"Smart" Key problem starting issue.......

[hammersley]

OK - I'm using my son's 06 2500 megacab--has 10,400 miles - auto 4x4. Waiting for a rebuilt transfer case for my 01 - good thing my son is in North Carolina on a business trip - I get to use hos truck AND all of a sudden it would start for say 3 seconds and die. (She would not respond to the throttle - which I tried on suceeding attempts. ) Did it again. The 3rd time also and then she wouldn't fire. Just spin the starter - sorta like being out of fuel. The check engine light came on and there was a small light to the left of the temp gauge - thought the manual said it is the 4wd light. I called the 800 folks and the tow was coming. Meantime I was checking with the preferred dealer that I wanted the truck to go to and I asked what it could be and he mentioned maybe the key. Well I was using his spare key - the 2nd one he had with the truck. It had been working fine - BUT the dealer said they can loose their programming.



OK so we went and picked up the "REAL or main key" and BINGO - started right up and engine light went off and so did the other light. THEN i tried the key that wasn't working and it worked fine... ... GO FIGURE!!!!!



Now it took about 45 min for me to get the other key. Is it possible that the battery is low on the second key - OR is this just a coincidence and not a key issue at all???? Would this be stored so a dealer could recall and determine what is wrong if anything? I don't want to leave a problem for my son if I can fix it for him.....



Thanks

 

[skipro3]

It is a good guess that the battery in the key is low. Get it changed out as they only usually last 3 years.



And that red light? That is the security system light. If you have an alarm system, it lights when armed. It will also light when the motor is started without the correct or correctly operating smart key.



I keep a programmed key hidden inside my truck with a $5 key hidden outside the truck. That way if I ever lock myself out, loose my key, or it goes dead like yours did, I can get into my truck and start it. Storing the programmed key on the outside is inviting trouble. It is an electronic devise and it isn't too good to keep it outside for an extended period of time.

 

[hammersley]

Thanks a million for

that data - I kind'a thought something like this was wrong... ... .