occasional starting problem

[samborskij]

sometimes my 94 LTI, automatic transmission, just decides it won't start.
If you want to see what I see, it acts like the transmission is in a gear other than park or neutral. Try it and you will get the results I get.

the first two occurances I was actually able to rock the vehicle back and forth while shift lever was in park, then start it up. the last time, that didn't work, I gave up, it was 10pm and I tried again at 10am the next morning, and it fired right up.

before you suggest it, I moved the shift lever backwards and forwards a numerous times. Yes, when I turn on the ignition key the dashlights do light up and no they don't dim when I turn to crank.

what I probaby need to look at is the switch that say's:
"Hey it's in Park or Neutral, you can crank the vehicle"
so where might that switch be? any other ideas?

Thank You All, Sam

 

[vetteboy86]

Sam, sounds like you have a good starting point to your problem. I would imagine the neutral safety switch is located on top of the transmission near the gear shifter, duh right, but really that is the best I can come up with. Not sure if it would be accessible from the top side, if you took the center console out or not. There will be somebody soon to come along, that probably has had a similiar problem, be patient my friend.

Good Luck,
Craig

 

[steelblue75]

i had a problem like yours, turned out to be the vats system, ign. key was worn & the resistor chip wasn't being read all the time.new key solved the problem. just a thought

 

[gmjunkie]

i had a problem like yours, turned out to be the vats system, ign. key was worn & the resistor chip wasn't being read all the time.new key solved the problem. just a thought

This above would be My Choice if this was a Multiple Choice Test!! The Neutral Safety Switch is on Side of Trans where Shift Lever comes out of Trans!! But I'd be Looking at the Vat's Key!! junk!!

 

[speedmaster4]

vats is first suspect and ez check-out...go to radio shack and have them read resistance of pill in ign key...buy 5 resistor packet ( $1.59 for all) of same value as ign key.. bend resistor leads into a tite 'u' shape and plug one into connector on steering column, just above brake pedal

 

[samborskij]

VATS

okay, thanks for all the directions to head in. First question is what does the acronym VATS stand for. I have book 1 and 2 GM Service Manuals and as of this moment, found no mention of VATS either in the Index or in the section dedicated to ignitions.

just take me by the hand and walk this poor blind old man through it please.

as for seeing a resistor at the bottom of the steering column, I have to figure out how to get my fat ass in there so i can see.
Sam

 

[stu]

okay, thanks for all the directions to head in. First question is what does the acronym VATS stand for. I have book 1 and 2 GM Service Manuals and as of this moment, found no mention of VATS either in the Index or in the section dedicated to ignitions.

just take me by the hand and walk this poor blind old man through it please.

as for seeing a resistor at the bottom of the steering column, I have to figure out how to get my fat ass in there so i can see.
Sam

VATS is Vehicle Anti-Theft System. One thing to consider, if you get a no start, rock the car, and it starts right up I doubt it is VATS. When the system reads a key fault it will put itself in a suspend mode for 7-11 minutes. I may not be completely right on the time but it is definatly more than 4 minutes.

 

[speedmaster4]

oops-vats in 94 changed to PASS-Key-II,aka 'theft deterrent system'--slight change in ops but not much.

try radio shack resistor/jumper first--lock cylinder wire failure is common on your model--almost a freebie to bypass, $400 stealership rapeoff to replace.
unfortunately stu is probably rite--next move i'd do is starter/solenoid r&r--its very common failure...vats bypass is just so ez i'd eleiminate that first

put cushion (cardboard works for me) on ground next to drivers door ...kneel on cushion and reach in and remove "hush" panel above pedals,if its still there,(throw it away unless u drive barefoot and have 3 inch long toenails it's worthless)...where steering column meets dash you will find a yellow or orange flexible plastic tube with 2 tiny wires (usually both white) exiting from upper strg col sleeve...plug (connector) almost immediately links to white/black banded (stripe) and purple/white band wires...separate the plug and use a resistor to jumper the wht/blk to the ppl/wht...(NOTE: this is for test only--closing this circuit takes ecm out of 'sleep' mode and will drain battery overnite--add a switch to jumper for permanent bypass)

if access is difficult or u just like being comfy like me, only 4 nuts and a cuople elec conns (remove lower cushion) and the seat comes out--put feet into rear conpartment and lay on carpet looking up--dont fall asleep, its that good--gettin out is hardest part

 

[jldecke]

This above would be My Choice if this was a Multiple Choice Test!! The Neutral Safety Switch is on Side of Trans where Shift Lever comes out of Trans!! But I'd be Looking at the Vat's Key!! junk!!

I agree with the vats. I had the same problem with a 94 Z-28 and also thought it was the neutral safety switch, but it ended up being the vats. Good luck.

 

[jmccloud]

VATS

Look up VATS on the search tab above. There were some really good threads about 1 or 2 years ago, even pictures and schematics.
The VATS in an OBD I car will let you try 3 times to start the car (assuming the key is bad). Then the car won't start for about 6 minutes.
Mine had a dirty tumbler set and I had to clean the tumbler rather than get a new key. Now I carry a resistor set in the bottom of the center console so I can bypass the VATS if it happens again.
Hope this helps.

 

[jsinga]

If lock cylinder is replaced I think someone can key the new cylinded to the orginal key. Otherwise you will end up with a new switch key. When I got my vette years agao I got the old keys and they had enough meat to cut down to work in the new lock. The key resistance, code is in the vats module.

JS