General Maintenance & Repairs - 1998 Camaro, possible VATS problem, not starting!!!

Ok so I sold my 1998 Camaro Z28. I drove it to the guy and dropped it off, I never had a problem with this car. The next day the car would not start. The dash lights come on but it will not crank. I went to check it out and I took the battery out and charged it for 4 hours and put it back in and still nothing and it had 13 volts. The battery gauge stayed at 12-13 volts when I tryed to crank it and never dropped at all. The security light had been on for 4-5 months but it still started every day. I feel real bad about it and told the guy I sold it to to tow it to my house and I would try and fix it.

I am thinking the VATS is messed up or the BCM went out completly. I did a search and saw a bypass I could do for the VATS and solder a wire between the BCM and the ignition(or something like that).

When the security light first came on several months ago I took the BCM out and resoldered the 6 or so connectors that are a common problem on the BCM but the security light stayed on.

What do you guys think? LKM

Nobody has any input?

do you hear the starter solenoid click when you turn the key? Did you check the starter relays and fuses? Also this may sound stupid but did you try a different key? just in case the resistor in the key you are using some how went bad or got damaged?

I tryed both keys and cleaned both keys also. the headlights dime, but no starter click. I took the starter relay out and jumper terminal 30 and 86 i think and the engine turns over. I also have another running 1998 Camaro (6spd) to exchange parts off of to help find the problem. I am looking into doing the VATS bypass to see if that helps.

sounds like your on the right track then. I never had a VATS problem so i can't be of much help.

Ok going by Radio Shack to get my 9000 and 500 resistors. I will install them and do some more checking.

Ok I made my bypass relay and will check it when I get home today. Hope it works.

I installed the 9500 OHM bypass and it fired right up and my security light is now off......so easy I wish I turned the light off months ago.

I checked my ignition before I installed the bypass and with the key in and not turned it was 9.58 K OHMs. When the key turned it went to 0 and would not start. So when you check it to trouble shoot you have to turn the key to see if the OHM's are present or not.

Thanks for the help.

I think mine has the same problem, what is it exactly you had to replace?

search VATS resistor bypass on here, you'll find the answer.

did mine a couple weeks ago, took about an hour.

You unplug the orange wire under the dash coming from the steerin column. Once it's unplugged you just slide a resistor into the plug that is the same resistance of the key. It's very easy.