2000 Z-28 won't start - Problem SOLVED!!
 

Here's my original post:

Battery is good, 12.2 volts, gauges work, won't crank. Red top battery 3 years old, tried putting jumper cables on battery terminals, not the cables, no difference. Corroded terminals on side possible? #9 fuse is partially melted, but not blown, replaced, still no start. 6 months ago, we cracked the plastic case of the starting relay when trying to remove it, but it still worked afterwards. It's 8 degrees here in Philly, so we're trying to diagnose it first, difficult to work in cold. Could a corroded relay do this? Why would the fuse be partially melted? I have a DC clamp meter to check things once the temperature makes working on it possible. Any ideas? Thanks!!

The solution:

The VATS wire for the chip that is n the key was broken in the steering wheel. I checked the chip and put a resistor across the module under the glove box and the car started. The car now runs, so I'm going to make my own security setup to permanently bypass the bad wire. There was a huge discussion on the internet about this problem and was lucky to find it. What a pain in the A$$

Neil

It's pretty common for the security(VATS) to prevent these cars from cranking. Try popping the cover of the starter relay and manually actuating it. If it cranks then its most likely the VATS or a bad ignition switch. You can also try swapping the starter relay with one of the others to eliminate it as a possibility.

check spark and fuel first then work ur way back.

It's not even cranking. Maybe the relay like the responder said? I'll try it tomorrow.

A few questions:

When did it stop working - you just parked it and it wouldn't start, it had been sitting, you changed something?

When you go to start it what happens - clicks but doensn't turn, lights go dim, lights go out, nothing, etc.?

Have you removed, cleaned and tightened both battery terminals?

Nothing was done to the car. It was running 6 hours earlier. I'm checking the terminals.

It may be the VATS, as I can't hear the fuel pump when ignition is on. I'm going to hot wire it to see if that's what it is.

Read my original post for the solution.

question for you: i noticed u asked if the car had been sitting. mine was sitting a couple months before it wouldnt start

Wouldn't a 'security' light be present if the VATS wasn't working properly? I'm guessing no since you did not mention it.

as far as i know, if its a VATS prob, the security light would be on. had that happen to me a couple of times