Alright I'm thinkin it's the vats or key cylinder...first of all the cylinder comes out alil since I had the car...it always started but here latly every once in awhile I'll turn the key over and nothing happens but turn again and the car starts but here latly it's gotten to where it happens alot...just tnight tryed to start the car and nothing all my ligts came on like the sev engine soon like and gauge lighs and all but tryed again now no lights at all like the battery is dead but I noticed that the gauge niddles are movin while I'm turnin the key but nothing happens....is this a prob wit the vats or cylinder goin bad cause it's all loose and comes out

 

The key cylinder being loose in the housing may cause the VATS to malfunction. The contacts that engage with the resistor pellet in the key are in the cylinder and in order for the pick up circuit to make contact the cylinder must be held in place. The cylinder is retained by a bolt which can be accessed from behind the turn signal switch. You need to remove the steering wheel and detach the TS switch and pull it back out of the way to see if the bolt's loose or if you need to replace the cylinder.

If you choose, the vats can be bypassed. The best method is to use a "bypass module" which replaces the VATS module, providing the ECM with fuel enable pulses needed for the engine to run. You also need to jumper the start enable relay to allow starter function.

The loss of power to the dash lights and accessories is not related to the VATS system. You need to check your battery cables and connections. Charge and test your battery. If the ignition switch has come out of place far enough or has broken internally, it may not be engaging the rack and sector that act on the ignition switch itself. This takes you back to the cylinder and upper column housing.

 

..........what about a bad ignition switch...could that be something to go wrong and do what the car is doing.....................................QUOTE=ASE doc;4720337]The key cylinder being loose in the housing may cause the VATS to malfunction. The contacts that engage with the resistor pellet in the key are in the cylinder and in order for the pick up circuit to make contact the cylinder must be held in place. The cylinder is retained by a bolt which can be accessed from behind the turn signal switch. You need to remove the steering wheel and detach the TS switch and pull it back out of the way to see if the bolt's loose or if you need to replace the cylinder.

If you choose, the vats can be bypassed. The best method is to use a "bypass module" which replaces the VATS module, providing the ECM with fuel enable pulses needed for the engine to run. You also need to jumper the start enable relay to allow starter function.

The loss of power to the dash lights and accessories is not related to the VATS system. You need to check your battery cables and connections. Charge and test your battery. If the ignition switch has come out of place far enough or has broken internally, it may not be engaging the rack and sector that act on the ignition switch itself. This takes you back to the cylinder and upper column housing.[/QUOTE]

 

I fixed it....thanxs for the help....loose battery cables....

 

If the vats thinks that there is no key on start up the security light will come on and the system will take about 5-10 minutes to reset itself during which time it will not start.

Check you battery cables and your grounds, there are also some fuseable links down by the starter that could have failed.