ive had this recent problem. i have a 89 formula, i bought it about a month ago. evryonce in a while when i go to start it, it just cranks. if i wait a little while it will start right up. the key i use has no chip so i dont think its vats controlled and i cut off the old alarm system also the starter line is fed juice from a yellow wire coming from under the steering column 10 gauge, i guess to bypass the neutral safety switch. ive realized when i have this problem the security light stays on and doesnt go out . after i wait a while and try again the light will come on and go out like its supposed to and my car starts. whats causing this random and annoying problem? i can never tell when my car is going to or not going to start. Thanks.

 

grndmasnightmar,

Probably what has happened is that someone has bypassed the VATS at some point in time. When I first got my 1989 Iroc it had just a regular key in the ignition lock. I knew that the 1989 model was supposed to have the VATS installed. I got the dealers service manual started tracking wires down. I located the wires for the VATS and followed the wires up under the dash and found a large gob of electrical tape. Inside this large gob of tape was another ignition lock cylinder with a blank pelletized key. A previous owner was either too lazy or stupid to properly install the new lock cylinder. Therefore he just wrapped it up in tape and hid it under the dash and installed a regular ignition lock cylinder.

The Trickster!!!!!!!!

 

thanks ill try to see if any of my mangled wiring has a resistor or key(haha) wrapped in electric tape. thanks for the help. by the way are all 89's supposed to have vats?

 

I don't know about the V6 models but I know they put them in the V8's. I have some information from a 1989 camaro service manual concerning the VATS that I just e-mailed to metalhead212121 and fastrs. I will e-mail it to you as well.

The Trickster!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

thanks for the info