starting problem HELP!!
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake, VA
starting problem HELP!! Having trouble starting my 98 Z28. I keep this car at a friends house as I am stationed over seas. I just returned home today and tried to start the car but there is a problem. Everything seems to work but when you turn the key to the on position, you get no dash lights and obviously no start. Trying to determine if this is the security system, vats or something else. Fobs have new batteries and just put a brand new battery in it for the hell of it. It ran perfect a couple of days ago and just started this today when I flew in. Anyone have any ideas that might point me in the right direction? The alarm part seems to function properly but something is keeping it from getting power to the dash/start circuit. Can I just bypass or eliminate the vats and security system all together and never deal with it again. Maybe a dirty lock cylinder for contact to the chip in the key? If anyone has any insight , please pass it along. Car only has 55,000 miles and never monkeyed with except for engine mods and always garage kept. Thanks, James
"Thank you for your service"
It sounds to me like you have a poor connection somewhere so make sure that all your power and grounds are cleaned and tight.
Make sure the power lead to the fuse block is clean and has a good connection. You have a ground on the block behind the alternator that runs up to the frame. You have another engine ground that is bolted to the block behind the starter and you have another one on the back of the driver side cylinder head.
It sounds to me like you have a poor connection somewhere so make sure that all your power and grounds are cleaned and tight.
Make sure the power lead to the fuse block is clean and has a good connection. You have a ground on the block behind the alternator that runs up to the frame. You have another engine ground that is bolted to the block behind the starter and you have another one on the back of the driver side cylinder head.
Last edited by 01CamaroSSTx; Sep 6, 2020 at 05:36 PM.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
01CamaroSSTx is correct - this is not a security (VATS or content alarm system) problem. For one, VATS doesn't have anything to do with the dash lights except that when activated it will illuminate (or flash) the SECURITY light in the instrument cluster.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake, VA
Ok, I know the ground behind the head is fine, I will put it up on the lift tomorrow and check the others. I have the ignition switch out and it seems to be fine, or looks ok anyway. I did try to sync the fobs as per the procedure and the door locks did not activate and go through the gamit that they should. This is a weird one but I will keep trying. Fuse box seems to be fine as every fuse is good as we tested every one of them. I will check the grounds and get back. Thanks for the help guys, any other ideas are appreciated. I am the guy who gets all the weird ones, I have a boat that challenges me in the same way sometimes so I am used to this. Just want to figure it out before I fly out on sunday. I look forward to driving the car when I am here as its a rush and cant have it where I live. Just amazing that everything was fine last week but when I get here, I have this. Thanks again.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake, VA
One more quick thing. When I used to connect the battery, you would here some relays click, click, click and I dont hear that now. I am in on the connection problem but just need to track that down. I will replace the ignition switch just because I have it out and you never know but really dont think its the problem, at least I will have a spare. I am in the Merrritt Island, Florida area, so if anyone knows a good tech in this area, I would love to know. Thanks again for everything.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake, VA
Replaced the ignition switch, same problem. Cleaned every ground and fixed nothing as they didnt look bad anyway. Put a resistor in lieu of the orange plug from the cylinder and same problem. I am leaning toward the factory alarm system as it has done some strange things in the past. Is there a way to eliminate or shut off the factory system. Dont want it anyway and I think everything will be fine. There has got to be a way shut that things off. Anybody know how to do this?
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake, VA
Also, in the past I remember when I would hook up the battery, I would hear some clicking like relays energizing and I dont hear that now. I swear the computer thinks the car is being stolen and is shutting the start circuit down.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
There are two security systems in 4th generation f-bodies - VATS (Vehicle Anti Theft System) and the Content Theft Deterrent System (factory alarm). The factory alarm was optional (RPO code UA6) but VATS was standard equipment on all models. The alarm system can be programmed with various options or turned off. VATS cannot be disabled although a bypass will eliminate the most common problem of the system not recognizing a valid key.
If you have the optional alarm and it was keeping your car from starting then it would also be flashing the parking lights and honking the horn. And, as mentioned, if VATS was keeping your car from starting then the SECURITY light in the instrument cluster would be on (wrong key detected) or flashing (no key detected).
But if you still insist that the alarm system is the problem, here is how to program it (you want to set Mode 1 of the Theft Deterrent Arming Method):
If you have the optional alarm and it was keeping your car from starting then it would also be flashing the parking lights and honking the horn. And, as mentioned, if VATS was keeping your car from starting then the SECURITY light in the instrument cluster would be on (wrong key detected) or flashing (no key detected).
But if you still insist that the alarm system is the problem, here is how to program it (you want to set Mode 1 of the Theft Deterrent Arming Method):
PROGRAMMING THE FACTORY ALARM
ENTERING PROGRAMMING MODE
To program features, the car must be in programming mode.
1) Turn key to RUN position.
2) Turn key to OFF position.
3) Remove the RADIO fuse in the main fuse panel.
4) Turn the key to ACC
You should hear a chime to verify that the system is in the programming mode.
1 chime means you can program Exit Lighting, Delayed Illumination, Last Door Closed Locking and Lock Out.
