89 Camaro won't start

89 Camaro died while driving. The starter doesn't make any noise when trying it and the headlights do not dim when trying to crank. Gages on dash do not work but the left dash light comes on when the key is turned on. When twisting key to start position, temp gage pegs high. I've checked the battery, alternator and replaced the ignition switch down on the steering column. When removing either connection to the battery, there's a pretty good spark like something is shorted out. Can the computer codes help with this and if so, how do you read them? The vats relay sounds pretty likely too. Can anyone help me, please?

have you done any work to the car prior to this?
I would start by checking all the connections on the starter.. wouldnt worry about the temp gauge, most of my camaros have done that.. VATS relay Usually wont shut your car down while driving

to read the codes, you need to find your ALDL under the dash, than use a small jumper wire to connect the top two terminals on the far passenger side together.. put your key in and turn it to ignition.. Your codes will be displayed through the engine light.. it will blink a number of times (first digit), pause, than blink again (second digit)

for example
blink.. pause.. blink blink would be a code 12
blink blink blink.. pause ..blink blink blink code 33

it will read out each code 3 times.. with a longer pause inbetween each code
when you read them, come back and post your results and someone will help you out with it

Thanks for your reply. Yes this car has been worked on. It came from the factory with a 305 and my daughter had a 350 put in a couple of years ago. She has had problems ever since. The computer was replaced about 8 months ago.
I understand electronics and have worked on cars quite a bit before they became computerized. Now I don't know how some of this stuff works together. I don't understand how a short in the starter or a bad starter could "kill" an engine while driving down the road but several have suggested a bad starter, fusible links or a short in the solenoid.
You suggested the connections to the starter. I took them off, cleaned them and put them back on - no change.
About the codes: what is the ALDL and what does it look like?
Again, thanks for your help. I'll try to read the codes as soon as I can locate the ALDL, then I'll post the results, like you suggested.

Have you checked all the vehicle fuses?? sometimes a blown fuse will cause all kinds of odd problems..

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/146920aldlcon.jpg

I should have been more specific, That is what the ALDL terminal looks like.. Its found underneath your steering wheel.. It also shows which two terminals to jump together..

As far as the VATS relay, I think its behind the kickpanel on the driver side, *not 100% on that*

Have you checked all the vehicle fuses?? sometimes a blown fuse will cause all kinds of odd problems..

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/146920aldlcon.jpg

I should have been more specific, That is what the ALDL terminal looks like.. Its found underneath your steering wheel.. It also shows which two terminals to jump together..

As far as the VATS relay, I think its behind the kickpanel on the driver side, *not 100% on that*
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Thanks again for you help. No, I have only checked the fuse on the wire coming out of the battery positive-terminal going towards the Heater/A.C. on the passenger side, under the hood. To my old way of trouble shooting cars before they had computers in them, this problem didn't sound like it could be a fuse, but I'll check them - thanks.
Regarding the VATS relay, I read that it could cause similar problems in response to someone elses problems with a Camaro.
The turn signal lever is doing some strange stuff too, and I'm considering pulling the steering wheel to check for a loose wire or something.
I really appreciate your help and wonder from where you got your knowledge? I would really like to know more about how the VATS works and just what it does. If it just verifies the key, then activates the VATS Relay, it seems it could be bypassed by permanently connecting the wires that the relay does when it is activated.
Again, thanks for you help - Jim

one of the guys at autozone gave me the gm code key, i love that key

You cant entirely bypass the vats system without having it removed from the ECM.. The only thing you can bypass is the ignition lock cylinder, this is where 99% of the vats problems occur.. However, I dont think this is the problem you are having..
But here is a quick article on how to test the ignition lock cylinder, and bypass it, if so you choose..

http://www.thirdgen.org/newdesign/tech/vats.shtml

Good luck.. I know electrical problems can be a b#%^$# especially trying to diagnose over the net.. But it sounds like you have a loose or broken wire somewhere in the harness.. a loose ground, or bad power wire somewhere.. check all the wiring out.. Sometimes the wires rub through where they enter the firewall.. Or melt against manifolds, etc. etc.. before replacing any more parts, Ide first check out all your wiring

89 Camaro died while driving..........When removing either connection to the battery, there's a pretty good spark like something is shorted out...........You have stated an important clue. Step one is to find that short. They sell small hand-held signal tracers to speed that process..§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§REFUSE . . TO . . LOSE§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§§