No Start

[BHiggins]

So my 2008 gave me some trouble today, it wouldn't start but had plenty of battery juice. I had gone food shopping, pushed the unlock button, got in and went to start it, but the truck was dead (plenty of power for lights and radio etc, but it wouldn't turn over). I got out and hit the unlock button again, only to find none of the buttons on the key fob were working. I went back in the store and bought a new battery for the key, but still nothing. I ended up disconnecting the negative battery terminals for a few minutes to try to "reset" whatever was wrong... It worked and now the truck starts fine and the key fob is working normally. I don't have access (until Monday) to a scanner to read any codes, but I'm wondering if anyone has any idea what the heck just happened?

 

[BHiggins]

Nobody has any ideas? Thoughts?

 

[HBarlow]

The same thing happened once to my '06 several years ago. I cleared it by removing the negative battery cables. No codes were set and it remains a mystery.

I suspect electronics emissions such as a passenger aircraft flying overhead flashed it with a radar or navigation signal that scambled a memory code somewhere.

Others have reported something similar happening on rare occasions.

 

[p-Bar]

Black helicopters

 

[Blu-meanie]

Could be as simple as needing to clean battery terminals.

 

[HBarlow]

In my case the battery cable clamps were clean and tight. The problem occurs fairly often among owners but is only occasionally reported and discussed here.

There are old TDR threads discussing the same problem.

 

[BHiggins]

If the battery terminals are loose, they throw a code due to the resistance. I know this because it happened to me a month ago. Mine are clean and tight... Thanks for the replies, I guess it will continue to be a mystery.

 

[Hoefler]

Had it happen once, was just down the road from my dealer. Had them check it out, they said it was a communication problem between the key fob and the computer, part of the anti-theft. Scanned it, reset it, all better now. That was a little over a year ago.

 

[BHiggins]

It just happened again... Second time in three days! I'm going to have to schedule an appointment with the dealer to figure this out.

 

[BHiggins]

I know it's been a while since I posted on this thread, but I have new info... In my case it was the theft prevention (alarm) that was the problem. The dealer reprogrammed the alarm controller, and everything is working fine now. The problem, as it was described to me, was that the remote unlock on on the key would open the doors and then lose communication with the alarm. At that point it was like someone with the wrong key was trying to start the truck, the ignition would turn, but the truck doesn't start. All fixed now (I hope).

 

[sammidog]

I wonder what would have happened if you unlocked the door with the key and not used the remote at all. Was it a problem with the theft device itself or a problem getting the signal to the theft device. You would think the key itself would have disabled the anti theft device.

 

[rjones]

Just a FYI those cheesy hood pins if equipped are a major cause of non start issues I always removed those even the mercury switch are prone to failure