'96 lesabre no start, no dash warn lts

[huey286]

This '96, 150K mi. 3.8 won't start, turn switch to on, no lights come on, but radio, windows work. turn to start, a click under dash, rt side, but no turn over, like no juice to starter. also, turn switch to ACC, nothing works, no radio, windows, nothing. Have checked/swapped fuses and relays that were alike, replaced starter, cleaned battery connections and grounds. has juice to starter, cause once accidentally sparked live connection to exhaust manifold. nothing I did has changed anything. have 2 keys, neither works for start.

[HotZ28]

VATS Malfunction Diagnosis and Bypass

One of the more common problems with the VATS security is caused by a simple bad connection in the ignition cylinder. The problems start when the wires leading from the contacts in the cylinder to the VATS module develop an intermittent contact or a complete break. This can cause sudden failure to crank either intermittently or permanently. Due to the nature of the system, manual transmission cars can't even be push started.

VATS Malfunction Diagnosis and Bypass
Diagnosis:
The very first thing to do is to watch the Security light under your gauges. If the system is working properly it will light up for a few seconds and go out. If it remains lit go through the following steps to find the problem. The first step is to check the resistance of the chip in the key with a multimeter. Write this value down you'll need it later. Next, remove the panel under the dash and look for a pair of yellow or orange wires coming from the steering column and leading to a connector a short distance away. Unplug the connector and with the key in the ignition, measure the resistance at the wires leading from the steering column. The reading should match that of the chip in your key. While the reading might match while the key is in the off position, it will probably change when the key is turned forward. If this happens, the problem is in the ignition cylinder or the wires leading to it. At this point there are two options: Buy a new ignition cylinder and have a new key made for about a hundred dollars or bypass the system for less than a dollar.
Bypass:
To bypass the system you'll need to buy a resistor with a value matching that of your keys chip at any local electronics store. The easiest way to install this resistor is to cut the wires leading into the column about a foot from the connector. Take this section of wire, strip the ends and solder the resistor in place. Take this section of wire and resistor and simply plug back into the connector under the dash. The VATS module is now fooled into thinking that there is always the correct key in the ignition. Although this does render the security benefits of the VATS system useless, if increased security is desired, the resistor can simply be unplugged, leaving the car disabled until it is reinstalled.
Pellet Code Resistance
1. 402
2. 523
3. 681
4. 887
5. 1130
6. 1470
7. 1870
8. 2370
9. 3010
10. 3740
11. 4750
12. 6040
13. 7500
14. There is also a code 14 & 15. Extrapolation from the above chart will reveal those.

[huey286]

Originally Posted by huey286

This '96, 150K mi. 3.8 won't start, turn switch to on, no lights come on, but radio, windows work. turn to start, a click under dash, rt side, but no turn over, like no juice to starter. also, turn switch to ACC, nothing works, no radio, windows, nothing. Have checked/swapped fuses and relays that were alike, replaced starter, cleaned battery connections and grounds. has juice to starter, cause once accidentally sparked live connection to exhaust manifold. nothing I did has changed anything. have 2 keys, neither works for start.

HotZ28, Thank you for the info! It turned out to be the ign switch inside steering column, $35 at NAPA, But $230 at shop I had it replaced at, labor and all. Huey