so i finally bought an irocz with 101 mi for $900 just gotta replace the dash and redo the headliner. problem is it will only start with starter fluid. what could it be? i was thinking clogged fuel filter or messed up injectors? the ignition switch has been changed but i know there are plenty of other things that could be wrong as well but what else could be causing the problem and where should start?


thanks
George

 

When you turn the key on, listen for the fuel pump to kick on. Either that or put a fuel pressure gauge at the end of the fuel line. If you hear the pump kick on, but have no pressure at the gauge, change the fuel filter. (easiest/cheapest fix to do first) After you change the filter, and it still does the same thing, you will have to drop the tank because the little rubber hose that connects the pump to the fuel line is rotten. While you are in there, go ahead and change your pump, even though it may be working......you dont want to have to drop that tank again anytime soon.....

 

What u can do first is turn ur key n listen to the pump click if it clicks dont think it cant be ur fuel pump had this problem n recently fixed it. The first thing n cheapest u can do is replace the fuel filter n check the fuel pump relay if it checks good then ur ok. Ur fuel pump can still be bad or lose its pressure and still clicks on just drop the tank or cut the top and change the pump it only cost me around $50 something with tax.

tony

 

where exactly is the fuel pump relay? and if i drop the tank will i have to cut the mufflers or anything or can i like unscrew it from the back of the cat.??

 

I'm going to go ahead and take a stab in the dark here that it’s probably your VATS system. I've helped at least 2 people now who were running around in circles trying to fix this only will start with starter fluid issue because rarely will anyone suspect the VATS system. Theres one thing people commonly overlook about VATS and that is VATS will not kill a running car. It will disable the fuel injector pulse but if you start it with starter fluid it will continue to run. To check this get a noid light and see if your injectors are firing when you try to crank it over if they are not it’s probably your VATS system.

 

Ok...i misunderstood. I didnt know the car KEPT running after he started it with the fluid, i thought it only ran while the fluid was in there. If thats the case, rolling thunder is probably right.....VATS.......

 

it starts with the fluid but dies right away.. i dont hear anything when trying to start it so yea. my neighbor said its a fuel pump or a starter issue or both. so idk.

 

Sounds like a classic fuel pump failure. Buy a good one before you go in there, you won't want to do it twice.

 

which brand is best?

 

I used Federal-Mogul, Made in the good old USA. Got one in the Camaro and the Corvette.

 

Also check your fuses !

 

so a mechanic came over and said there is no power getting to the starter or the fuel pump. he checked the fuses and said they were fine. some said before that the VATS would disengage the injector pulse so i think it actually is the VATS system. then i figured out by going to pickn pull that it has a friggin firebird ignition in it..so my new question is if get a 91 camaro ignition in the car and program the key (got lucky barely put on the lot with key still in ignition) =) to the cars VATS system will that work?? any comments or ideas?
thank you

 

hey eagle223usa whats the top speed on your speedometer?

 

Make sure to check the stand alone fuse near radiator its for the pump but overlooked alot of times its in a lil black box 2 wires run to it then your relays

 

I have to say I tend to disagree with your assessment but beyond that something doesn't make sense here. How does the car crank over if theres no power to the starter? The other thing is VATS will dissable the fuel injector pulse but it wont kill the fuel pump. The VATS module will just basically tell the ECM I dont see the right key dont fire the injectors and it just wont. My last question is how can you tell that you have a firebird ignition and when you say ignition what part exactly are you talking about?

 

Rolling Thunder- the guy i bought it off said it would only start with starter fluid. but when i had the mechanic comeover he did something at the bottom by the starter that made it crank and start. the original guy changed the igintion cylinder?? (the thing the key goes in) and im guessing thats when it never started again. but when the mechanic did the thing at the bottom by the starter again and put some starter fluid at the topit ran but died out. what can i do? what could be wrong? could it be a combo of bad fuel pump and something else???and about the igintion it may not be a firebird all i know it is the the one that would recognize any chip it doesnt have that slot.. should i post a pic?

 

Ok first just changing the cylinder to a different 1 does nothing to help the module is still there and not getting the signal it needs check this might help https://www.thirdgen.org/vats

 

thank you

 

what would be the resistance of a key with no chip?

 

driver side, closest to the windshield should be a few relays that look identical. i forget exactly which one is for the fuel pump. nothing else, just switch them and try.

 

Would have to find resistance of the stock key not the 1 u have now. how u would go about tracking that down. Im not sure theres usually a number on oem key u use to find it out

 

im screwed.. he lost that key.. ugh

 

Take the panel off under the steering wheel and locate the white (i think) wire coming out of your steering column. There were 15 chip resistance values used in these cars. You can go to Radio Shack and buy resistors for all of these and just wire them in one at a time until your engine cranks. I had to do this with an 89 i bought that someone swapped out the ignition cylinder. Do a search on "VATS bypass".....

 

And the 2 white wires will be wraped togeather in orange. If you go the resistor rout then cut the 2 wires below the connector so you can unplugg the connector (so no one can start your car) if you leave your car in a bad spot of town or parked somewhere for a long period of time. And I didn't see it brought up but not only does the vats dissable the injectors it also dissables the starter. And when you turn the key on the security light will stay on.

 

so i just connect the resisters to those 2 white wires?

 

Yes. Like said above there are 15 set values that gm used. Make a resistor set to equil each value. then find the orange wraped white wires. they will be under the steering column. they go to the ignition switch. find the small connector and cut the wires before the connector (not the wires going to the switch) connect one wire to one side of the resistor and the other wire to the other side. turn the key on and if the security light goes off and the car will start the you found the right resistance.

 

Thats what I was thinking. It shouldn't fire at all even with starter fluid if it is the VATS. My first thought after reading the thread is fuel problem such as filter, pump or smashed/damaged fuel line. I think I would pursue that a little further instead of starting with the VATS.

 

so i found the original key and the original iginition cylinder.. where you ask? underneath the steering column, wired to 2 yellow wires wrapped in black plastic. the key was in the iginition cylinder and turned to the on position.. ??????

 

Wow that's a first. I guess check the resister in the key to find out what the resistance is and take all that crap out and put a resister in it's place. Sounds like a hack job and something has come loose somewhere or the key's resister is no longer the right resistance.