88 no crank/no start
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 93
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From: In the valley
88 no crank/no start
Hello all, I have an 88 automatic that will not start. All was ok yesterday. Came home, parked in garage, this morning no start. Turn key to on, chimes, dash lights up, fuel pump primes. Turn to start, one click from starter then nothing. No dash, courtesy lights go out, no chimes, no click. As if battery disconnected. Checked battery ok, connections ok. Go back after a few minutes, dash, chime, lights all ok. Turn to start same thing. Have tried both keys one old one new. Both keys have worked before. No joy. Perhaps VATS problem, but not sure. Does VATS shut down everything? Is there a quick way to bypass VATS completely? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. At least she is not the daily driver and she is in the garage. Thanks, in advance, for any help.
Charlie
Charlie
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
VATS measures the resistor in the ign key pellet and if it is more than 5% off from the value stored in the VATS module, then VATS will not close the start enable relay preventing cranking and it tells the ECM not to pulse the injectors, but it does not turn off power from the battery. What you have is a classic symptom of a poor battery cable connection. To fix, remove your battery cables (negative first) and clean the battery cable lugs and the battery posts until they are bright and clean. Replace the battery cables (neg last) and go about your business.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 93
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From: In the valley
After I posted this, and consulted the Helms further, I started inspecting the battery cables. I pulled the neg cable from the battery and cleaned the end that goes to the battery. It was pretty clean already. Lo....she started. Shut down and no restart. Figured I'd look at the end that bolts to the engine, and lightly pulled on the neg cable to see where it was routed. Key chime and courtesy lights came on. (door was open at the time) I think I have a problem either at the engine end or in the cable itself. I guess moving the neg cable gave me a connection for that start. Later, after I get my honey do list done, I'll r&i the cable and clean the other end and bolt, along with any other grounds that attach there. Thanks for the reply. Glad it wasn't VATS. I wasn't looking forward to tracing that one down.
Thanks again
Charlie
Thanks again
Charlie
