Van Starts and Dies

[wb4lbg]

My 2000 just recently started having a bizarre new problem.

Sometimes it starts fine -- other times it starts and dies right away, usually three to five times -- then it will start and run fine. Everytime it has one of these episodes the trip odometers wind up reset and a couple of times the clock has reset.

This all started the last time I changed the oil. I was resetting the 'Change Engine Oil' light which requires putting the key to 'ON' then pressing the gas pedal five times in three seconds. It almost never works the first time and I usually wind up repeating the process a few times, starting the car after each attempt to see if the light went off.

I use the B odometer to keep track of the mileage between changes and when I went to reset it I noticed that it was already at zero. I thought this was weird but I ignored it. The next morning I noticed the clock was wrong but doing the math, I deduced that it must have reset at the same time.

Last Saturday, after I had driven about sixty miles, I stopped to buy gas. When I restarted the engine the 'Security' light showed on the Message Center. A look in the Owner's Manual said this was a Passkey II issue but that the car would run OK. I drove another 100 or so miles before shutting off the engine and it started back up OK. The 'Security' message has not recurred since then.

I noticed during the trip that the radio would occasionally cut out for a split second. I never saw it blink but I heard the audio drop out.

One more thing -- sometimes when shutting off the engine, there is a very low volume buzzing which sounds like it's coming from inside the steering column. It lasts about five seconds.

Anybody out there ever have a similar problem? Based on the symptoms, I'm thinking it might be related to the ignition switch. I thought it might be in the electrical system but the alternator seems to be putting out about 14V.

Anyone? Anyone? Thanks!

[rockwood84]

i never heard of resetting the service engine light that way. i seems it would flood it big time. have had a obd2 scan done to see if any codes show up? the idle position sensor will make it die and idle rough.you mentioned the pass key 11 light the pass key usually means an inferior key has been used to start the van and the security mode will shut the fuel down and keep it from running. are you using the keys that came with it when you bought it?if not you can't just go get a key made and try to use it it won't work the key that came with it should have a chip in it that the van recognizes.the radio is part of the security system too.i believe you have a bad key problem....and the van is trying to tell you this.

[wb4lbg]

I really don't think it would be the keys since I am using the keys that came with it when I bought it new in 2000. I thought the problem might be in the ignition switch and that maybe it 'thinks' the key is bad which is why the engine dies after starting. But, then you would think I'd get the 'Security' message in the message center every time it has one of these 'start and die' episodes.

And it wasn't the CEL I was resetting, it was the 'Change Engine Oil' message in the message center. The procedure I cited is right out the owner's manual.

But even if it something to do with the PASS II system, why would the odometers reset? I thought the only thing that would make them reset is pushing the button in the instrument cluster. I changed the battery a few years back and I don't recall the odometers resetting when the battery was disconnected. This doesn't seem consistent with an ignition switch problem either.

It hasn't misbehaved for almost a week which makes it even harder to troubleshoot.

[rodeo02]

WB, this is an interesting set of symptoms. A funky passlock II resistance reading can cause a start, then stall, or more commonly, no crank or start, but the resetting of the trip ODO sounds unrelated to that. A bad ignition switch can cause no start and erratic dash lights. I would look more into a bad ignition switch which is all to common on late model GM's. Do you have aftermarket accessories installed on this van? (remote start, alarm, etc..)

Joel

[wb4lbg]

Joel,

Everything is stock -- nothing aftermarket. It's just like I bought it only with 102K+ miles on it.

The odometer thing is nothing but strange. I wouldn't worry too much on any of this but this is my wife's car and she freaks anytime something unusual happens.

I've read somewhere that the BCM stores error codes. Any idea how to reveal them?

[rjritterjr]

I also have an '00 Silo, just started having the same problem (reseting trip odometer, clock). Any insight you may have would be appreciated.

[ponchonutty]

My guess is an issue either with the gauge cluster or even a short inside the fuse panel. I do a lot of remote starters for dealerships and this is the 2 most common issues with these vans.