Weird - won't start manually after using Command Start

[AstroCan]

So this is weird: This morning I hit the command start button on the remote and, as usual, the van began to fire up BUT it died right away. So I tried it again and again, the van died every time. It did not really run, it felt like it was starting but only for a sec. I then went into the van and tried to start it manually. No luck, won't start. I checked for codes - none. All the gauges showed the usual. I checked whether the battery was too weak but even boosted it won't start.
So I went inside, frustrated, and had breakfast.
After breakfast I went outside, tried to start the van with the key with the throttle wide open. VROOOOOM it started, was a little shaky for the first few seconds but it ran. I shut it off, fired it up several times - no problem.
So I hit the command start button again. It wouldn't start. WTF?! Tried it starting with the key - wouldn't start. Tried it with hitting the pedal - won't start. Tried it 15 minutes later with the key - started right away. WTF is going on?

The command start worked fine before, everything else, too. I smelled gasoline in the garage when trying to fire it up and I could hear the fuel pump making it's high pitch noise.

[icebrrg3rd]

Does the '98 have a chipped key? If so, maybe something is loose and the remote starter isn't sending the signal, and the computer shuts the whole car down for a period until it resets. The engine possibly got flooded with all the attempted restarts, making it run rough.

If the key is not chipped, maybe just try starting with the key for a few days and not using the remote start. Could be something wrong with it.

-Andrew

[Leeann_93]

^ absolutely. Many people who are supposed pros have no idea what they're doing and chop up the wiring harness pretty good....

[icebrrg3rd]

I know. I found an alarm under my dash when I fixed my loose steering column. Ripped it out and patched the tapped wires. Your system may have been working fine, but wires do come loose/disconnected and cause problems.

-Andrew

[AstroCan]

Well I don't think my van has a chipped key, because I am always using some cheap spare keys. I checked the wiring of that command start module, everything is plugged in and looks fine to me...

[AstroCan]

I am just back from a fellow mechanic, he hooked up some kinda computer and said the security system is engaged that's the reason for not starting. Somebody would have to reprogram the computer and disengage it.

I don't have a chipped key though... weird.

[sfeaver]

You have the passlock system in the ignition cylinder itself. The autostart should have a module to bypass the system when it starts it. Sounds like it isnt working properly. You'll know because the security light starts flashing/

Scott