Expert: Roland Finston - 7/7/2011

Question
QUESTION: A few weeks ago, my passenger doors were left open on my van and my battery died.  When I figured it out, I went to close the doors and lock the van and of course nothing worked.  There was a clicking sound near my steering wheel.  After my battery was charged my van ran fine but every time I open a door to my van all my lights will start flashing, including my emergency lights.  They will keep doing this until all the doors are shut.  The lights will flash a little faster for about 30 more seconds and then stop.  Once a door is open again the lights will all start flashing again.  Start the engine or shutting it off does not affect the lights, only when the doors are opened will the lights start flashing.  This has happened before with the previous owner but they do not remember how the problem was solved.  Maybe something about the fuses?  If you could offer any advice on this problem, I will greatly appreciate it.

-Andrea

ANSWER: Hi Andrea,
One thing to try would be to remove fuse #18 which is the last one at the very rear of the string of 18 fuses on the inboard side of the power distribution box that is under the hood.
Remove the fuse when the engine has been shut down, all doors are closed but not locked either with the key or the power door locks or the key fob, and so that the vehicle theft security system has NOT been armed. After a minute, put the fuse back in and test whether the system has been reset to its normal operating behavior. That fuse may be labelled 'IOD' and is 15 amp.
I assume that the vehicle does have the anti-theft feature and that it is apparaently working. This appears to be a malfunction of that system and which is powered by the IOD fuse. But you must not pull that fuse when it has been armed.
Roland
Please let me know if this works. Also, please 'rate' my answer, and where you see the question about a nomination of me to be 'volunteer of the month' consider a 'yes' response. Thank you

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: This did not work, it is still doing the same thing.

Answer
Hi Andrea,
What you are describing is not exactly like any of the behaviors or mis-behaviors of the anti-theft system. I wonder whether your van has as part of its system the sentry key immobilizer module which is evidenced by the ignition key having a molded rubber plug in its handle?
And also is your horn working, because usually when all the lights start to flash the horn should also sound?
The next step would be to get a fault code readout utilizing a plug-in code reader that attaches to a socket under the dash. You can go to an Autozone or similar nation-wide auto parts store and ask for a free readout. Get any 4-digit numbers that come out from the reader and get back to me with the number(s).
Roland