Vats issue
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Vats issue hey everybody first time posting here. I have a 2002 z28 and I’m having some puzzling vats issue. About 2 months ago I went to start my Camaro and it won’t start. Thought it was just a dead battery so I put a battery tender on trickle charge over night. Next day still won’t start then I notice the security light. After some research I knew it’s a vats problem. About a week later I decide to wire in the resistor to bypass. After wiring in the resistor the car cranks over and fuel pump comes on but the car immediately shuts off. After about a month of reading and research I’m not sure what to do. I’ve yet to replace the starter relay but I’m not sure if that’s the issue. The car won’t turn over without the resistor but won’t stay running with the resistor wired in. After wiring the resistor in my security light goes away but I can’t get the car to stay running. I’m not sure if it could be a possible bad bcm? I don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a new one if that’s not the issue and I don’t want to go have to pay a fortune to a dealer to “fix” the problem if I can get some help to troubleshoot it more. I can’t figure out why the resistor didn’t work. Any help I’d really appreciate it. Thanks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 345
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Why would you assume that the resistor didn't work? The security light is out, the starter turns over, and the fuel pump works which are the things that VATS controls, so your bypass seems to be working. I know it's the last thing that was changed but the symptoms don't match a VATS problem.
- There is no reason to replace a starter relay which is working (the starter cranks) because once the starter has done it's job the relay isn't used again until the next time you go to start the car (i.e. the relay is completely inactive during normal operation). I would suspect the fuel pump relay instead - you could try swapping it with the adjacent A/C relay and see if that makes a difference.
- It's not the BCM because if VATS was shutting off the fuel after the car had started, it would also turn on the security light so you'd know right away.
I think you're looking at a second issue, other than VATS, which is causing your car to shut off after starting. Do you know anyone who might be able to check for error codes for you? If this was an old Chrysler, I would immediately say you have a bad ballast resistor (those exact symptoms - the car starts but dies as soon as you let go of the key), but modern cars don't use them anymore so that isn't much help... it just shows how old I am.
- There is no reason to replace a starter relay which is working (the starter cranks) because once the starter has done it's job the relay isn't used again until the next time you go to start the car (i.e. the relay is completely inactive during normal operation). I would suspect the fuel pump relay instead - you could try swapping it with the adjacent A/C relay and see if that makes a difference.
- It's not the BCM because if VATS was shutting off the fuel after the car had started, it would also turn on the security light so you'd know right away.
I think you're looking at a second issue, other than VATS, which is causing your car to shut off after starting. Do you know anyone who might be able to check for error codes for you? If this was an old Chrysler, I would immediately say you have a bad ballast resistor (those exact symptoms - the car starts but dies as soon as you let go of the key), but modern cars don't use them anymore so that isn't much help... it just shows how old I am.
