Here goes. 1989 Firebird, 2.8L, 5spd. When I purchased the car about a year ago it started every time. After about 6 months it started having an issue whenever hot there would be no power to the starter. All other electronics OK. Once cooled down it would start. Eventually it quit starting altogether. Checking with a meter verified there was no power from ign sw when in crank position. In the interest of time and readily available parts we bypassed and put in push button start. This worked flawless for 3 months and then then same issue arose when hot. The starter has never labored and is wired "direct" to the battery. Since I have replaced the ign sw (still not working for crank). Of course push starts just fine. Odd thing is I drove car all (cold Midwest) winter short trips and never failed. First mild day of spring had to rescue a stranded friend broke down out of town. As I suspected after driving an hour, good and warmed up, when stopped and attempted to restart with button it failed. After push starting it I accidentally stalled it...then the push button start worked. The issue will also occur when the car simply sits in the sun on a hot summer day...push start it, kill it and then it will start from the button. Grounding issues? Has anyone had similar problem? (VATS still in place)

 

Just sounds like the good ole Chevy Hot Start Starter problem
https://www.thirdgen.org/solenoid
http://www.streetrodstuff.com/Articl...tart_Problems/

Not VATS because if it was you couldn't start it with a push because VATS takes out the fuel
You could always bypass the starter enable relay operated by VATS to confirm that is not the problem

 

I wanted to believe that's what it was too, but the way it will start right after a push start gave me doubts. A cheap easy place to start though. I will hook up a remote solenoid. Thanks, and for the links.

 

Following up...after letting the bird sit for a month and a half it wouldn't start at all. I had not attempted to fix just yet. Power was down to the solenoid so I figured it finally burned up completely. Brought it down to the auto parts store anticipating it would be froze up on their bench tester. As I was reaching for the storefront door handle I started to lose my grasp, fumbled with the starter and it and finally dropped it from about a foot off the ground. Putting it on the bench, of course now the previously heat soak frozen solenoid showed no signs of failure. But...the motor itself sounded noisy. 60 bucks bought me a lifetime warrantied starter. I don't question that there was a heat soaking issue but the clerk and Firebird enthusiast at the store said rarely has seen it on the 2.8l's. 3 months with out an issue so far but I've since heard of owner's replacing every 6 months before mounting remote. (The receipt for my starter is framed under UV protective glass in a hermetically sealed vault ). Thanks for pointing me in the right direction!