VATS Fuseholder Location - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

Capitol Bill · 07-05-2009, 05:16 PM

Can anyone tell me where the VATS (Security Light) fuseholder is located on a 1989 Firebird with a 2.8 engine and a 4 speed automatic transmission? I recently changed the starter switch that is located on top of the steering column because the engne would not start unless I moved the adjustable steering wheel up and down. Eventually, moving the steering wheel failed to start the car and then I had to jack the car up in order to have a friend crawl under it to jump across the solenoid connections in order to get it started, which it did. Immediately after this action, I noticed that the security came on and has stayed on since. Now, the starter switch has been replaced, the solenoid will click but not engage the starter. I am thinking that that the problem might be be a blown VATS fuse due to our jumping of the solenoid conections. However, I don't know where the fuse box is located? I looked but could not could not find a VATS nomenclature on the fuse box that is under driver's side dash? In addition,, I also need to know whether the VATS system could cause the soenoid to just click but not engage the starter? I am alos aware that the problem could also be a bad starter, but wanted to check to see if VATS could cause these symptoms before I climbed under the car toremove the starter?

Capitol Bill

BigBadLou · 07-09-2009, 06:16 PM

If your starter solenoid clicks, it is getting power from the key which eliminates VATS.
Check out the starter and solenoid, those are the culprit.

Hope this helps.
Lou

Capitol Bill · 07-09-2009, 09:57 PM

Thanks Big Bad Lou, I will check out the starter.

Capitol Bill

BiggTrav · 08-04-2009, 10:58 PM

so where is this fuse at