viper 550hf going haywire

My 2002 Expedition came with a Viper 550HF. When normally working, the system had auto-start, set the door locks when the vehicle was in motion, set the alarm, etc.

All of the sudden, the system started going haywire.

1. When I try to start the car with the remote, it acts like the starter remains engaged, or the engine revs high. This continues for about 10 seconds, then it shuts off the car.

2. Sometimes BOTH remotes just stop working. Then later, they seem to work fine.

3. Sometimes the doors don't lock when in gear. Sometimes they lock when I put it in gear, sometimes they lock when I'm going 10mph. Then, they stopped UNLOCKING when we put the car in park. (this had been working fine)

4. I had to clean the battery today, and removed the connection. When I re-connected the battery, it started to go off, then went to a muted type sound. The remotes wouldn't stop it, and starting the car wouldn't stop it. I only got it to stop by pulling the fuse for the siren.

5. I tried to follow the reprogramming directions, it never would acknowledge the programming, even though I checked the jumpers to make sure it was in Learn mode. I couldn't get the learning to work at all.

Then all of the sudden, the alarm started going off, the car started, the doors locked. The valet switch had no effect. The remotes had no affect.
It did it a few minutes later, and this time the remote was able to disarm it.

So what is going on? NOw it appears to be working, with this exception:
When I lock it with the remote, it chirps once, and locks the doors. But when I UNLOCK, it chirps 4 times (it used to chirp 2) and the lights flashed 4 times. (It didn't used to do that at all)

How can I break this down into managable issues?

Any help would be much appreciated! I'm ready to attack it with wire cutters!

Thanks!

Chester

check the ground wire for the system.  make sure it isn't loose or corroded.  make sure it is good solid chassis ground where paint is scraped away that sort of thing.

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Advanced

Concur with dasbogie, your earlier symptoms point to a bad ground.
With regard to the last line, chirping 4 times refers to an un cleared alarm trip. Try turning ignition on then off, that would normally clear it.

THanks for the replies...here's what I found:

I was tracing wires from the control module, and sometimes when I bumped the main power wire, the alarm would set, or trigger, or do some other weird behavior. I pulled off the main harness, and the power wire connector (H1/11, Red) is corroded or burned looking!

Most of the time it makes connection, but sometimes not. I was able to get it in a position that kept a connection, and I'm going with that at this point.

I was able to change the programming, though it didn't work exactly like the manual said, I was able to get what I needed.

I re-trained the Tach monitor, and that seemed to fix the remote start issue. Again, that may be related to the bad connection on the main power.

The only way to fix the main power connector is to replace that entire main wiring harness. Does anyone know if that is an available part? Or have a better suggestion?

Thanks everyone!

is the "burned" area at the base of the harness where it plugs into the brain? or is it further along the harness? if it is further along the harness you can cut off the damaged wire and replace it with the same gauge wire and an inline fuse. if not you can call DEI 800-753-0800 and see if they have the harness that you can order. they used to sell the harnesses individually but not sure if they still do

could the burnt wire result from chester towing with the truck and the previous owner didnt?

 maybe there is a real large draw on the parking light wire and it needs converted to a relay since chester tows(if he does with a lighted trailer w/ maybe a trailer battery maintainer throught a park light wire)

of course this is only if chester is towing or has added some kind of extra draw to the parking light circuit (lighted running boards, clearance lights, disco ball)

as for the other problems... chester, what kind of connections did the installer use. if its just twist and tape or worse, scotchlocks .... eeeek! those could be a problem

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yuk
quiet rural missouri, near KC.
If your system moves you physically and not emotionally, you have wasted your money.