I am having problems with a 2005 Dodge Neon SXT. Thestory is the vehicle began having problems 8/2/2007 when it failed to start after having dinner with my wife and daughter. I had it towed in and it was worked on for about a week. I got called to come pick it up so I went and got the keys, leaving the car there until after 5 so I could return with my wife to retrieve the vehicle. It would not start. I left the keys with the sale manager and called the service manager the next day to advise him of the problem. Another week went by before they had it ready. I went to take a look and the car started, but all of the dummy lights were illuminated on the dash cluster. They kept it for about another week to replace the cluster. We went to get it and within that day, the gauges stopped working and the dummy lights came on again. Another trip to the dealer and afew days laterI gotit back only to have the same thing happen and the car refuse to start while at Target.The guages were working intermitently before it quit. I had it towed back, they worked on it again, kept it a few days to drive it around and make sure it was OK. I got it back Thursday evening running with no problems. Friday morning it would not start. Tried it again an hour later and it started. I left it alone until this morning when the cars gauges quit working after about 30 minutes of driving. I took it straight back to the dealer again before I got stranded somewhere.

All of this work was done under warranty. The car has less than 30,900 miles and was purchase used at 9000+ miles with the remaining factory warranty. I know that the start issues are tied in with the SKIM because it would start then die and kept doing so until the system locked down. Bothkeys were working fine until this last time when one key (the one they did not have) would no longer work.

Is this a common problem???I would think the dealer could have resolved this by know andreally feel like these guys are jacking me around. Any input or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Carlos Villalon

 

see if the lemon law can help you.

 

Thats where I'm headed next. I was hoping there was something you folks have seen that the dealer may be overlooking. With 13 hits and 1 reply, it sounds like legal action is the next phase in this troubleshoot.

 

have you tried another dealer?

here is the skis program directions. i found buried in this forum. FYI

SENTRY KEY IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM TRANSPONDER PROGRAMMING
Three programmed Sentry Key transponders are included with the Sentry Key Immobilizer System (SKIS) when it is shipped from the factory. The Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) can be programmed to recognize up to five additional transponders, for a total of eight Sentry Keys. The following "Customer Learn" programming procedure for the programming of additional transponders requires access to at least two of the valid Sentry Keys. If two valid Sentry Keys are not available, Sentry Key programming will require the use of a DRB III® scan tool.

CUSTOMER LEARN PROGRAMMING
1 - Obtain the additional Sentry Key transponder blank(s) that are to be programmed for the vehicle. Cut the additional Sentry Key transponder blanks to match the ignition lock cylinder mechanical key codes.
2 - Insert one of the two valid Sentry Key transponders into the ignition switch and turn the ignition switch to the ON position.
3 - After the ignition switch has been in the ON position for about three seconds, but no more than fifteen seconds, cycle the ignition switch back to the OFF position. Replace the first valid Sentry Key in the ignition lock cylinder with the second valid Sentry Key and turn the ignition switch back to the ON position. Both operations must be performed within 15 seconds.
4 - About ten seconds after the completion of Step 3, the VTSS indicator LED will start to flash and a single audible chime tone will sound to indicate that the system has entered the "Customer Learn" programming mode.
5 - Within about fifty seconds of entering the "Customer Learn" programming mode, turn the ignition switch to the OFF position, replace the valid Sentry Key with a blank Sentry Key transponder, and turn the ignition switch back to the ON position.
6 - About ten seconds after the completion of Step 5, a single audible chime tone will sound and the VTSS indicator LED will stop flashing and stay on solid for about three seconds to indicate that the blank Sentry Key transponder has been successfully programmed. The SKIS will immediately return to normal system operation following exit from the "Customer Learn" programming mode.
7 - Go back to Step 2 and repeat this process for each additional Sentry Key transponder blank to be programmed.

If any of the above steps is not completed in the proper sequence, or within the allotted time, the SKIS will automatically exit the "Customer Learn" programming mode. The SKIS will also automatically exit the "Customer Learn" programming mode if it sees a non-blank Sentry Key transponder when it should see a blank, if it has already programmed eight valid Sentry Keys, or if the ignition switch is turned to the OFF position for more than about fifty seconds.

 

Thanks for the info. For what ever reason, the PCM is not getting a signal from the SKIM module at times and causing this problem. I'm not sure if the problem lies between the key cylinder and the module or the wiring between the module and PCM. I was hoping the dealer would be able to trace the problem. According to them, they replaced the SKIM module and the PCM and there are still problems. I think it would lead mostmechanicsto believe that those items were OK and its time to chase a short or wiring issue. Each time I got the car back, it was either thatthey replaced the cluster, PCM, or SKIM module. I get the feeling they just don't want to go in there and chase wires. With regard to the gauges, I really feel its a connection/wiring issue.