I've been having this intermittent problem that just became not so intermittent tonight. Sometimes when I'd go to start my car it wouldn't start. I thought it was a VATS issue. I'd wait about 15 minutes and the car would start up. This happened about once a week. Tonight after I had driven my car for about an hour, I parked it and about an hour and a half later I went to leave and the car wouldn't start.
In all of the other posts I've read about VATS problems people have said that if the security light stays on that's a problem. When the car has done this in the past I noticed that the security light doesn't come on when it won't start but will come on for a couple of seconds when it eventually does start.
If the security light does not come on does this indicate a VATS problem ? All of the other guages and everything come on.

 

You probably have a wire starting to go bad inside the steering column for the ignition switch.

 

ok. I had the key cylinder replaced and the car fired right up. Drove for about 10 minutes and stopped at home before work. Left for work about 20 mins later and stopped on my way to work. Came out and the car wouldn't start. Unlike before when it wouldn't start, I got the security light. Other than the security light coming on all of the no start symptoms were the same. After I had been trying it for about 15 minutes it finally started (I don't think I gave the vats enough time to reset but I could be wrong.
I don't think that it is the vats this time. Possibly heat soak in the starter(?). Once I get enough money I'm planning to get a mini-starter. What kind will fit a 305? All of the ones I saw on summit said that 350 was the smallest engine they'd fit.

 

whoever had my camaro before put a mini starter on it... its a TCI unit.. not sure what model or anything though..

 

I have determined that it's not a hot start issue. Same symptoms as before except now the security light will come on. Fuel pump and everything electric fires up fine. Gonna try and check all of te grounds this weekend. Any other ideas?

 

Pulled the codes and nothing but 12 flashed. If the ECM or VATS module were bad would it flash any trouble codes?

 

Yes, you would get a code 46 or 53 depending on whether the engine was a TBI or a TPI. Check the starter enable relay under the left kick panel, it might be going south on you. That is part of the VATS system.

 

VATS module

I hope this is the final problem with this system.

First the ignition cylinder wiring went bad, now the VATS module in the space of a week. It was probably a compound problem.

I'm seriously thinking about getting into chip burning just so that I can get rid of this system. If I want a security system I'll buy one. This system has caused so many headaches on a very good car.