Working on a customers 86 camaro, with the 350.. supposedly a rare 86 camaro.. It has had many problems recently i fixed almost all except for the starting problem. I thought it was the starter but checked it and it was fine, next step was the vat system. I checked the key and it is not a resistor embedded key. The key will start the car once in awhile but other times it will lock up the PCM. I know how to bypass the Vat system, but i do not have a resistance value and the only way i found to get it was by asking chevy and they said "bring it in lets *** rape you for a 3 digit value" So is it possible to bypass the VATs relay with a jumper and use the stock key without a resistor?

Any info helps thanks

 

I dont think Camaro had Vats until 89?
GTA got it in 88
firbirds an camaros 89
No 86 camaros made with a 350 4 public until 87.
its a swap or 305(they look the same as a 350)..
I would start with checking the fuseable links down by the starter give them a continuity wiggle test.
I have had many of them fail inside of the connection from link 2 regular wire.
good luck

 

Didn't know about the vats. Just assumed. It will start sometimes now. But sometimes nothing. Solenoid is getting positive but wont turn car. If I arc it across with a screw driver fires right up. Maybe ignition is too weak of voltage I might convert into a button ignition with use of key.

 

is the purple wire getting 12 volts when you try 2 start it?
if not you may have a ign switch(down on the colum) or maybe even a neutral safety switch prob..

 

VATS was not in camaros/birds till 89, it was first intoduced in 86 only on the vette

 

I jumped into the same conclusion when I first got my car and it turned out to be the after market alarm.

 

Wow I sooo forgot to ask about aftermarket alarm.. Thats normally the 1st thing I rip out of these cars.. 99% of them are juuuuunk!
It took me 8hrs to remove and fix the hack job alarm someone did to the last car i got that had starting problems. prolly one of those 100$ INSTALLED jobs that fail when you hit a bump!

 

I still haven't taken off mine. I only removed the horns, it turns on whenever I open the door and randomly when I'm driving. It looks like they did a good job installing it since everything is behind the dash somewhere and they blended some wires pretty good. I need to take it off soon to put a proper alarm in there