2 chimes means your car is equipped with Content Theft-Deterrent System so you can also program Remote Keyless Entry Verification, Arming Method, Arming Verification, Driver's Door Delay and Shock Sensor Enable.
EXIT LIGHTING & ILLUMINATION
With exit lighting, your interior lamps will come on for up to 25 sec. when the key is removed.
With Delay Illumination, your interior lamps will come on and stay on for up to 25 sec. when entering the car and up to 5 sec. when leaving the car.
To change the factory setting...
1) Turn the courtesy lamps on by turning the instrument panel brightness control **** all the way up.
2) Count the number of chimes you hear. The number of chimes tells you which mode you are in.
3) Turn the courtesy lamp switch off.
4) Turn the switch on and off until you hear the number of chimes that correspond to the mode you want to be in.
MODE 1 Both Off.
MODE 2 Delayed Illumination Only.
MODE 3 Exit Lighting Only.
MODE 4 Both On.
LAST DOOR LOCKING & LOCKOUT PREVENTION
To change the setting...
1) Press the LOCK switch on the door.
2) Count the number of chimes you hear. The number of chimes tells you which mode you are in.
3) Press the LOCK switch on the door until you hear the number of chimes for the mode you want to be in.
MODE 1 Both Off (Door will lock and unlock when you press the door lock switch)
MODE 2 Lockout Prevention Only (If you leave your keys in the ign. and leave thru the driver's door, you won't be able to lock the doors with the power door lock switch.)
MODE 3 Last Door Closed Only. (If the power door lock switch is used to lock the car while any door is open, you will hear 3 chimes. The doors will not lock until all the doors are closed.)
MODE 4 Both On. (This combines Mode 2 and 3.)
REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY VERIFICATION
To change this setting...
1) Press the UNLOCK button on the remote transmitter.
2) Count the number of chimes you hear. This tells you which mode you're in.
3) Press the UNLOCK button on the remote until you hear the number of chimes that correspond to the mode you want.
MODE 1 All Off. (The head lights will not flash and the horn will not sound)
MODE 2 Horn and Lamps/Lamps (Your horn will sound and your parking lights will flash when you press the LOCK button on the transmitter. Only the parking lamps will flash when you press UNLOCK)
MODE 3 Horn and Lamps (Your horn will sound and the parking lamps will flash every time you press LOCK or UNLOCK)
MODE 4 Lamps (The parking lamps will flash when you press LOCK or UNLOCK)
MODE 5 Lamps/Horn and Lamps (Lamps will flash on the first press on LOCK, your lamps will flash and the horn will sound on the second press on LOCK and the lamps will flash any time you press UNLOCK)
THEFT-DETERRENT VERIFICATION
To change this setting...
1) Press the LOCK button on the remote.
2) Count the number of chimes you hear.
3) Press the LOCK button on the remote until you hear the number of chimes you want.
MODE 1 All Off (No horn chirp or lamp flash)
MODE 2 Horn and Lamps (Your lamps will flash and the horn will chirp twice)
MODE 3 Horn and Lamps/Lamps (If you use the remote to arm the system, your lamps will flash and the horn will chirp twice to verify the system is armed. If it only chirps once, the hatch is open or unlatched. If you use either the power door lock switch or passive arming, only the lamps will flash for verification)
THEFT DETERRENT ARMING METHOD
To change this setting...
1) Press the UNLOCK switch on the door.
2) Count the number of chimes
3) Press the UNLOCK switch on the door until you are in the mode you want.
MODE 1 Alarm System Off (System will not arm)
MODE 2 Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter Lock (When you lock the doors using the remote, the system will arm itself)
MODE 3 Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter/Power Door Lock Switch (If you use the remote or the power door lock switch to lock the doors, the system will arm)
MODE 4 Passive Arming and Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter/Power Door Lock Switch Arming (The system will arm itself after all doors are closed plus arming per MODE 3)
DRIVER'S DOOR ALARM DELAY AND SHOCK SENSOR ENABLE
To change this setting...
1) Turn the parking lamps on and off
2) Count the chimes
3) Turn the parking lamps on and off until you hear the number of chimes you wany
MODE 1 Zero Delay and Sensor Disabled (The alarm will sound immediately if the driver's door is opened with your key and the shock sensor will be disabled)
MODE 2 8 Second Delay and Shock Sensor Disabled (The alarm will sound 8 seconds after the driver's door is opened with your key and the shock sensor will be disabled)
MODE 3 Zero Delay and Shock Sensor Enabled (The alarm will sound immediately after the driver's door is opened with your key and the shock sensor will be active)
MODE 4 8 Second Delay and Shock Sensor Enabled (The alarm will sound 8 seconds after the driver's door is opened with your key and the shock sensor will be active)
LEAVING PROGRAM MODE
When programming is done, turn the ignition to OFF and replace the RADIO fuse.
ENTERING PROGRAMMING MODE
To program features, the car must be in programming mode.
1) Turn key to RUN position.
2) Turn key to OFF position.
3) Remove the RADIO fuse in the main fuse panel.
