Hey guys, Im worried as hell as my car is now sitting next to our highway near our house (Cant stand the thought of someone busting out my glass). Im not sure if its a VATS problem or something else, but I need to do something about it tommorow or pay to have it towed. I had the car for a few weeks now and its been running fine. But tonight was the first time driving it at night, and I noticed the normal headlights were dim. So I turned on the high lights. After a few minutes of driving I notice my RPMs jumped around eratically and I lost all power. I coasted to a stop on the side of the road with the lights on and ac blowing. I noticed now when the keys in the eginition a "Security" light is on, but when I start the car it goes off after a bit. The engine turns but it doesn't catch. Im hoping its a VATS issue because from what I read it sounds like an easy fix. Will VATS shut down an engine the way mine did? Ive given it a half hour and it still wont start, but the engine does turn. The tank isnt empty because we filled it up with new gas. If VATS is the problem, would the engine still be able to turn? All the interior electronics work, and Im pretty sure the battery is fine. Don't know if this is relevant, but the speedometer, odometer, and gas gauges dont work either. ANy help would be great. We're going to try and bring a mechanic friend out to look at it. Thanks, Evan

Has nothing to do with vats - vats issue won't let the car turn over at all - you have a dead battery, or an alternator issue - grab a battery and see if it'll start with another battery first - most any car battery with side posts will fit in these cars - grab one from another car and try it.

Have you checked the fuses? Don't forget the one by the battery in the fender well.

Might also be a fuel issue if it's got enough juice to turn over it should start - are you getting fuel?

We brought out a mechanic friend, who's somewhat reliable.
He took off the throttle body pod and looked at the distributor cap. He took of the center plug and put a rod (I forget what its called, it looks like a screwdriver with a pointed end) in the plug when we cranked the engine, there was a spark.

He then immediately said he suspects the fuel pump needs to be replaced. Either that or the fuel lines because he said the car wasn't getting any gas. We also put 4 gallons of gas in before he came.

Don't know if he's right but we've decided to tow it out to an auto shop and get it checked out. I bought the car with my summer savings 3 weeks ago for a grand, and now he said im looking at a 300-600 dollar repair

did you replace the fuel filter, if not its very easy to do, its on the driver side near the rear tire, they cost about 5 bucks and id hate to think you had to pay $600 to a repair shop without trying the cheap stuff first. Also you might want to try and borrow a fuel pressure gauge from your mechanic buddy and make sure you have 40lbs of fuel pressure. The injectors wont open with much less. Hope you get it going.

If the fuel filter is bad would it cause the engine to turn but not start?
My dads out and work and said he'll call a tow truck to pick it up, so I have limited time to do anything. I may have time to swing around NAPA and try the fuel filter. Im not sure how to change it but I might as well give it a shot.

BTW, sorry about the thread going from an electrical thread to something else. Dont know if the mods have to move the thread or not

Thanks!

if the filter gets plugged the pump cant get enough fuel to the engine causing the engine to not start.

Time to get some tools, a Haynes book, and get to work! You learn by doing, and of course by using the on here, and asking us when you are confused. With the $300 you'll spend at this shop, you can buy all the tools you'll ever need for this or any other car!

Thanks for the reply. I definately need to get some tools going, and indeed ive been using the search button

Thanks for all the responses. What I thought was a VATS problem now seems to be a fuel problem. The car is already at the shop, and they're going to check it out. Once I hear back from the shop I'll let you guys know what went wrong.

Thanks for the input. I've learned so much more here on this site then a year of aut tech in high shcool