I have been working on this problem for a while now. The situation is when I turn the key to on the gauges and everything powers up but turning the key to start I get nothing, not even a click. I did the jumper on starter enable relay for both pins A and E (Yellow and green) and it turned over. I also grounded the green wire and it cranked over as well. I understand that this eliminates the starter enable relay which I have already replaced. Know I am on the issue of finding out if the VATS module is bad. If I ground pin A3 and it turns over then the VATS module is bad and if it doesn't turn over then possibly the key, lock cylinder, or wiring is bad. Is this correct?

 

Does your security light come on for about two seconds when you turn the key? Does it come on and stay on or not come on at all? Have you checked the wires for the lock cylinder or the key contacts by checking the key's code value through the lock cylinder harness with the key in the cylinder? Just a couple of thoughts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The security light doesn't come on at all. I checked the resistance on the key out of the ignition and it read about 2.3. When I put the key in the ignition and ohmed the two white wires coming down the orange sleeve I wasn't able to get anything at all. Does the igntion have to be turned to the on or start psotion to test this?

 

It means that you have a broken wire in the steering column going to the lock cylinder. You can turn the key to the "ON" position but it isn't neccessary.

 

I kind of figured that out after messing around with it some more and went to Radio Shack to pick up some resistors and sure enough I've got it running. Thanks for all the help, this site is awesome!

 

mine just started doing the same thing. can you send me the info you used To fix yours.. dads at whits end and wants to burn my car ( ford guy)...HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I first determined that the starter was okay by jumping the two big outside wires on the starter enable relay and turning the key to start. After that was deemed okay I looked into a VATS issue by observing what the security light did. I knew it had alwys worked before so I knew the bulb wasn't burnt out and it wasn't coming on at all. This indicated that the VATS module wasn't receiving a signal from the key to check the resistance(wire in steering column at key cylinder probably came loose). As a temp fix I measured the resistance on the pellet in the key and went and bought a resistor matching as closely as I could. I then inserted that resistor in the connector along the steering column that goes from the lock cylinder to the VATS module.

 

what do the wires running to the lock cylinder look like?

 

Depending on the year of the car from 1988 for the firebirds and 1989 for the camaros. It will either be two yellow wires (old style) in a black wrap or two white wires (new style) in a orange wrap coming down the steering column.

 

It was the wire to the lock cylinder, and now everything is running fine, thanks for the help.