Royal Australian Navy, but displays an N number so we can fly it in the USA.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
Re: Starter interrupt on 87 (SS409 425HP)
I stop in every now and then. Some of the time I'm flying in N318KA which is one of our instrumented test bed helicopters. It actually belongs to the Royal Australian Navy, but displays an N number so we can fly it in the USA.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 416
Likes: 2
From: Westfield MA
Re: Starter interrupt on 87 (skybolt31)
I stop in every now and then. Some of the time I'm flying in N318KA which is one of our instrumented test bed helicopters. It actually belongs to the Royal Australian Navy, but displays an N number so we can fly it in the USA.
Stop in some time, my office is in the terminal building. I always have time to talk Corvettes or airplane!
Stop in some time, my office is in the terminal building. I always have time to talk Corvettes or airplane!
