Hey guys. Got a 98 with blown engine cheap. Thought it would be a piece a cake to just swap out the engine with a low mileage one I found. Everything went fine. Started right up. Drove a few miles and died. At first it would just crank. Since then I've replaced the cam and crank sensors, temp sensor, tran sensor. Then an unusual thing happened. Would no longer crank. Security light comes on and fuel pump whines about every 10 sec or so. Wired a hot switch to starter just to try something. Still only cranking with fuel pump whine. Started investigating other things such as computer and VAT. Here's the strange part. The car did run at the beginning albeit not long. The key is a blank not resistor type. Took steering wheel off. Found the 2 "chip" wires in switch broke. To me it looks like previous owner had the wheel off. No way to verify if wires broke or cut. Look broke to me. Why take off wheel just to cut those? Anyways I'm unsure where to look now. According to mechanics and/or parts store a new PMC is needed then flashed programmed. If so what about the VAT then? I'm old school on engines and this doesn't make sense to me. Any advice you can give me I'd appreciate it.
Thx

 

sounds like someone did or tried to do a vats bypass. have a look at 25 and 25.5 here https://camaroforums.com/forum/93-02...62/#post557634

 

also go here and download a factory service manual for your year. https://www.mediafire.com/?40mfgeoe4ctti

 

Yes the PCM need flashed if you replace it. Part of the flashing process is updating the VIN number in the PCM. You Vats system has the cars VIN number and it compares it to the number in the PCM, if they do not match then the car will not start.

This sure sounds more like a connection issue, Either a faulty or corroded connector, or an internal broken wire. Its a 20 year old wiring harness it does not like messes with.