Hi, I have recently bought a 1988 3 Gen with a 2.8 V6 the car turns over but does not start and I have be told this may be because it has an immobilizer that is preventing it from starting... can anyone shed any light on if this could be the case and if so how to rectify the problem? I live in a rural part of Devon in the UK and have no one to ask with experience of these cars. Mark

Welcome to TGO.org. My guess would be that any type of immobilizer would prevent the starter from working, not just keep the engine from actually starting. Have you done the basic checks such as checking for spark and fuel? That's where I'd start.

Welcome Mark.
Immobilizers (here) usually just keep the car from being mobile. A boot on the wheel for example. I've never heard of anything that keeps the engine from starting.
Well, if someone bought it from a "buy here, pay here" dealer, and didn't pay their monthly bill, their car would be shut off, but there is usually a big clunky looking electronic device near the ignition. If you don't see one of those, then it likely just needs some basic work done.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Bring built for the 1988 model year, your car did not come factory with a built in anti-theft unit or immobilizer. VATS was used on 1990 and up cars with the 3.1L motor. This system used a resistor in the key to tell the ECM to allow injector pulse when the key was inserted. Very crude and prone to failure, but rest easy, as you do not have this system.

If you have an aftermarket alarm, that may serve a similar function, but 99% of them have a starter interrupt so they don't even crank.

Your problem is most likely due to an ignition or fuel system failure.

vats started in 1989. i got a 1989 w/ 2.8L unless the firebirds got it first?

my 89 camaro rs also has vats, had problems and had to bypass the system. if u search my user name u should be able to find my post with pictures and directions on how to bypass it.



wen u try to start ur car is there a light on the dash that says security and stays lit?

I stand corrected. So there you go. It started in 89, which still means that you shouldn't have the system.

Sounds like fuel pump. One thing to make sure its not have a friend turn the key to the accel not START IT. just on the on position. Then have you under car near the tank to see if it buzzes a constant sound. IF nothing at all its a fuel pump is what you need.