Cascade Crew

Z28Chick94 · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 6:48 pm Post subject: I feel stupid for asking this...

Lately my car has been having problems.

It won't start...

I would usually be able to figure this out but I figured that I should ask some advice first. When I turn the key, the motor won't turn over and there isn't even any clicking. It isn't the battery because my headlights work just fine... The only things that I think it might be would be my starter or my neutral safety switch... Any other ideas?

I will leave it alone for like 2 hours and then I will walk back to it and it will start like nothing happened. GRRR... It hates me Evil or Very Mad

*~Z28Chick~*

PonchoTA · Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2005 7:10 pm Post subject:

Here's one word for you: VATS !!

I'd be willing to bet that's the problem. Unfortunately, I'm posting under the influence (PUI) so I don't recall the fix for it! I'm sure John has the answer though!

P.
Cheers

Camaro350Z28 · Member Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 237

when you have no clicking or anything when tryin to turn it over.. does the security light stay on?

Z28Chick94 · Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 8:51 am Post subject:

The security light does stay on. I tricked it yesterday by moving it in and out of Neutral, park, and drive and that worked but i still need more than one opinion before i go and buy stuff.

*~Z28Chick~*

Twilightoptics · Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2005 12:12 pm Post subject:

If you got it to work by messing with the shifter, it sounds like it may be the neutral saftey swtich... The only way I'd know of for sure, is to by pass it. Which involves taking the shifter plate out, finding the two wires and jumping them together. If it always starts, that was the problem.

I don't have another semi-surefire guess right now!

Mangus · Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2005 7:02 pm Post subject:

VATS shuts down the injectors, not the starter. Gotta be the switch or the starter itself.

JohnnyIROC-Z · Posted: Sat Feb 26, 2005 11:42 pm Post subject:

Could be vats I don't remember how the 91 acted when vat's was screwed up. But it sounds like neutral saftey switch. I believe it's the purple and yellow wires under the shifter plate

Camaro350Z28 · Member Joined: 06 Mar 2004 Posts: 237

VATS shuts down everything, ignition does absolutely nothin and starter wont crank. If you got it to work by moving the shifter id say safety switch also.. but the security light staying on was a vats problem on my car.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 6:20 pm Post subject:

I'm going to listen to Mangus on the VATS issue because he built a program for to edit PROMS, I think he would know how it works. And it does sound awfully familiar.

JohnnyIROC-Z · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 10:45 pm Post subject:

Only reason I say it doesn't just shutdown injectors is because we did it on the 91. It didn't crank over at all. I can easily go find out by removing the vats key from my car and attempting to crank it over.

QwkTrip · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:20 am Post subject:

When VATS disables your car the engine won't crank.

The best way to tell if it is the starter motor or not is to check voltage to the starter solenoid key switch terminal (purple wire). If you see 12V at that terminal when you try to start the engine (and the starter doesn't crank) then the starter solenoid is bad. If you don't see 12V then the starter is being disabled during the start cycle. That means you have another problem somehwere else.

I've never seen a neutral safety switch but I'm guessing it's not really a switch, but rather a contactor that closes when the shifter is in Park. You should be able to test it for proper operation by checking for continuity across the terminals. Place the shifter in Park. Take an ohm meter and check for an open or closed switch. The switch should be closed (continuity across the terminals). If not then you know the switch is not closing. Could just be a small adjustment needed or maybe you need a new switch. I'm guessing it's a small adjusment. Keep in mind I am completely guessing as to how to test the neutral switch but it will likely be something very similar to what I am describing.

QwkTrip