Chrysler Repair: Starting issues, anti-theft?, chrysler town and country, drb iii

Question
Hi,
Several times over the last two months we have tried to start our van and it will start and then stop immidiately.  This will happen twice and won't start again.  The status lights come on again when you turn the key and you hear a small motor (air handling door?) under the dash but no click of the start selenoid.  The van will start again anywhere from 15 min to 2 hours or in this case not even after two days.  The anti-theft system has been suggested as a culprit but we were only given Valey keys and the "remote" and not the special chip key.  I changed the batteries in the remote, tested start batt, re-terminated corroded and frayed batt cabling etc.  I'm looking to defeat the theft system if this sounds like the problem.  The van has other electrical issues that croped up after purchase.  There was a fire behind the fireplate by the driver legs and a new harness had been scabbed in and a non-standard fuse block assembly installed.  The security remote only opens and closes a few doors. The van is a 3.8L 99 Chrysler Town and Country van.  We have had the van for two years.
Thanks
Brian

Answer
Hi Brian,
Yes, that definitely 'smells' like the anti-theft system. Unfortunately there is no way to disconnect it, just a 'work around' as the circuit is part of the body control module so you can't remove it without killing everything else.
The most direct way to avoid the issue is to never call it into service. The way to do that is to not use the remote or the power locks or even the door key when you leave the van. ONLY use the mechanical push-buttons on the doors to secure them.
It is possible to diagnose the system using a Chrysler DRB III readout box, likely only to be available at a dealer. I have the 30 page troubleshoot covering the system and so it might be worth doing the readout per that instruction, find out where the issue is, and then try to repair what is wrong yourself. I can copy that at 10 cents per side and postage and mail it to you. You can repay me after you get the pages.
Roland