Urgent..Stranded...help with parts
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 680
Likes: 24
From: Durham North Carolina
Urgent..Stranded...help with parts
I'm out of town on military leave and i think my starter has died on my Trans Am. All guages are working, full power to all accesories, no blown fuses. I even attempted jump starting with two very strong truck batteries from emergency roadside assistance. When I turn the key I get the audible chimeas normal for start up, but the car doesn't make a sound after that. No clicking or scraping sounds from the starter. I tried both keys thinking it may have been the pass key, the security light is flashing as i turn the key. Please any help would be great. I am stuck in Wilmington NC. There aren't many parts stores in the are other than Advanced Auto. The rest are all dealerships. Does anyone have any idea how much it would be from the dealer fo the starter alone?
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,093
Likes: 267
From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
This happened on my 99 Camaro.
More than likely it's the vats system. Your key isn't being read by the system hence the security light (more than likely).
They replaced my ignition cylinder thingie and key.
What I read was that over time turning the key over disconnects a wire inside the ignition thingie (sorry don't know technical names).
More than likely it's the vats system. Your key isn't being read by the system hence the security light (more than likely).
They replaced my ignition cylinder thingie and key.
What I read was that over time turning the key over disconnects a wire inside the ignition thingie (sorry don't know technical names).
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 680
Likes: 24
From: Durham North Carolina
Does anyone know how much the ignition cylinder replacement will cost? I will try cleaning the key, but i tried my spare that i have only used twice and the same result. If you guys can think of anything else let me know. I can't get underneath to bang on the starter because i parked too close to the curb and my longtubes are in the way.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
You can also bypass the VATS system with a resistor. There are only 15 resistance values that it could be. A 10k ohm potentiometer will cover all but one of those values. Cut the VATS wire and try the resistance values below. You can put a meter across your key to get the value too.
1———— 0.402
2———— 0.523
3———— 0.681
4————-0.887
5————-1.130
6————-1.470
7————-1.870
8————-2.370
9————-3.010
10————3.740
11————4.750
12————6.040
13————7.500
14————9.530
15————11.801
1———— 0.402
2———— 0.523
3———— 0.681
4————-0.887
5————-1.130
6————-1.470
7————-1.870
8————-2.370
9————-3.010
10————3.740
11————4.750
12————6.040
13————7.500
14————9.530
15————11.801
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
GM Solenoids are notorious for failing. Have someone attempt to start the engine and hold it in the START position while you mechanically agitate the starter/solenoid with a mallet. Make sure that the wheels are chocked and the E brake is SET! Don’t get run over!
That SHOULD do the trick. If it a manual, turn the key to ON and push/pop start the engine.
That SHOULD do the trick. If it a manual, turn the key to ON and push/pop start the engine.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,093
Likes: 267
From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
Does anyone know how much the ignition cylinder replacement will cost? I will try cleaning the key, but i tried my spare that i have only used twice and the same result. If you guys can think of anything else let me know. I can't get underneath to bang on the starter because i parked too close to the curb and my longtubes are in the way.
Go to ls1tech for more info on this. It's pretty common from what I've read.
