I have a 91 Z convert that I would love to drive more than any other car but that car is so UNRELIABLE. When I purchased the camaro the vats was bypassed with a professional type pig tail resistor, it even had the #3 on the sleeve and when I measured the ohms with my reader is was a #3 vats key. Well my electric fans are hooked up direct so when you turn the key foward the fans come on and sometimes when I turn the car on I have to move the ignition forward alittle bit to get the fans to come on, I know when the fans are not working when I dont hear them and my windows dont roll down /electric windows/ then when I move the ignition WALA they work.

Would this be why my car does not turn on sometimes. I sometimes have to hold the key Foward for a good 2 secs before I hear the starter engage to turn on and sometimes it DOES NOT turn on.

the whole time I was thinking the Vats was giving me the problem but I've looked up plenty of stuff on Vats and Im leaning towards it not being a vats problem but more like ignition. Any suggestions .

If I have to change the ignition out then I will .. I just replaced a friends ignition so I know now how to do that . His car was my ginny pig.

 

Your Key Ignition might be the problem...... The Rod that leads from the key ignition to the Ignition box might be Bent a little, or the Ignition box ( at the base of the column ) might be out of adjustment.

Before buying another ignition, remove the lower panels and access and access the ignition box. The mounting holes on it are slotted so it can be adjusted forward and back. By the sound of it , I would think that the box should be adjusted toward the steering wheel. The adjustment on this box determines when the rod ( moves by the key ignition ) will activate the proper circuits.

I've had this happen to me before. The key had to get turned "more" than normal in order for the car to crank. ( I thought it was a problem with the clutch pedal switch at first.) The problem could be many different things,..... but I'd look into the ignition box before spending any $ on a new VATS key ignition - But that's just me !

 

thanks for the reply !! but where is the ignition box and what does it look like ?? is it under the column where the panels are at?? thanks Robert.

 

The Ignition box is located near the base of the column. To access it simply remove the lower dash panel interior "hush" panel and follow the rod down the column in the direction of the firewall. You will see the rod disappear into the ignition box.

Don't mistake the high Beam rod for the ignition rod,..... It's easy enough to figure out wich box is which once you start messing with stuff. ( turn on the high beams to watch for the high beam rod; Turn the Key to follow the ignition box rod. )

Good Luck !