I have a 1992, 305 5.0L V8, Pontiac Firebird. When I attempt to start the car it does not do anything, won't turn over, click, or anything!! When I turn the key the SECURITY light comes on and stays on. I tried leaving the key turned on for 30 minutes to reset it, but it did not work. The battery, alternator, starter, and the spark plugs are new. I think it is the VATS security system. Can anyone tell me where the anti theft feature for the key pellot system under the dash is at exactly? Also, any info. of what you think it could be will be helpful.

 

I'm having the same problem right now... me and sc02t are trying to figure it out now...

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...highlight=VATS

There should be two small white wires coming out of the bottom of your steering column and into a small connector. Mine were shielded in I believe orange shielding. These are the wires that go from the lock tumbler and carry the reading from the resistance pellet.

 

I found the relay and know it turns over. Then what? The injectors aren't putting out.

 

if it is turning over, then it is not you vats. the first thing you need to do is to pull he center plug wire off the distributer. now get an insulated screwdriver (make sure it is insulated, i found out that mine was not the hard way) and stick it up inside the boot. hold it about a half inch from a ground. the pentum or the firewall works fine. have a buddy turn the key and see if you can get a spark.

if you do..... then plug it back in. now take a wire off of the spark plug and see if you see it there. if you don't then it would have to be either your cap or rotor. if you still don't see anyting, then you'll have to check you fuel. to check you fuel: look for a "nipple" on top of the fuel rail on the passenger side toward the firewall. it looks like an air thing on a tire (it is far to late for me to remember what it is called). anyway take the cap off and with the key on, push down into the center and see if you have any fuel coming out of it. you really should use a fuel pressure gauge, but if you don't have one, that is ok. as long as you see some fuel coming out you should be firing up.

not if you didn't see any spark one the first spot we tried......... it is either you coil or you ignition module. the parts strore can check your module, but not you coil. the module is more of a pita to get to, but have it checked first. the module tells the coil when to fire, so if it is out, the coil won't work. so anyway, if the module tests out good then the problem is your coil. the accel super coil is $50, the accel module is about $80, and accel cap and rotor set is $26. all of those prices are at o'reillys. hope that helps. i'll check back tomorrow afternoon, let me know if you need anything else. good luck!

scott

 

Your security light stays on... Thus VATS is active. It disables the starter relay and cuts power to the injectors. So if you get past the starter relay somehow you still can't start the car. The VATS starter disable relay disables power from beyond the normal starter relay, thus you think your relay is working.

My VATS wires are orange in color and look different than other wires.

That does nothing. Pulling the battery doesn't reset it either, its based on the discharge of a capacitor. You get one attempt every 5 minutes, every subsequent attempt results in the timer resetting. If you fail in that 5 minutes even if you have the right resistance in place it resets the timer. After the 5 minutes are up, you get another attempt.

Get a meter... measure the key pellets resistance... Find the table either in the internet or in tech data on this site, find the resistance value thats closest. Insert that resistance between the two orange wires emerging from the steering column. Just cut the wires if you don't care to have this happen again, and insert that resistance on the motor side (not the steering column side). Note that if you don't cut the wires when you put your key in you will still fail VATS as whatever resistance is in the key will combine with that of your bypass.

Radio shack has resistors. Use differing combinations to get the right resistance.

 

got it running!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

What was the problem?

 

Bet it was the flux capacitor....

 

Ha! Never know could have been the central reactor core.

 

isn't that a mcpherson vavle

 

It was the VATS security system!!! bypassed it with a 18.5 resistor (the chip in the key). Very happy is finally working.!!

 

iam also having same prob. with a 95 no sercuity light comes on no door bing comes on either when u open the door have change the ignition and key was ohm to old one dose the same thing other one did no start if i turn the key and unplug the igniton wires still have lights on dash tho not the sercuity light plug or unpluged do u think the vats modulor could be bad or can u reprogram it or how can u test it thanks