Chrysler Repair: Engine shuts down after starting, no odometer : 98 van, push button locks, remote keyless entry

Question
Roland, you have answered some good questions for me, so I have another one. Sometime when I go to start my T&C it will run for a few seconds and the die. If we do this it does this about 5 times and then will not do anything. Yesterday when trying to have a look at the on/off on/of on I noticed that when this happens the odometer and the P R N 321 lights are not lighting up. I Take off the negative side of the battery and tap it on the terminal a few times, not seeing any spark that eventually it does make a spark and I turn the ignition to run and the the lights light up that did not before working, then it runs fine.

You were right about the Fan relay, that was the problem on one of your other answers.

This is very helpful as I am in Cancun Mexico and they do not have anyone that can service the vehicle as they did not build them that year here.

Thanks for your help

Answer
Hi Mike,
This exact problem has been reported to me before. The engine shutting down after a few seconds is a symptom of the vehicle theft security system behaving as if it has detected an entry into the vehicle when it had been armed to prevent theft. But exactly why it mistakenly believes this is the issue. If you are using the anti-theft system then is could be that when you unlock the car by means of the key or the remote keyless entry that the message of your proper entry is not reaching the body control module where the theft system is located. You could try entering the vehicle by unlocking the passenger door or the unlocking the tail gate and then unlocking the driver's door if the driver's door wire from the lock is broken or the unlock switch sender in the driver's door is faulty. Or you could try not activating the theft system entirely by only securing the van by means of the mechanically operated push button locks, which will by-pass the setting of the alarm system. It may be that you have a faulty battery, with a loose internal connection that generates electrical noise on the body communication system which could cause false alarm gremlins (this has been reported by one owner).  But I would try avoiding the use of the theft system and see if that stops this quick shut down of the motor behavior. Once you have either proven or disproven that hypothesis we might be able to figure out why it falsely believes there is a theft in progress (e.g. a failure to disarm when you enter the van). Unfortunately the analysis of faults like this often requires the use of the Chrysler test tool called a DRB III which is a $6000 device that only dealers are likely to have. But if you can work around the problem by not activating the security system or first unlocking the passenger door then that might be a practical solution.
Please let me know how this works out.
Roland