My original steering column went out, the tilt was broken the wheel was loose and the turn signal switch broke off of its hinge and the ignition cylinder just rolled and wouldnt do start the car or any accessories so i replaced it with another column from a 91 that didn't have cruise control. My original chipped key fits into this new column and turns the ignition cylinder through each "click" but now the only way i can get the starter to turn over is if I jump the starter enable relay. Even when I do that though, and crank it, it does not start it just cranks. I can hear the fuel pump turn on and run so I dont think its that. I do not know what to check next, is this VATS? I pulled a spark plug and there was spark, is the fuel pump humming but not working? where do I go from here?

 

Is the ignition switch at the bottom of the column adjusted right? You never messed with the VATS so if it worked before the change out, it should work now. Also, did you plug the key cylinder wires in (orange white)? Just checkin

 

When you jump the start enable relay do you mean you are grounding it and then using the key in the ignition switch?


VATs kills the starter through the start enable relay, and prevents the ECU from pulsing the injectors. Fuel pump does still prime. So based from your description I would say yes it is a VATs issue.

 

Yes, I can crank the starter if i connect the yellow wire from the steering column to the thick wire that goes into the nuetral safety switch. I didn't want to disable VATS but maybe I'm going to have to? Any idea on why it would be causing an issue even though im using the old key?

 

I think I figured it out... the new steering column had supposedly come from a 91 but does not have the wires in the orange shield to connect for VATS .-. I had a clip with nothing to connect to it under the dash and someone here told me it was for a dimmer switch but im 99% sure that the cable from the ignition for VATS goes into it.