HotRod

Hey everybody,
I have been having a frustrating problem with my 92 Firebird with a 3.1 for about the past week. Every once in a while it won't start (including this morning which is why I am on here so early). If I turn the key everything will light up and the fuel pump will kick on it just won't start (or click for that matter). If I come back 5 or 10 minutes later it has always started. I searched on here for a while and think it may be the Vats but I read conflicting info on weather the fuel pump would be kicking on if the Vats wasn't working? Does anyone know? Thanks for any help I am trying to figure out what it is before I go out there since I don't enjoy working on cars covered in 3 inches of snow very much. Lol Well have a good day and thanks for you help,
Tyler

badandy247

do you have a spare key? if so next time you have a prob with it try the other key when they wear out they tend to fu(k up on you and eventually don't work at all. its that little chip in the side of the key that is usually at fault it sends a code to the vats system and if it's worn out it dosen't do it quite right hope tis helps

Gumby

Yep sounds like a key problem, and the reason it start after 5-10 mins cause the car thinks well that guy who just tried to steal the car is gone now, I think Ill start.

how many ppppeople have had their car towed just to find it, it needed to sit a few mins.

I think towing companies invented that key/chip crap.

Nixon1

Yeah it's VATS..fuel pump goes but VATS disables the starter solenoid. To double check..when you turn the key forward and try to start...if it doesn't start, leave the key in the forward position and look on your tach. If 'Security' is still lit up, you've set VATS off...

HotRod

Wow, thanks for the clarification everybody. Does anyone know exactely how long I have to wait before I try to restart the car (I am assuming from Gumby's statement that even if I had a new key I would have to wait a few minutes)? When it warms up I will have to bypass the Vats system. Thanks for all the help everybody, once again thirdgen.org saves the day
Tyler:hail:

Gumby

it can take a while, I think it depends on how many times you try???
and then it wait for you to give up and leave, cause your a thief in its mind.

dumb system


my dad didnt know his car had one, and he kept trying every few mins, after an hr or so. he got it towed to the dealer and they got in tunr the key and it started.


dam new fords have **** too.

grandpa, who drove caddy's all his life, but a 2002 lincoln
[he's 76 and losing his mind]

Some crap about if you turn the wheel real sharp and turn the car off, it locks the stearing.

so you have to turn the key with one hand, and jerk the wheel with another.

took both me and my grandpa to do it. he turned the key and I jerked hard on the wheel. no way he could do that alone, not sure if I could.

great car.

Nixon1

Ha ha...all these damned antitheft systems. Beat this..buddy of mine has a Daihatsu Charade..3 cyls, 1 liter, 5 speed...like an 89 or something. If you lock the doors from the inside, and go to close them, you have to hold the door handle up, otherwise the door unlocks when it closes. To start the car..after you insert the key, pop the clutch, and make sure it's in neutral, you have to turn the steering wheel to, I think it's the left, and hold it there with one hand while simultaneously turning the key with the other hand. That car's so damn goofy...and in order to remove the key, you have to reverse the wheel thing.

The VATS system in the times I've dealt with it seems to be on a 4-5 min timer.

Ragnarok_Tyr

I had a problem with intermittent VATS failure a while ago. I began checking all the wiring under the dash, and found that one of the plastic connectors (mine had the orange wire from the ignition cyl. leading to it, and blue wire away from it) was making a poor connection. I simply cut the connector off, and butt-connected the leads back together. No VATS problems since. Also, I plan on wiring a switch there, then mounting it out of the way, to make a simple theft-deterrent device. I know it's effectiveness would be limited, but hey, every little bit helps.

pretreat

car won't start and i changed the altenator and the battery and still not go but there is a buzzing noise on one of the relays coud that cause the car not run, i see that security light come on could it be that vat? should i try and buy another key need help here

Nixon1

Security light will blink and turn off. If it's staying on, your VATS system is armed...gotta give it 5 mins or so to reset. Does the solenoid click? Starter attempt to turn? Fuel pump prime?

pretreat

Well the motor does turn over so i would think the starter is working ,now the fuel pump , and the solenoid i have not checked yet, and ideal why that relay on the fire wall in front of driver side is buzzing?

Nixon1

No idea...never heard of a buzzing relay...maybe it's shorted out and the buzzing is coming from some sort of electrical activity in there, I've got no idea. Turning over, starter is fine unless it's missing turns or turning over sluggish. Starter would not turn at all unless the solenoid engaged..so solenoid is good. Turn key forward but dont start..listen CAREFULLY. You will hear a very quiet humm for several seconds, and then it shuts off. That is the fuel pump priming. If fuel pump doesnt prime, get under car and tap around the gas tank with the key still forward..if it primes, car might still be driveable but fuel pump is on its way out. If still nothing, either pump is shorted out or maybe the fuse for it is blown, etc.

pretreat

went out to look around again and now the battery is dead what is the deal here

pretreat

got new battery put in and next day battery was dead went out to look around again then tried to start it the buzzing sound from they relay came on then it stop so i charge battery and car started now the service engin light is on so where do i go from there