''Help'' My 89' won't start. I replaced the relays behind the battery yesterday {car was always hard to start when cold} Car started right
up. I only let it run for a few seconds and shut it off. Today nothing...
I turn the key and the dash lights come on, but not even a click from
the starter. I jumped the starter and it turns the engine over. But nothing from the key. I re-installed the old relays, no change. Could this be a 'VATS' problem? Any idea's on what may be wrong?
Thanks in advance....
PS car has 74,000 miles.Replaced the Ecm,Maf sensor,02 sensor,cooling fan temp switch,coolant temp switch,cap-rotor-wires,fuel pump/filter, intake gaskets and battery at 73,000 miles.Car would always start and run untill now.

 

do you have a spare key? try that.

 

I don't think the engine will even crank if it's a VATS problem. I think you should first of all make sure the battery is fully charged-simply jumping the battery is not enough-it needs a good charge. The dash lights will come on at times regardless if your battery is fully charged or not-but if your battery is to low it simply will cause all kinds of problems-and make sure your battery connections are very clean.

 

First off try the spare ignition key.

If that fails, giggle the shifter and move it into "N" and try again.

 

Got the car used.. so no spare key. I tried the shifter too..
The battery is fully charged but I guess I can steal the one
out of the wifes LT1 and see what happens. Any idea if the
VATS bypass switch that Corvette Central sells is worth trying?
Again,Thanks for the help...

 

I have an 86 and I think the 89 is the same but I am not sure. To crank your car over, the power goes from the battery to the ignition switch, to the starter enable relay, to the clutch/neautral switch and then to the starter. The VATS system senses the resistance in your key and if it is right, it energizes the starter enable relay and allows the fuel injectors to fire. If you could crank your car over with a direct jump to the solenoid, it may be the VATS is not energizing the starter enable relay. If it is the VATS, jumping it like that will not let the car start because you still don't have any fuel.

I have a problem with the contacts in the key switch and it was intermittant which made trouble shooting a pain. You shoudl see if you have power at the starter enable relay. As a temporary measure, you can bypass the vats with a bypass kit or just get a combination of resistors that are the same as your key and wire them in. I elected to buy the bypass because it was just easier and worth the money to me. At somepoint, I will replace the contacts in the key switch

If you need to know the colors of wires to see where the power goes in and out of the starter enable relay, let me know. I can look it up assuming it is the same as an 86.

 

I suggest you get to the basics and check a few items.

1. Connect a fuel pressure gage to the fuel rail fitting and turn on the key. Wait a few seconds. You should have pressure in the upper 30s in PSI. If this is not correct, something is wrong in the fuel supply system.
2. Remove a spark plug, connect it to the spark plug wire and lay the threaded part on the engine. Crank the engine and look for a spark. If you do not have a spark, you have ignition problems.
Assuming you have not moved something like the distributor or spark plug wires, this is a good place to start. Check the basics before you start throwing parts into the car.
I have a GM Helms manual that has a diagnostic section on this problem. Let me know if you want me to fax a copy to you.
SAM

 

Thank you for all the help. I went to the dealer and got a new key made,No change.But get this..I jacked up the car,turned the key on and jumped the starter and bang it started right up... What's up with this? something wrong in the colum? Any ideas?

 

The easiest way to tell if it is the battery is to turn your headlights on and crank away. If the headlights dim more than normal... you need a new battery.

 

Looks like you have a 98 .
I would check your alt wiring on the drivers side and check the plug to the alt.
It may be the wire running along the drivers side top of the manifold where the injectors are,along that wiring loom that houses the injector wiring will be the alt wires, see if they are burnt or shorted.

 

I had similar problem a few times and it was VATS, but on my
'90 I also had security light on when this happened. I don't
know if older dash have this light.
Anyway, I allways solved the problem easily, locked the car,
left it like that for a few minutes and then unlock it and it
allways started right up.

 

Could be that the VATS contacts in the ignition cylinder are dirty and not seeing the correct resistance. Use some electrical contact cleaner and spray away.

 

Please check your starter solenoid. My 86 did the same thing. I rapped the starter hard with a hammer and it started right up . Replaced starter and solenoid and no more problem. Always good to check simple things first.

 

get it started ?????

 

You never did say if yours is auto or standard trans, but the standard has a neutral safety switch mounted towards the top of the clutch pedal.

 

How goes it?...Get it started?

 

My car did the same thing, I couldn’t figure it out so installed an ignition bottom