I have a 1988 trans am gta that will not crank. I have a new starter solenoid,neutral safety switch, and ignition switch. When i go to crank it the dash just dims and nothing happens. If i put a screw driver across the solenoid it cranks. The lights, blinkers, dash sensors(gas,odometer, battery ect.) work. I do not know what else to try any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I had the same problem, take the ignition wire and connect it to a 12 volt source, so when you turn the key the car will crank. Try that and let me know.

 

Which one is the ignition wire I got about 7 wires comming out of that switch haha :/.

 

1) do you have VATS?
2) Have you checked all the major grounds?

Try getting a nice guage chunk of wire about 3 ft long - touch it to where the purple wire connects on the starter, and touch the + batt terminal - does starter run then?

{this is all on a non-VATS car}
If so, then go under driver dash and find that same purple wire - test it for 12v when key is turned. If no 12v, then go back to NSS - should have large yellow wire on it, does it get 12v when key is turned? If not, then go back to ignition switch.

The path is turn key, 12v from red wire (from fuse block) at ignition switch to yellow wire, out on yellow to NSS, if in N or PARK then out on purple wire to starter.

 

i have the same issue but i do have vats. could it be the start enable relay gone bad?

 

On a VATS car, yes, there is a starter enable relay (not present on the non-VATS cars) that could also be bad. On a VATS car the 'path' is...

turn key, 12v from red wire (from fuse block) at ignition switch to yellow wire, out on yellow to SER, out of SER on green wire to NSS, if in N or PARK then out on purple wire to starter.

I hope anyone else is able to get theirs to work right, I haven't had any luck myself. I've replaced EVERYTHING, the IGN SW, the SER, the NSS, & the starter. I have VATS, but I'm carbed so no fuel inj signal needed, and Ive bypassed the SER as well. I can sit in the driveway for days, testing, starting, and everything is fine. I'll drive all over the place, stopping and starting, and no problems at all. Then the next day, I'll go out for a drive, stop, and she won't start, just a click - drives me crazy! I have to go under the hood and supply 12v to the starter - which isn't a big deal, but it's not right, and it drives me nuts. Something at very intermittent times keeps the 12 from getting to the purple wire at starter. It's on the cabin side, not the engine bay side, because I can take the panel off under dash, and jump the yellow to the purple and she takes off. I've given up - I'm hunting down a really nice starter push button and installing it.

 

What is a VATS car. I believe I have the stock alarm system that came with the car. Could that or missing sensors on the block stop it from cranking?

 

The 1989 + cars had VATS, Vehicle Anti-Theft System. The keys all have a small 'pellet' in the key blank that is a resistor, and the lock cylinder has small spring-loaded contacts that touch the pellet when the key is entered in the lock. After this many years, alot of folks have issues with the VATS - mainly because the springs behind the contacts wear out or pop out, and the contacts no longer touch the pellet on the key when inserted. Thus they either have to replace the ignition key cylinder, or bypass the VATS module by soldering the correct resistor inline on the wires under the dash.

There are a few late 1988 cars that I believe have the VATS installed on them - I think I've read here from a few folks that there 1988 cars had VATS, but it's not common - juts a few at the end of the 1988 run I guess. But all 1989 + cars should have it.

Unless the VATS module (buried way up in the dash) gets this resistor value it's looking for, the starter enable relay is not grounded, and the fuel injectors will not fire (the VATS module sends a pulse wave to the ECM, and without that signal, the ECM will not power the injectors).

To my knowledge, no 3rd gen car left the factory with any kind of alarm system, but it appears from reading that some cars have GM alarms - but those must be dealer add-ons. The VATS is not any kind of 'alarm', it's just disables the starting and running of the vehicle unless the right resistor is presented to the VATS module.

There is not any sensor on the block that would prevent the starter from starting. I can see where a car with missing or bad sensors could have a hard time running, but nothing factory that would prevent starting and firing.

 

I do not have the the "pellet" on my key just a regular key. The alarm thing is a box about 4"X2". It has alot of small plugs plugged into it. With tiny wires. Do you think what ever that thing is could be stopping my car from cranking?

 

It is called CODE ALARM somthing. The plug for the starter and starter key are missing and I cant find them so I think thats what it is. If anyone knows how to bypass that, that should fix my problem.

 

car is for sale now I cant figure it out if anyone wants it 1200 obo

 

Never mind I fixed it the wires on the solenoid were on wrong. Cars stayin with me :]

 

where is the start enable relay located? im having the same problem out of a () camaro i just bought.

 

and also is it a possibilty that the vats module coul go bad?

 

If the camaro is a 88 or older then you do not have vats, make sure all your wires are on right on the starter solenoid then u will have to check your nuetral saftey switch, starter solenoid, or ignition switch if that still doesnt get it to crank.