Change PassKey Module? Starts then dies

[edmacdonald]

I saw a reference in another thread to changing the passkey module in a Venture van.

Where does one find the Pass Key Module?
Is it (relatively) easy to change?
Is it expensive (is it a good first try)?

My van will start and then die after a couple of seconds. When it does quit, I immediately hear the fuel system being re-pressureized (same two-second whine sound as when the key is first turned to on but not started).

At first it would start on the second or third try and not act up again for days. Today it happened twice; the second time it took dozens of attempts over a period of hours before it finally started.

I've had the fuel filter replaced and ran a couple of bottles of cheap injector cleaner through but it made no difference.

I did notice that the "Pass Key" light stayed on while driving today which is why I am suspecting it. Another possible suspect is a small amount of bad gas. I moved recently and since it seems impossible to find somewhere to take gas, I dumped about a liter (1/4 gal) from my lawn mower - about 6 months old, smelled fine, poured through strainer.

Thanks,

Ed

[edmacdonald]

The service manger sounded really sure when he told me it was the ignition switch. He said it was bad and sending the wrong signal to the security system which was cutting off the fuel.

So $700 and 24 hours later it's doing it again. I wonder what we'll try next...

[disaacs]

Originally Posted by edmacdonald

The service manger sounded really sure when he told me it was the ignition switch. He said it was bad and sending the wrong signal to the security system which was cutting off the fuel.

So $700 and 24 hours later it's doing it again. I wonder what we'll try next...

Did you ever get it fixed? We're having the same issue with our 2003 Venture. What we've been told is that it's a faulty theft-deterrent control module.