Hi
All,
We have a 2006 Limited convertible with an automatic trans. A while back it developed the "won't crank won't start" syndrome. After checking the battery (12.75v) I came to this forum & also YouTube to start chasing the problem. The consensus was that it was the RCM needing some solder reflowed. Took it out & upon examination found that the culprit terminals needed exactly that. Resoldered the unit. No help. So I bit the bullet & bought a new RCM. No help, plus I couldn't get the shifter out of Park. Whaaat???

Just for laughs I swapped the old RCM back in, figuring that with it I at least could get the car in Neutral. The damn thing fired right up. Whaaat??? Worked fine for a while. Then, no crank.

Swapped the new RCM back in. No crank, but the spoiler deployed. Plus, I couldn't get it out of Park (again). Put the spoiler back down & it fired right up. Whaaaat??? Shut it of & re-started it several times. No problem. Drove it around for a little bit. No problem. Shut it off & re-started it several times. No problem. Spoiler worked fine, except I didn't go fast enough for the auto-deploy to engage.

I'm really stumped here. I 'm glad it starts & runs, but I'm leery of taking it anywhere for fear of it taking a dump on me again.

The only thing I can guess is that there may be a loose wire somewhere in the harness or something else stupid.

Any thoughts/input/advice? TIA

Greg

 

Your battery might not be putting out enough voltage to start the engine. The spoiler going up is usually a sign of a low battery.
You might want to check the date code on your battery and see how old it is. Most batteries usually last 3 - 4 years.

 

Also, when it doesn't start, are there any symptoms? Like no fuel pump charging, fans speeding up, black rectangle on the instrument cluster with the key in the on position. In case you don't know, the shifter lockout can be bypassed by putting a pencil or thin screwdriver into the hole at the bottom on the shifter plate (below the D letter on the top shifter face). Does it have an aftermarket alarm with a kill switch? Do all the lights on the dash light up and stay lit?
-Jerry