Both of my Firebirds are crapping the bed at the same time!

One I think I fried out the ECC or ECM, i don't know. What it does is:

When I turn key, all lights come on and Accessories, but as I go to start...nothing. It is a 91 Firebird with 5.0 w/TB injection.

The steering column got so loose that it wouldn't turn OFF. What I did was install a quick fix until I could find a column. I installed a battery kill switch, and I would just use that, and unplug the alternator. I might have caused a surge with this method. It wouldn't start the last time I tried, and I could smell the smell of burnt or hot electronics inside the car when I came back to try to get it running again. I then turned everything on, and jumped the starter solenoid, and it still didn't start, but would turn over. I think I fried some electronics. Engine computer is my thoughts.

Any help is appreciated....

Now.

My 1988 runs. It is 2.8 w/MP fuel injection. It always usually starts before the key is fully turned! Usually nice! NOW, sometimes it won't start at all. After running for a minute or two it will die. I will come back the next day and it will start and run. But now, sometimes it just dies, and then won't start....until the next day. I just replaced the coil, and it wasn't the problem. Could it be the ignition module? If it could be the ignition module, where is it located in this car? The car is not the HEI distributor, and I cannot locate the module anywhere under the hood. I know what a ignition module looks like, but I cannot find it in this car.

Anyways, if it isn't the ignition module what else could it be? I pretty much know it has to do with the engine electrical system.


Any input helps.

These are my only two cars I own now, and I need to get to my place of employment everyday.

Thank you.

 

For the first car - Do a search, and research VATS.

 

Ok, I read the info on this website about VATS. It seems pretty complicated. Is there any way I can put a later style steering column in my 91 Firebird without the VATS system?

I was planning on putting a carburetor style engine and HEI style distributor in this car anyway. Can I just use the older column, and then rewire the starter?

I am sure there is info on this website about that. If anyone has a link it would help out greatly.

I am still seeking information about my 1988 Firebird also. If anyone can tell me where to find the ignition module, that would be a start.

Thank you.

Thanks.

 

The VATS is very simple - much simpler than a steering column replacement - just get the resistance from your key, go get a similar resistor, and wire it in under the dash - whole job should take 15 minutes (if that's the problem). For 15 minutes, and a $1 resistor, I'd want to try that first!

 

The steering column already needs to be replaced. This was the spawn of the whole problem. It is very loose (at the tilt), and has already been tampered with in an effort to try and fix it before I owned the car.

The steering wheel lock don't work, and because it is so loose the key cylinder is not catching the ignition slide inside the column. The key cylinder will go to ignition and starter (with a strategic push to straighten the steering wheel and column), but will not shut the car down. Hard to explain, but explained simply by getting a new column. I don't understand why my VATS resistor would go bad in the first place. I do have the right key for this column. wHy???


Will an older column work? If I can find a 3rd Gen column, or a column that will fit... in the junk yard nearby, I can get steering columns for $35.

I plan on removing the computer in this car all together, and going old school. My 1988 is my main source of transportation right now. In my 91 bird, if find that it is just the Engine Computer i fried, or a simple module, relay or fuse, I will just change that for now, just so I can have wheels for transportation. But, right now for transportaion sakes, I think it would be cheaper and easier to fix my 88.



Thanks for the help.