1996 camaro acting up

WarriorBC · #1 03-28-2006, 09:41 PM

hey guys just wondering if you could help me out with a problem ive been having with my car. My car has been having trouble starting lately, all the lights and cd player come on and everything but when i try to crank the engine it doesnt even make a sound and the security light pops on. My parents took my car out to eat, since im in college and cant drive it much, and they got stuck at the resteraunt because the same thing happened, but i guess after about 10 minutes of fiddling with things they got it started. now i have went and checked the battery, everything was fine with that. then i thought maybe something was draining my battery while it was off or something, so i took it to a dealership and had them check everything to make sure nothing was cranking any more power than it should, they said my sound system was cranking a little more than it should but that shouldnt be a problem at all. I cant figure this out at all, I was wondering if maybe one of you guys might have an idea.

o btw i have the 3.8 engine

Thanks
Brady

CamarosRsweet94 · #2 03-28-2006, 10:18 PM

Vehicle Anti-Theft system or bad starter/starter solenoid. Try your other set of keys see that makes any difference. Check all the connections to the battery, and the starter and then have the starter checked if the other stuff doesn't work.

97cavalier · #3 03-28-2006, 11:03 PM

99% it is the vats.

WarriorBC · #4 03-29-2006, 09:41 AM

sorry i dont know much about cars but im trying to learn, what is a vat, what does it do, and about how much would it cost to fix?

wrightz28 · #5 03-29-2006, 09:42 AM

Did you use the same explanation of the problem as this to the dealer? If so and VATS wasn't the first thing that crossed their mind, I would NOT be going back there

WarriorBC · #6 03-29-2006, 10:07 AM

actually i didnt take it, my dad did, i have no idea what he told them to be honest, just found out what vatsmeant, wow i feel stupid

Savage Messiah · #7 03-29-2006, 11:23 AM

not a sound at ALL??

The later VATS systems didnt have all thee problems third gen ones did.

Tell him to do this... turn the key as far as it can go without cranking the engine... listen for a hum goming from that big hump behidn the back seats. If there's nothing check the fuse for your fuel pump or the pump may have gone bad... are there a lot of miles on it? was it ever run till it ran out of gas?

Savage Messiah · #8 03-29-2006, 11:24 AM

wait.. .security light pops on.. ok check fuel pump but also it may be vats, if you have a spare key use it; the resistor chip on your main key may have gotten work down too much

WarriorBC · #9 03-29-2006, 01:17 PM

there arent to many miles, 54,500 ish as far as i know it hasnt been run till out of gas, ill have him check the stuff, thanks alot guys

CamarosRsweet94 · #10 03-29-2006, 02:32 PM

Well , if the security light comes on, and he said that when he turns the key NOTHING happens. The engine isn't even cranking so there is no way the problem is the fuel pump or the fuse. The problem is either the VATS or a bad starter/connection at the starter like I originally said. Warrior said that it doesn't make a sound, I am assuming that means it does not crank. This problem is simple find out why the starter is not doing anything, trouble shoot don't guess it just makes shit worse.

lynchmobb · #11 05-15-2006, 03:09 PM

I think its the vats system. Go to likeabigdog/column/vats.com. THey will show you what to do. I have a 94 similiar problems, fixed it with this site. Its worth a try. Good Luck.

stone_mound_camaro · #12 05-15-2006, 03:36 PM

would this count as a dead thread?

wrightz28 · #13 05-15-2006, 03:51 PM

This one's border line, but lynchmob, the other 3 thread you brought back from the dead in the problem diagnosis section is a

kahjdh · #14 05-15-2006, 04:06 PM

Wow, why is this happening so much lately?

wrightz28 · #15 05-15-2006, 04:17 PM

The beatings must coninue

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