C4 NO START. Testing and bypassing the Starter and VATS Starter Enable Relay on a 1987 C4 Corvette

1987 Chevy Corvette Restoration: Episode 14 - Season 2 Episode 4:
Is your no start issue with the VATS or the starter? How to test and bypass the VATS Starter Enable Relay on a C4 Corvette
The C4 won't start, and I need to figure out if it's the starter or something else. We go into a deep dive of the VATS Decoder to find the problem.
00:00- 1:19 Intro
1:20 - 5:44 Test fit stock radio and get it ready
5:46- 7:28 C4 no start
7:29 - 9:59 Diagnose no start issue
10:00- 13:49 How the starting system works in a 1987 Corvette C4
13:50 - 17:41 How to remove C4 Dash Bezels and get behind Information Center
17:42- 21:25 Remove clip on Starter Enable Relay and install bypass
21:26 -21:59 How to Bypass the Starter Enable Relay on a C4
22:00- 24:52 How the VATS Decoder works on a C4
24:53 - 25:30 Wrapping up the bypass
25:31- 26:07 Outro

[@law6595]

Thank you for the great information in a very well presented manner WELL DONE SIR!!!! My 87 thanks you

[@pownubn]

Well you just saved me. I replaced the vatts with the bypass module. Ran for years. Than let it sit for years after it stopped running. I never came across this video after doing tons of research. I just did it and it started again. Huge props bro🤘👍

[@JerrSpud]

yeah.. calling the resistor chip a "bypass" confuses many people. Glad you got it figured out.

[@dciaffa]

Your video on the half shaft u-joints helped me a lot. I used a long furniture clamp to pull everything back on reassembly -this worked nicely.

[@ana-loudmaker]

Well, someone hurt one of my cars, @dciaffa.

[@rebecrra]

Well explained, thank you,

[@tiffanie1218]

Lmao! Thank you wish I would have seen this first, before the ridiculous amount of trial and error! Hopefully she will start! 😊

[@noon6705]

you just saved my life

[@ana-loudmaker]

Stalling engines are pretty stupid, @noon6705.

[@edwardburke5486]

Use your bracket from old radio…. the sides of radio…..straight to the new one fits perfectly

[@adventureswithbuckarugh3682]

1000th subscriber whoo hoo!!!?

[@BigWillAuto]

when you hooked up that starter switch did you have the VATS pellet key in the ignition in run position ?

[@JerrSpud]

yes. I had the ignition in the "on" position. Even if you don't, you will still find out if the starter works or not.

[@devotedanaheim1575]

@@JerrSpud had a question for you what colors are the wires you hook up the bypass too ?

[@Crashklein1]

Hello, I need some help. I bought a 1988 Corvette convertible manual Trans that has been sitting outside for a while, not running. I found Mouse nests under dash top near gray VATs module. No wires chewed that I can spot. I have no way to speak with a prior owner. The car was rigged with a separate wire going to starter solenoid so it could be touched to battery and would turn over. I turned the ignition on with the key, dash lights came on then I turned motor over with jump wire. I got no spark and no sound from injectors. I unrigged jump wire, I bought all 15 resistors and tried them all 4 minutes apart to bypass VATS. I have the clutch safety switch bypassed and the Vats start relay bypassed. Still nothing when I turn the key. I have cleaned all grounds to the frame under the hood. Unplugged and cleaned every connector under the passenger side dash. I replaced Plugs, wires, dist cap, rotor, Ign control module. I have some fuses with no power going in to them: HTD MIR, Inst-LPS, FR or FP( I cant read it but it is on the bottom row far right). In my convenience center, I have no power to the fuse labled: Cinj/clu. Can you please give me an idea of what to try next?

[@JerrSpud]

I would wait way longer in-between resistor changes. 4 minutes is not long enough.

[@Chances_garage]

On my 90 the fuel pump turns on but I think the injectors won't pulse

[@JerrSpud]

VATS is just fuel pump and starter.

[@robertjenkins7372]

So if your problem lies within the tumbler in the ignition will doing this bypass the relay help?

[@JerrSpud]

it won't fix the lock cylinder. That's a pull the steering wheel off kind of job

[@robertjenkins7372]

Ok so not the battery starter neutral saftey or relay. Only thing left is vats and tumbler? Car ran fine. Cranked one day then when turn key nothing. Thanks

[@mwp48]

@@robertjenkins7372 Bad cylinder or bad vats key if VATS issue. If security light doesn't go away when key is turned on most likely a VATS issue. If Security light goes on and then goes away the issue is something other than the VATS.