4) Turn the key to ACC
You should hear a chime to verify that the system is in the programming mode.
1 chime means you can program Exit Lighting, Delayed Illumination, Last Door Closed Locking and Lock Out.
2 chimes means your car is equipped with Content Theft-Deterrent System so you can also program Remote Keyless Entry Verification, Arming Method, Arming Verification, Driver's Door Delay and Shock Sensor Enable.
EXIT LIGHTING & ILLUMINATION
With exit lighting, your interior lamps will come on for up to 25 sec. when the key is removed.
With Delay Illumination, your interior lamps will come on and stay on for up to 25 sec. when entering the car and up to 5 sec. when leaving the car.
To change the factory setting...
1) Turn the courtesy lamps on by turning the instrument panel brightness control **** all the way up.
2) Count the number of chimes you hear. The number of chimes tells you which mode you are in.
3) Turn the courtesy lamp switch off.
4) Turn the switch on and off until you hear the number of chimes that correspond to the mode you want to be in.
MODE 1 Both Off.
MODE 2 Delayed Illumination Only.
MODE 3 Exit Lighting Only.
MODE 4 Both On.
LAST DOOR LOCKING & LOCKOUT PREVENTION
To change the setting...
1) Press the LOCK switch on the door.
2) Count the number of chimes you hear. The number of chimes tells you which mode you are in.
3) Press the LOCK switch on the door until you hear the number of chimes for the mode you want to be in.
MODE 1 Both Off (Door will lock and unlock when you press the door lock switch)
MODE 2 Lockout Prevention Only (If you leave your keys in the ign. and leave thru the driver's door, you won't be able to lock the doors with the power door lock switch.)
MODE 3 Last Door Closed Only. (If the power door lock switch is used to lock the car while any door is open, you will hear 3 chimes. The doors will not lock until all the doors are closed.)
MODE 4 Both On. (This combines Mode 2 and 3.)
REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY VERIFICATION
To change this setting...
1) Press the UNLOCK button on the remote transmitter.
2) Count the number of chimes you hear. This tells you which mode you're in.
3) Press the UNLOCK button on the remote until you hear the number of chimes that correspond to the mode you want.
MODE 1 All Off. (The head lights will not flash and the horn will not sound)
MODE 2 Horn and Lamps/Lamps (Your horn will sound and your parking lights will flash when you press the LOCK button on the transmitter. Only the parking lamps will flash when you press UNLOCK)
MODE 3 Horn and Lamps (Your horn will sound and the parking lamps will flash every time you press LOCK or UNLOCK)
MODE 4 Lamps (The parking lamps will flash when you press LOCK or UNLOCK)
MODE 5 Lamps/Horn and Lamps (Lamps will flash on the first press on LOCK, your lamps will flash and the horn will sound on the second press on LOCK and the lamps will flash any time you press UNLOCK)
THEFT-DETERRENT VERIFICATION
To change this setting...
1) Press the LOCK button on the remote.
2) Count the number of chimes you hear.
3) Press the LOCK button on the remote until you hear the number of chimes you want.
MODE 1 All Off (No horn chirp or lamp flash)
MODE 2 Horn and Lamps (Your lamps will flash and the horn will chirp twice)
MODE 3 Horn and Lamps/Lamps (If you use the remote to arm the system, your lamps will flash and the horn will chirp twice to verify the system is armed. If it only chirps once, the hatch is open or unlatched. If you use either the power door lock switch or passive arming, only the lamps will flash for verification)
THEFT DETERRENT ARMING METHOD
To change this setting...
1) Press the UNLOCK switch on the door.
2) Count the number of chimes
3) Press the UNLOCK switch on the door until you are in the mode you want.
MODE 1 Alarm System Off (System will not arm)
MODE 2 Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter Lock (When you lock the doors using the remote, the system will arm itself)
MODE 3 Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter/Power Door Lock Switch (If you use the remote or the power door lock switch to lock the doors, the system will arm)
MODE 4 Passive Arming and Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter/Power Door Lock Switch Arming (The system will arm itself after all doors are closed plus arming per MODE 3)
DRIVER'S DOOR ALARM DELAY AND SHOCK SENSOR ENABLE
To change this setting...
1) Turn the parking lamps on and off
2) Count the chimes
3) Turn the parking lamps on and off until you hear the number of chimes you wany
MODE 1 Zero Delay and Sensor Disabled (The alarm will sound immediately if the driver's door is opened with your key and the shock sensor will be disabled)
MODE 2 8 Second Delay and Shock Sensor Disabled (The alarm will sound 8 seconds after the driver's door is opened with your key and the shock sensor will be disabled)
MODE 3 Zero Delay and Shock Sensor Enabled (The alarm will sound immediately after the driver's door is opened with your key and the shock sensor will be active)
MODE 4 8 Second Delay and Shock Sensor Enabled (The alarm will sound 8 seconds after the driver's door is opened with your key and the shock sensor will be active)
LEAVING PROGRAM MODE
When programming is done, turn the ignition to OFF and replace the RADIO fuse.
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