I have a couple relays mounted on the right of my glove box inside the dash of my car. If you disconnect one, the hatch wont pop with the button or the keyfob. They other is the one I am wondering about. My car wont turn over and when you turn the key this other relay just buzzes. I quickly searched through my service manuals and found nothing, and a search on here turned up empty handed. I need to figure out what this relay is and why it is buzzing?

 

It sounds like the VATS relay. It's located in that spot. The VATS module is what reads the resistance of the pellet in your key. This is your most likely culprit. You have new search terms now.

 

We had a suspicion thats what it was and even searched for that, and in fact I searched my service manual this morning very quickly for VATS information and have still come up empty handed.

Why would it be buzzing?

 

Don't know why it would be buzzing but shoebox's troubleshooting guide may help. http://shbox.com/1/pass_key.html

 

One is the Theft Deterrent Relay for the VATS, the other is the hatch relay. If one buzzes, I would replace it.

 

Assuming that one is bad or going bad, would that cause any problems with the fuel pump priming or the car turning over? I'm assuming thats why the car wouldn't turn over anyways.

 

If the TDR is bad the starter will not engage.

 

OK well heres the update. I replaced the VATS relay that was buzzing with a new relay from Borg Warner. Put the battery in and it was obviously almost dead as the dash lights were very dim but I tried cranking it anyway. All I heard was a faint click from what seemed to be down by the starter. After that there was nothing. Put a battery charger on it all last night and tried again today. Lights were bright like they were supposed to be but it didn't do anything at all. I put the old relay back in and it didn't even buzz or anything like it did??? What else should I look for?

BTW I checked all the appropriate fuses on the side of the dash and they were all good except for the Gauges fuse which was replaced with the proper 10amp fuse. Under the hood, ALL of the fuses in the fuse box are good. Only thing not checked in there was the relays.

 

Have your battery tested to be sure it is good.

 

Yeah, I forgot to put that in when I went back and edited my post. Had it tested and it said it was good.

 

Someone? Please?

 

put the new relay back in cause it works obviously, put the new battery back in ...

Sounds like if all thats good, that your starter might be bad

 

You are correct, pulled the starter today and had it tested and it turned out to be bad. Got an LT4 starter coming in tomorrow.

Thing I am worried about is that relay. It was more than obvious that it was buzzing as I held it in my hand and felt it vibrate myself. The new relay stopped the buzzing yesterday but when I put the original relay back in, it didn't buzz either. How can I find out why?

 

Well the new LT4 starter is in and it does nothing. At first I had the original VATS relay in there just because I forgot to change it out and there was a very faint buzzing from someplace over there but because it was just me I couldn't point out where. And thats only after the very first turn of the key. After that it does nothing.

Switched out to the new relay and it did the exact same thing. Buzzes the very first turn of the key and then nothing.

Curious thing is, the security light doesn't come on until you turn the key to start. But with the key in the run position it doesn't come on. When it comes on while trying to start it just stays on, no blinking or anything.

 

Anyone at all?