Do i have a vats problem?

[manic]

I have all the symptoms of a vats problem except that when I turn my key the security warning does not come on.

I have a 1986 vette. The battery is good, when I turn on the key everything comes on except that the car makes no attempt to turnover. I was just about to attempt to bypass the vats by splicing in the resistors as I have read to do here and elsewhere. But I didn't have the security warning. Before I try it I want to make sure that I'm not wasting my time.

I appreciate any info.

Thanks.

 

[vetteoz]

Possibly. But have you checked the starter inhibitor switch on the shifter or clutch pedal to see if they are working?

 

[manic]

It is an automatic.

 

[tmkassin]

It is an automatic.

Could be a bad neutral switch.

 

[vetteoz]

After you check the inhibitor switch you can jumper the wires at the starter enable relay to bypass it.VATS may be working but if relay is bad then nothing will happen

 

[aklim]

Tried working backwards yet? Tap off the starter and make sure that it is getting power. Even if it gets a signal and if the power is low or not existent, you won't get much. Do the lights at least dim?

 

[manic]

I appreciate the pictures. I can rule out the vats - atleast I know that the correct ohm is being sent from the ignition.

I'm not sure how I would go about jumping the relay. Please advise. Power to everything else is good. Lights,radio, etc.

 

[manic]

Where is the starter enable relay located? I read elsewhere that it is behind the DIC facia. I removed that but I don't see it. Am I supposed to remove the DIC itself? What a pain.

 

[manic]

I think I found the problem. I jumped the relay and got no response so I was then going to test the inhibitor switch but before I did that I decided to do what I should have done first and was suggested here, is test the starter solenoid. I didn't suspect it because I figured I would have atleast gotten some noise. I connected a cable from the solenoid to the positive battery terminal and got nothing. If my analysis is right then I need to replace the solenoid.

Please comment if I missed something.

 

[manic]

Me again. If it wasn't obviuos before, it should be now. I don't know what I am doing. In case someone is reading this thread, though I seem to be the only one with anything to say lateley, I discovered that I didn't test the solenoid properly. I didn't have the key in the on positon. So I reconnected the jumper to the solenoid, turned the ignition and it started. Good I could now rule out the solenoid. I put everything away, and tried starting the car again. Lo and behold it started. Now I am back to square one. Since the car now starts I can't test till the problem reappears. Hopefully that will happen in my driveway.

Am I correct though in assuming that I can jump start the car if I connect the battery directly to the solenoid. If not then I have a bad solenoid.

 

[boomdriver]

Me again. If it wasn't obviuos before, it should be now. I don't know what I am doing. In case someone is reading this thread, though I seem to be the only one with anything to say lateley, I discovered that I didn't test the solenoid properly. I didn't have the key in the on positon. So I reconnected the jumper to the solenoid, turned the ignition and it started. Good I could now rule out the solenoid. I put everything away, and tried starting the car again. Lo and behold it started. Now I am back to square one. Since the car now starts I can't test till the problem reappears. Hopefully that will happen in my driveway.

Am I correct though in assuming that I can jump start the car if I connect the battery directly to the solenoid. If not then I have a bad solenoid.

Funny, I had the exact same thing going on a yr ago and it nearly drove me insane...seriously!
Laying in store parking lots....crawling under the car in the rain....winter....people staring when I approached with a hammer, all aggrevating as hell. If it had been a ford everyone would have understood. Not a Vette..

I learned that I could tap the starter body or the solenoid and it would start, but it might not act up again for days...then it would do it every time I got in for a week. I got a new starter and was waiting for someone to assist because I had a broken shoulder at the time. Ended up NEVER installing it...
I tried the wires to the solenoid, the batt cable, the connections...nothing proved what the true problem was/is.

Then, it just went away. Has not even thought of acting up. Since then I bought an optima battery, new alt, added ground cables and enhanced the base electrical. Cleaned every connection that I could find. I have NOT replaced the starter because I almost WANT it to malfunction again so I can KNOW for sure what it is...

My theory is that the solenoid builds up carbon on the contacts inside (much like a points type distributer) and that stops the switch from making contact. Even with a jumper it would'nt click. A tap in the right place and it made contact...in theory at least. With enough of the old burned carbon knocked off the solenoid contact, it works again. perfectly.
Its just a theory, but its the only thing that makes sense outside of witch-craft or a curse.

Taking VATS out of the equasion, that leaves the ignition switch on the column and the wiring inbetween. I have found all of that to be very reliable. If anything, the switch thats operated by the rod from the key switch could fail giving you the same result, a no start/click situation. Dirt,. moisture and age would be the reason why. I know that anything that lives within 3" of my shoes HAS to be a very durable part...