Cascade Crew

[GREG DAVIDSON]

ok here goes i've ben all over trying to get this answered and no dice my 1989 firebird 305 tbi has got me flustered some times you key the ignition and nothing happens all the bells and wisles go off everything lights up like its spose to fuel pump goes and it sounds like a realy under the hood clicks batt good i replaced the started and sylinoid wires loom good but heres the weird thing you waid anywhere from 5-30 minutes it starts right up like theres nothing wrong it doesnt seem my bird has the vats system no pepple in key sometimes it goes days without doing this and others it does it everytime you shut it off any ideas its got me baffled like no other [/i]

[Al Hasse]

Sounds to me like a VATS issue, 4 minutes is the reset time for it. Your bird being an 89 should have it, maybe bypassed by the previous owner. I've never bypassed the system so I couldn't help on trying to find where the resistor might be installed, I'm sure another will chime in who has.

Al

[Xophertony]

89 cars should have vats. like al said, prior owner bypassed it, and now the bypass is failing. find the vats box and follow the wires until you find the resistor. the solder joint (or twisted wires with tape!) have probably come undone. fix the connection and you should be all good.

[GREG DAVIDSON]

ok poing me in a derction where abouts is this box or do i just have to pull the underside of the dash out and look

[aaron_sK]

http://www.thirdgen.org/vats_passkey_system

The wiring diagram in that link should get you started looking for whatever wire is causing your problem.

If the VATS system checks out, try the exhaust. If you've recently installed headers, chances are your starter is overheating from the Y-pipe.

BTW, welcome to the crew. Where are you located?

[GREG DAVIDSON]

i'm in salem oregon nah def not overheating from the exaust it does it weather its cold or hot it sits overnight and does it alot thanks for the link i'll check it out