[@mwp48]

Tumblers will keep key from turning all together. Dirty contacts or bad contacts on lock cylinder will keep key from being read also.

[@edgardomagana5809]

Hi, hopefully you can help? I just got 1990 C4, but the owner lost the key. I got the new key at the Dealership with no chip and bought a bypass for the vats. But unfortunately I forgot to disconnect the battery first and my dashboard went out. Do you know that fuse or fusible link is??

[@JerrSpud]

all you did was turn it on and you think a fuse blew?

[@edgardomagana5809]

@@JerrSpud before I installed the bypass the dashboard was working properly. After I installed the bypass the dashboard would not turn on? Thank you for responding.

[@JerrSpud]

@@edgardomagana5809 that wouldn't cause your dash to change. My only guess is you knocked something loose under the dash. 🤷

[@edgardomagana5809]

@@JerrSpud thank you for your advice. I’m going to take a look and see if I Disconnected something. Thank you

[@Chances_garage]

Did you find what was wrong. My vats hit the fan on my 90 and currently the instrument cluster isn't working

[@billieandrews2556]

I did a resistor key by pass. My fuel pump came on so does that mean I solved the iss issue but still no crank

[@JerrSpud]

did check the starter?

[@rickhayes4090]

What happens if you remove the fuse right there beside that relay to the VAT system

[@JerrSpud]

I'd image the car would never start if you pulled that fuse. The fuse that says "theft" is for the theft deterrent system.. basically it will keep your horn from honking if you take it out.

[@frankevanega5987]

What was the final solution to the intermittent starting?

[@JerrSpud]

it's shown at the end with the relay bypassed.

[@TheBorderHoppr]

Where can i get that spade connector tool???

[@JerrSpud]

Anywhere. Walmart home Depot, Lowe's, Ace .. pretty much anywhere but a grocery store

[@TheBorderHoppr]

@@JerrSpud thanks!

[@emymikeguillen7795]

Hi I have a question Instead of bypass your starter enable relay Would it been better to replace that starter enable that was defective

[@JerrSpud]

depends on what "better" is. Yes you can replace it, and it would have fixed my issue if I replaced it. I didn't replace it because the VATS still won't let the car run if it's active. I can easily hear the fuel pump running or not, but I can't do that with the relay. For me it was "better" to bypass the relay and leave the other part of VATS alone.

[@emymikeguillen7795]

@@JerrSpud Did your issue got fix after bypassing it?

[@emymikeguillen7795]

Yes For hearing crank with key in ignition But cranking but not starting Order a new ignition switch with key with chip

[@JerrSpud]

21:08 is where it's running

[@emymikeguillen7795]

@@JerrSpud Not running yet Hopefully once the ignition switch, new key, and I even order bypass that goes under steering comes in. Hopefully that will work and get my car started again. For now it cranks but doesn’t fire So I’m thinking it’s the computer with the anti theft that’s holding my car from starting. I have gas coming to injectors I have spark Any ideas what to do?

[@paulparnitzke7659]

Did the engine turn over before this or did it just not start

[@JerrSpud]

If you watch the entire video, you'll see that wouldn't start at the beginning and it ran by the end. Sometimes it would start just fine and sometimes it wouldn't. All these steps are how you go about troubleshooting the one of three problems it can be.

[@edwardburke5486]

As for the no start no crank either battery is dead or starter solenoid is bad and you need starter…. Fast fix

[@JerrSpud]

It was neither. Starter was fine

[@jcrocker17]

I have a 91 c4 and having the intermittent no start. New starter, have the vats bypass. No one can figure it out. I'm leaning to the neutral safety switch by need to know how to bypass it

[@JerrSpud]

have you bypassed and tested the starter?

[@jcrocker17]

Starter is good. When it doesn't start, if i let it set for a couple hours, then it'll start. It does this when cold or hot, there's no set pattern.

[@jcrocker17]

How would i bypass the starter?

[@jcrocker17]

I watched the video again and saw how to bypass the starter.

[@Christopherhawl]

This got my c4 fixed

[@JerrSpud]

good to hear!

[@dannywhite7147]

You didn't do anything on car starting issues. F- grade

[@JerrSpud]

How do you figure that? I diagnosed the issue.

[@alanfrenchfrei1357]

jerry i smashed the like and sub button... only 2 subs away to 1k..

[@JerrSpud]

Thanks 👍