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I have an 02 dodge neon...5 sp. i was pulling into a aparking spot and the car just died...just the engine....all my dash lights radio and everything was wtill working.....so i turned the key off thinking i must have just dropped the clutch and killed it myself...well i turn the key back on...the radio comes on the dash lights are on but...not even a starter click from the motor....the little red security light it on and stays on....it came on right before the car died.....i have replaced the ignition switch...the skim (sentry key immobilizer module)...which read the transponder in the head of the key, but still nothing happens when i turn the key on.....im about at the end of my rope with this problem...ive been with out a car now for 2 weeks....i have not had the skim reprogrammed...do i need to???....or if any of you guys or gals have some ideas please help me out here...im desperate and i figured someone has ran into this problem before......please help me out.....

It shouldn't be the skim. If it was, you would be able to start your car and it would run for 2 seconds then die. If it were the battery, you would hear clicking from the starter. If you were driving at the time, check the alternator.

My buddy has a solus scanner and when he hooked it up to the car it said that its not making connection with the ignition...and there is still that little red security light....why would that be on if it were the alternator

I had that same thing happen to me. I was sitting at a light and my car just died on me. I had it taken to the shop and it was the timing belt. Have you checked that out?

wen ur car died did it make any noise at all??? mine didnt...it just died

I would say that it's definitely not the alternator, as when i lost the fuse-able link in my alternator charging system(basically a wire that has the power from the alternator going into the battery with an in-line fuse) the battery light came on after running the car for about 15 minutes I'd say, maybe more, don't remember, and after the battery light came on, I drove the car for another day, maybe two, and then it started losing power, first the radio would go, then other accessories until the only think left running was the motor, no gauges, etc....and then the car ran like shit for a few minutes until i puttered off of the road.....so I would say definitely not the alternator, based on my experience...

as for having to have the skim reprogrammed, I would think that you would have to, but if it was that, the car would start and die after two seconds, as excon said, but if you do figure out and fix the issue currently at hand, and then get the car running, I wouldn't be surprised if the skim cut the car off after a couple seconds...and if that happens, you wold probably want to either get the skim re-programed or put your old one in, as I've heard that if you have X amount of start up failures due to skim, that the car would have to be taken to the dealer to get it 'unlocked'. but this may not be true, just something I heard.

As for your current issue, I would say to check a few things;

1. Any fuses in the ignition/starter circuit.

2. Any wiring between the ignition and starter, etc...and the wiring harness that's in the steering column.

3. And I would also check and see if you can get any kind of CEL code out of the computer, because even though the CEL may not be on, there may be codes that are pertinent to the issue, because not all codes will cause a CEL to be displayed...this could be helpful, because if the computer sensed something was running badly that may cause damage, it may have shut down the car....not sure, but possible, such as if it was an issue with the timing belt, as bstc00 said....

4. And you may also want to call a local dealer and see if they know anything about the issue, and throw in the timing belt idea...

the only thing is that the security light would make you think that it's a security, electrical, or computer issue, but maybe it could be on in conjunction with a major motor issue.....

Question: Just because a problem doesn't bring up the CEL, will it still show if you do the key dance, or do you need a scanner?

ya, even if the CEL isn't on, I still occasionally chef for codes, and they will come out with the key dance even if there's no CEL.....not sure why there are hidden codes, but I find that the hidden codes will eventually become codes that throw a CEL....

For instance, I could check for codes after school today, and there would be no CEL displayed, and when i do the key dance, I could see a code for lean fuel air mixture or something, and after checking there is still no CEL, and then later in the day, it will display a CEL...like as if it waits to make sure it's a real issue...but I'm not are how it works...

ok..i have checked codes before and there was one...not sure of the number or anything but it said that the skim had no sense of ignition...but that car was still running and ran fine....i have checked all the fuses, all the wires....i just cannot figure this problem out...im goin to where the car is sitting today to check the timing belt...are the 2.0 sohc's interference motors?

have you put your old skim bad in. having a new one that isn't programed is not going to do any good at all. The problem you are having doesn't seem to be the skim so i would put it back and maybe check the start/ignition fuses. Even if you lost the timing belt you should still hear the starter click

Yes they are interference.

ok, well because the computer thinks there is an ignition problem(ignition code you pulled) then maybe the computer itself is having an issue, weather it be wiring or software, etc....but I'm not talking about the little computer under the dash...I'm talking about one behind the front bumper, and I say this because I had a frontend collission, and in the repair process, I saw what seemed to be a computer module of some kind.....I want to say it was on the driver side, but I'm not sure...maybe Danteneon could chime in on this one.....I don't really know as I didnt have computer issues, so I never looked into weather or not it was a computer module and if so, what it did.

I'd try unplugging your batter, and give it a good charge. While doing this, pull your fuel pump relay and wait 30min to reset your ECU.

Then give it a shot.

Even w/o your ecu though, the car should attempt to start and then stall out. Have you checked the red wire leading from your fuse box to your starter? How about your engine grounds? If your block isn't grounded, your started won't work.

I feel you mat be digging deeper than you have to. Have you checked all the basics first?

Battery voltage at the terminals?

Battery voltage at both cables? (About 6" down)

I assume it won't start even with a jumpstart?

Check continuity throughout the entire starting system. Somewhere I suspect you will find a break. Stay away from the SKIM system. The chances that it's your problem are slim. If you mess around with the SKIM system too much, you won't know where the real problem lies since you will have compounded the problem with that system not working as well. Also, the more parts you throw at it the more money you waste.

No it will not even try to start with a jump....its not the timing belt....because the starter would still engage....the battery is good...well it was when i messed with it last....i will go back through and chekc all the grounds and see if i can find anything, i will also go back through the igntiion system and see if i can find a break....thanks guys

ok...well i went to the car...which is sitting about an hour from my house so it makes it a pain in the ass to work on....but i chcked all my grounds...wires...everything...and still nothing...i put the old skim back in and its still doing nothing...i did however find a wire hanging but i cant seem to find where it goes to...it has a white with pink wire and a blue with white wire going to s small plug...any ideas????..comes out right under the dash....here is a pic but its kinda shitty...



COME ON PPL ANY NEW IDEAS......right now im screwed

ANYONE HAVE ANY NEW IDEAS????

Have you checked the old ideas properly yet? What were the results? You don't want to keep digging deeper until you know for sure the basics are right first.

I have checked all my grounds....voltage....all that fun stuff.....but i still have no idea..the only new thing i found was that wire

When you say you checked them, what do you mean? How did you check them?

Danteneon wrote:Battery voltage at the terminals?

Battery voltage at both cables? (About 6" down)

I assume it won't start even with a jumpstart?

Check continuity throughout the entire starting system. Somewhere I suspect you will find a break.

What were the results from the questions I asked before? I'm not trying to be a dick, but this is the info that is needed before an educated internet guess can be attempted. And make sure to post what the voltages were, not just yes or no.

i know your not trying to be a dick...i left the paper that iw rote everything down on in the car which is sitting an hour west from my house...lol...ill be back out there tomorow and get them.....do u have any idea what that wire is?

I don't know what that wire is. My guess is it for an option that your car didn't have.

so i finally figured out what the problem was with my car...i was getting signal and power and all that fun stuff to the PCM but nothing out of it...i called the dealer to order one and they said that the epa has a recall on it or something like that so its covered under manufacturer warranty......FREAKIN SWEET

Good to hear you have it figured out

It isn't a recall by the EPA. The PCM is concidered part of the emmisions system and is covered by a 8 year 80,000 mile warranty.

ya thats what they said....or something of that nature...i dont care who covered it im just glad its covered...lol