not sure if its my key cylinder or vats, but my car randomly started not wanting to start, drove fine killed it, worked, got off 6-7 hours later and car wont start, well they say jiggle the key and keep trying(work at a racing company) so i did no fuel pump no interrior lights but the key will turn all the way, about 180 times and it cranks but i was doing it so fast the car didnt start, did it about 10 more times and it started, drove a mile and it died, spent 2 or 3 minutes and it started, drove about 6 miles and it died, tried to start and it cranks no start, key off an back on and got it to restart, repeated this about 40 miles home, the longer it ran the better it was, finally got home and the car killed and started great, parked it for a day or 2 and it started up, drove about 5 miles killed it started back up fine then about a mile down the road it died, tried to start and it cranked, turned the key off and it started up, then i drove it home and parked it.


any ideas?

 

sounds like it might be a problem with the resistor in the ignition key itself. (the little box with the shiny metal tab sticking out on both sides of the key.) after a few years the metal will wear down and cause the switch not to recognize the key and shut off the engine. i was having trouble with mine. every once in a while when i went to get into the car, if i put the key in too fast and try to turn it over the security light would come on and then i would have a wonderful and peaceful (yeah right) wait for about 3 minutes or so until the light went off, then go ahead and try to crank it and pray that it wouldnt do it again. i went to the local flea market (go figure) and got a new key made. it was much cheaper than the dealership or anyone else for that matter and works like a charm everytime now.

 

i had no lights...not even security...

 

its the ign cylender. Replace it and all will be good.

 

anyone else?

 

I'm with oneslowz28 or it's time to replace the ignition switch. Shoebox has the how to with pics. Check all connections that you can but my bet is on the switch.

 

really, thought about that, but didnt think that was it, so these go bad often? car only has 0k on it...

 

Type in "ignition switch" as a search and see how many threads there are. I hit the 250 limit. Anyway, if you want - take a look here:

http://shbox.com/ignsw/ign_switch_repl.html

 

yeah, ignition switch, a relatively easy repair, just have to lower the column

 

It's the switch, not the cylinder.

 

great, looks like ill be changing it this weeek...