About a month ago I picked up an 1989 rs camaro, (5.0 v8, automatic, 90k miles) for $200.



For what it cost I expected there to be some major issues, and I would just have to part it out (I figured I could at least get what I paid for it if I parted it out). We tow it home, check it out and to my surprise everything seems to be there.

It was a repo, and whoever repo'd it had broken the drivers side door lock, along with the ignition cylinder. And there are no keys to be found. We can get it to run with a screwdriver and some starting fluid, it runs for a few seconds then dies.

We thought the fuel pump may be out, so we spent a week getting that changed out (found a new fuel pump for $60). Get the car all back together with a new fuel pump, we filled the tank up with new gas, checked the lines. Everything seems to be in proper working order, and it does the same damn thing, it wont start without starting fluid, and when it does its only for a second or 2

I tried googling the issue, and most people seem to have an issue with the VATS, we called the local dealer and told them we needed a new ignition cylinder, and that the old keys and ignition cylinder we mia, we were told it would be at least 150-200$ for a new ignition cylinder and 2 keys (more if the box was broken). Which is a bit much but I wouldn't mind, -if I knew for sure that it ran, and that was the only issue.

Assuming VATS is the issue is there anyway we can get the car to start? Id like to be able to see if we can get it running before we just start throwing money at it.

 

find fuel pump relay underhood and jump it to get it running, then start car.

 

there is a thread here on how to bypass the vats system. ive never had to deal with it, but its detailed enough that if you dont have the keys, you can get the car running without butchering the harness

 

sounds like vats to me too

i bypassed mine, its very simple,

but its going to be a little tougher for you because you dont have the key to figure out what resistor(s) you will need

luckily though there are only i believe 15 possible Resistance values that GM used for the thirdgen Vats

http://www.thirdgen.org/vats

thats where i learned how to do it, like i said your only problem is you dont have the key to figure out the resistance value, but maybe the dealership can tell you what it is by running the vin

 

sounds like the vats, they usually only run between 20 and 50 dollars depending.... your local car starter installer would probably know which resistance values are the most common if the dealer cant help and they probably would have a few on hand that you could try there

 

its going to be a little tougher for you .

 

probly long done by now,if like you said it started then quit,its getting spark from what i understand and the way we do it at the dealership i work at in canada.is find fuel pump relay jump it to get fuel pump running then start car,vats shuts off fuel pump only,thats why it would start with starter fuel then quit