Hey guys, I'm having a random issue with my 2011 expy. It won't start and the anti theft light flashes. It will take several tries but then will start. I was traveling home from it out of state and it did it while I was gassing up. Finally started on the 9th try. It will power up but not start. I also have a viper remote start system that I had installed 6 yrs ago and it will randomly do the same thing when I try to remote start it if it's been locked to activate the factory alarm, the horn will start honking because of the anti theft. It only started doing this about a month ago. Any ideas?
Anti theft issue
- Thread starter mh68
- Start date
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99WhiteC5Coupe
Full Access Members
I’d bet there is a problem with the aftermarket Viper remote start system.
You may also have a defective battery and/or loose or corroded battery terminal connectors or battery posts.
I just had the viper system reset because after the dealer pulled my dash to replace the pain in the a** blend door actuator, the viper remote start wouldn't work. I took it where I had it installed and they reset it. My battery is less than a year old and the terminals aren't corroded or loose. It just did it to me again, took about 10 tries to get it to start. It powers up and you can hear a click when trying to start, and the anti theft light flashes.
Trainmaster
Old School Member
Hate to break the news but Viper has got to go, at least until the problem's diagnosed.
Ok, here's another update. Today after I got home from work, I opened my door to listen to what I thought was a noise my engine was making. The vehicle died, my info center displayed all dashes then started scrolling through all the faults, low fuel, tank is full, low air pressure, service advance trac, showed the wrench, battery icon, low oil pressure, high engine temp, etc, and the whole time my anti theft light is flashing. While I was trying to take a video of it, my mileage came back up and I was able to start it. I'm at a loss, anyone else experience this?
Trainmaster
Old School Member
Have you done as 99WhiteC5Coupe suggested and checked your battery voltage and wiring connections? This is sounding more like what he suspects. Low voltage is great for causing this sort of thing. It can really drive you nuts with the electronics.
Yep, battery is a year old, had it tested and the alternator just to be sure, no corrosion on wires, all grounds appear good, all connections tight
Boostedbus
Full Access Members
How about the starter solenoid connection? Has the starter ever been replaced? It may be an internal problem in the starter solenoid loosing contact until it heats up from numerous start attempts. It may be a stretch but it’s something to consider. You could take the starter off and bench test it with a battery and jumper cables.
So here's another update. I went through the grounds and they looked good but cleaned anyway, swapped the pcm and fuel pump relays, switched fuses, no help. I also had my viper remote start removed, no help. Still had communication issues causing the engine to shut off, dashes for the mileage and all the errors scrolling on the info screen due to a canbus network issue. Took it to the dealership, checked the codes and the first was low voltage so they checked the battery said it needed replaced. Ok, replaced it, still have the issue. Took it back, now they have determined its the gauge cluster which is obsolete so I'm stuck with a used one. I bought one on ebay with 80,000 miles on the odometer, about 50,000 less miles than mine. My question is has anyone had any luck reprogramming the odo and what did you use? I'm very picky with my vehicle and I want it to show my actual mileage. Sorry for the long post.
There are companies that you can send your cluster in and they fix it and send it back.(probably cheaper than ebay one) Just look up "instrument cluster repair"
Thanks for the info, but I've already purchased the 80,000 mile cluster. Can those companies reprogram the mileage?
It still might be cheaper to fix your cluster rather than have to pay for reprograming.
Best way to find out, call them.
Ok, so here's an update on my issue. I purchased the 80,000 mile IC and sent it to a company to "clone" the info from my IC and install it in the replacement so it would be plug and play. I also asked if they could repair mine and after I told them the issues I was having, including the engine shutting off, they said probably not. I'm going on 3 weeks now with no issues where as before, i couldn't go a day without issues. So it appears it was the IC.
Well that didn't last long. A few days after I posted last, it started doing it again, randomly shutting the engine off while driving and all dashes on the info center from no pcm communication. I took it to a different dealership, they couldn't figure it out. Took it back to my regular dealership, they replaced the pcm relay which I already did, still doing it. Over the weekend I didn't think it was going to start, Kept losing pcm communication, took it back to the dealership 3 days ago, just got off the phone with them and they can't get it to do it even though it does it to me all the time. I'm about to sell the damn thing and buy a new durango. Any ideas anyone? You can tag through the thread to see what has been done
Now that you have been thru 2 IC and the way you explain it, it sounds like a lifted ground or inproper voltage.
So start from the beginning, have your battery professionally tested (it can read 12.6v / 1yr old and still be bad)
Use the "Voltage Drop Test" to check power wires and ground wires. (easy test that checks the wires and connections W/digital volt meter) There are post on here about corosion inside the wire insulation so you can not see it.
So the issue is finally fixed. And a month and a half ago the tech finally got it to do it while his laptop was connected to it and was showing "key not detected" so the PATS transceiver was replaced. A week later and it was still doing it. Replaced the ignition switch, still doing it. Took it back to the dealership and they finally confirmed the PCM was bad. They got it to start by bypassing it. Replaced the PCM and all is well. Viper remote start is going back in next week, finally!
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