Alright, I'm at wits end here guys. My VATS was acting up earlier this month so I decided to bypass it. I found the two wires coming down from the steering column and going into a clip and put a 3000 ohm resistor btw them like I read in the archives. That seemed to fix the problem, but I guess that was just an illusion my car wanted me to believe. Anyway, I go to try and start it today and it wont start...same as before. The security light goes on for about 2 seconds then goes off and when I try to start the car....nothing. The temp guage shoots up, thats about it. No flashing security light or anything like that. I really need some excperienced help on this one.

 

Is that the proper resistor value for your vats? Measure the resistance of the key and make sure that you need 3k or if you need a different value.

I went through this with my remote start having to bypass the VATS. I occasionally have the same problem you are describing, but only once in a great while.

L8rs


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Carl
CarAudio Resources

 

Are you sure it's a VATS problem? Usually, when it's a VATS problem, the security light will come on and STAY on instead of going out after 2 seconds.

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1989 IROC-Z 5.7L
NOS 150HP kit
ProBuilt 700R4, PI Vigilante 2800 stall lockup
Baer Brakes 12" Sport System

 

Yes I did check the resistance of the key with a digital multimeter. If it is not VATS what else could it be? Nothing else keeps the car from cranking at all sometimes and not others right?

 

My Firebird was doing the same thing. I thought it was the VATS also, but as posted above, the security light did NOT stay on. This means is is probably not JUST the VATS. I put a meter on the crank wire for my starter. When the car was acting up, this wire was seeing very little voltage, hence it did not crank. I tried for days to find out why, but since the problem was not constant, it is difficult. I finally installed a BOSCH relay on the crank wire and have never had the problem again. The low voltage from the crank wire may not be enough to engage a starter, but it will trip a relay.

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1992 Pontiac Firebird 350/Six Speed
1987 Toyota Pickup 383/500+ HP

 

Could you go into more detail on the installation of this relay. Thanks alot.