Ok, so i've been looking on here for two weeks now and cannot find a senario similar to mine. First of all when i turn the key the only thing that happens is the radio, lights, and service engine soon light come on. The fasten seat-belts light comes on until i turn the key all the way forward and then the brake light comes on when the key is turned all the way forward. The service engine soon light stays on and won't go off. It sounds like the fuel pump engages but im not entirely sure. I checked the starter by connecting two terminals on the starter solenoid and it turned over the starter so i assume that it is no bad. I replaced the solenoid and bypassed the vats but neither has worked. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

If VATS is properly bypassed, then you need to check the starter enable relay or the nuetral safety switch. I've explained these two issues about 5 times in the last two weeks - so do a for "starter enable relay" and you'll find the posts.

 

if my vats was not properly bypassed would the security light come on?

 

My VATS is still connected and functional. If I turn my key to the run position, the Security lights lights up, but then goes out after about 3-4 seconds. If yours is staying on, then you might have a VATS issue. Is the starter clicking at all? Can you hear the relay click under the dash when trying to start? No clicking would mean a bad VATS issue, and so maybe the bypass didn't take and you need to look at that again.

 

when i turn the key the security light never illuminates and there is no clicking

 

i replaced the starter enable relay and still the exact same thing... ps i would really like to get my car going so i can get out of my parents house

 

Make sure you're getting 12v at the purple wire where it attaches to the starter - when the key is turned should get 12v+ there. If not, then trace this backwards - purple wire runs from starter to neutral safety switch in center console - see if there's 12v coming out of the NSS on the purple wire with key turned. If it does, then there's an issue with the purple wire between NSS and starter. If not, continuing backwards see if there's 12v on the larger dark green wire going into the NSS when key turned. If there is, then your NSS is bad, if not, then continue tracing backwards to the starter enable relay. Make sure there is 12v+ coming out of the starter enable relay on the dark green wire when key is turned, if there is, then there's an issue with the dark green wire, if not, then 1) check the large yellow wire going into the relay - it should have 12v when the key is on ... if not, then that's the issue 2) check the small yellow wire - it should have 12v when the key is on... if not then that's the issue 3) check the black wire for ground - it should be grounded ONLY when key is turned... if not, then that's the issue - this ground is supplied by the VATS module - so if it doesn't have a ground, then the issue would be VATS. (BUT - you said it clicks just doesn't start, so if it's clicking, then VATS is NOT an issue).

If the small yellow wire is not getting 12v when the key is turned, then your ignition switch is the issue - NOT the key cylinder, but an actual switch located under the steering column - follow the small yellow wire from the relay to locate the switch.

Forward - 12v from fuse block to ignition switch (don't know that color wire on your year), then out on small yellow wire to relay - this activates the relay. Ground on relay provided by VATS to activate relay. Large yellow wire from fuse panel to relay provides high amp current when relay activated - this is routed out of relay to NSS on dark green wire, then out through firewall to starter on purple wire.

Make sense? Hope that helps!

This assumes you have an automatic tranny - the NSS is located at the clutch for a manual car, and I have no idea if the wire colors changed or not - but regardless the starting wires at the NSS will be larger guage wires compared with the others which would be reverse lights and such.

 

wow extremely helpful thank you very much... i will check these things thursday hopefully and let you know how it goes

 

hey if your still watching this thread camaronewbie please check your pms i sent you a couple