okay. car would normally turn on. but now the car just doesnt do anything. no noise from the starter. noise at all. the radio, the seat belt light, and dash lights come on. but i hear nothing from the engine. any idea?

1987 trans am fuel injected. 5.0

 

well im willing to bet if you give it 15 mins itll work, when you turned the key did you hear the fuel pump prime? if not im willing to bet your 87's vats has finally kicked the bucket

 

1987 did NOT have VATS! VATS was introduced in 1989!

 

well any ideas? its been well over 15 mins. lmao. this car is pretty much dead

 

excuse me, its not the vats apparently seeing how it doesnt exist.

if youre getting auxillary power its obviously not your battery, has your starter been acting up? it possible it might be frozen up or the starter relay is shot, but the only way youd be able to check it would be to pull it off

 

Apply 12v to where the purple wire connects to the starter - if starter turns then it's not starter or solenoid. If not, then the starter is fried - replace.

Test the purple wire to the starter - when key turned to start it should have 12v. If getting 12v, then wiring is good from firewall to starter, if mot then it's bad - replace.

Check neutral safety switch attached to shifter (auto) or clutch pedal (manual) - should have two large wires (one dark green one purple), should be 12v coming in on dark green when key is turned, and 12v coming out on purple when key is turned. If getting 12v out on purple, then NSS is good, if not then replace. If not getting 12v in on dark green wire, then dark green wire is bad or ignition switch (not key cylinder) is bad - replace.

 

well im guessing the starter fried. it used to make a squeal, now it makes no noise.

 

you mean when you jump the solenoid on the starter itself? the armature probably started dragging from worn out bearings and now its probably resting on the pole shoes

 

well like it made a squeal from the starter. but the engine didn't crank. and now no sound comes from the starter. all u hear is the seatbelt sounds and the radio go on when u turn the key. nothing else happens.

 

I'm guessing your starters shot if its not turning the motor over, you didn't have any weird things from the motor right? Like no seizure?

 

i had the same problem with my 86 and it turns out it was the neutral safety switch. just a thought... i spent all day testing wires and connections and things like that and i was fixing to go to town and buy a new starter. but lucky for me i found this site and decided to check the switch. must have pulled out when installing a new radio lol

 

Did you take a nice thick wire and apply 12v from the battery + to where the purple wire connects to the starter yet? If you do, and the starter turns, then it's not the starter.