Need Some Help With Cranking Issue.

Hi, i have a 2003 chevy malibu. The other day my daughter drove it to town about 10 minutes away, and then to her house. She was going to bring it back the next morning,but called and said it would not crank up. She said the engine was turning like it wanted to crank up but would not. I told her to wait til the afternoon so i could go and check it out. When i got there she said she had just tried it again and it fired right up. Now a week later and it has been running fine, until today i drove it to church and came out to leave and it would not hit a lick. The fuel pump was just replaced a couple of months ago. This morning when i got in i listened for the fuel pump to prime but did not hear anything. So i had it towed home and put my charger on it and after about 6 hours i tried it again and this time i could hear rthe pump prime up,and it fired up as if nothing was wrong. What could be causing this, seems as if no power either going to the pump or the pump itself is acting up.Why would it be intermittent. I don't know whether to drive it anywhere else or not. Any suggestions anyone...thanks

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Answer #1: Posted by roadrunnertim on July 29th, 2012 7:19 PM

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roadrunnertim

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This is a common problem with Chevys from the 1990's. The resistor on your key is acting up. The VATS (vehicle anti-theft system) only works if it reads the resistor in the key. The key completes the circuit, which allows power to go to the fuel pump. Try using your backup key for awhile or better yet, have a new key made. If the problem goes away, then you know it was the resistor in the key and you're all set.

But here's the bad news. It may not be the key. It may be that the thin VATS wires that connect to the ignition lock cylinder are damaged. They will eventually break off completely and then your car will not start at all. If that happens, you will have to remove the airbag, steering wheel and turn signal switch to fix those wires.