My car likes to keep me guessing whether or not shes going to start. For the past year + I've been thinking its a VATs problem. When she doesn't want to start, I get a click from the starter, and thats it. Thing is, when you turn the key to start the car, if you stop JUST before she trys to crank, you get an electronic whine / grind / buzz type of noise. Sometimes when I play with it, I can get her to start. Is this in fact VATs? I haven't really heard mention of the buzz noise.

Second, Im going to do the push button install. If I go directly to the starter with the power from the relay, VATs shouldn't even be in the equation, correct?

 

This doesn't sound like VATS.

If you turn the key to start and you hear a click from the starter, the power IS getting to the starter, it's just that the solenoid is not engaging it. Reasons vary from burnt up solenoid contact plate to badly shimmed starter. Keep turning the key forward rapidly, it will start eventually (on 5th or 10th attempt).

The buzz/whine noise is hopefully your fuel pump priming when you turn the ignition on. It should run for 2 seconds at that point, priming the fuel system.

Hope this helps.
Lou

 

Thanks, after ready article after article about the VATs, it was sounding less and less like it. The buzzing noise isn't the fuel pump, it sounds like its coming from in the dash or in the column. Its a very strange noise, but definitally sounds electrical.

This weekend I'll check out the starter, and hopefully I'll be able to figure out whats causing it.

Thanks.

 

Could the buzzing noise be the chime (seatbelt, door etc) gone bad?

Lou

 

Could you be hearing the Whirr of the Starter motor but not engaged. It would have something that sounds like a buzz...


John

 

the exact same thing happens in my 89 trans am! i get that same noise your talking about from inside the dash (its kinda sounds like an old wood floor creaking)

 

Does y'all's door chime work normally? If you leave the keys in the ignition and open the driver door, you should hear a clear steady tone. If you do, then it's not a broken door chime.

Lou