I just bought a 89 Firebird with a 2.8L engine...
It was pretty hard to get it started...I was never sure what the problem was...I though it was gthe starter because the car turned ON (the radio + A/C + gauges work) but it doesnt turn over and crank on...it doesnt even click or anything...At first it did crank and turn over after messing with it for a while...but latelly i have not been able to at all...
I also noticed that the the car turns ON even without the key on the ignition cylinder...it rotates as if it had the key in it...but does not crank on

Last time I got it to turn on it runned great...the tranny shifts perfectly and only has 80K miles on engine...after the engine warmed up...the car started perfectly time after time ( i though the problem was fixed for good)
But after letting it sit there overnight...It would not crank again...idk what to do...Please HELP!!

I though maybe the Vats went off since cylinder is messed up but the engine did turn on when i messed around with it last time...and the light is not on the gauge...but i think its still a posibility

 

questions on an 89 firebird...

Where is the security light located? to let me know if the vats are working?

I know i have to measure the omhs on the key using a multimeter to find the correct resistance on the key...but how do i check that on the cylinder (ignition)? to see if it matches

If u are located anywhere around 45014 (fairfield Ohio --about 20 min from cincinnati--) and is willing to "work" on the bypass I will pay a reasonable price...let me know how much...I heard it only takes about 20 min. to get it done if you know what your doing...

If anyone has done the bypass before but lives too far to help me please give me a call (513) 746-5922
Help me out!!!

THANKS

 

typically the wires leading upto the ign key cyl break and loses contact to the key.

this is why the vats systems typically need to be bypassed.

alls u have to do is get the reitance from the key and splice the resitor into the 2 wires under the dash/colum

iirc they are in the own harnes and are orange wires, there will be 2 wires coming up under the dash with a connector before they go up into the colum

to get to the wires u have to remove the cover under the dash above the peddles

the security light is on the right side under the tach nexto the check engine light iirc

i took pics when i did mine lemme see if i can dig them up for you

 

i didnt have a single corect resitor so i ended up using 2 to get the correct resitance

 

thats exactly what I had to do with mine. very easy, just make sure your messing with the right wire. wire the resistors up as a series circuit and make sure you don't get a short.