04 dakota black key

Has anyone ever seen a Black key dodge that still needed a bypass? I had a customer call, wanting me to look at at a remote start they had installed at another shop on their 04 Dodge Dakota Club Cab. He said the remote start would start the truck but only run a few seconds. Other shop couldn't figure out the issue and said its a problem with the truck itself and sent him on his way. When I asked about the key, he said its a round headed black key with the dodge ram head logo on it. To me that means that it doesn't need a bypass. My experience has always been a grey key needed a bypass. But the issue with the starting sounds very close to an immobilizer bypass issue. He said the vehicle starts fine with the key, so doesn't believe its an issue with the truck itself. It has the separate key fob for the lock/unlock and panic functions, its not built into the key like the 05 and up dodges. He is gonna be dropping it by next week for me to look at it, and I wanted to make sure I am being thorough in my diagnostics. I plan to insert the key into the ignition and attempt to start it with the remote start. If that doesn't fix the issue, I will double check there is no MUX wire, although I have never seen the MUX on that early of a model year dakota. Any other things I should check? Is there a simple way to check vehicles to see if they require a bypass? Thanks Shawn

did they run a tach wire?  I've seen units set to voltage start and run for 20 seconds and die. 

I am not sure what all they did or did not do. I haven't had a chance to look at the truck yet. Just spoke to the owner of the truck over the phone. Judging from some of their previous work that has wound up at my shop, I don't doubt they didn't do alot of stuff or have bad connections. I have fixed quite a bit of "their" work, but it has always been audio. Last I had heard, they didn't do remote starts or alarms, but apparently they have started doing them. The owner said he saw an ad in the paper they had a $50 off remote start install promotion. I will double check the tach wire when he brings it in. Thanks Shawn

I'm a locksmith and according to the keymake progams I'm looking at, it's looking like it's probably a skim-based transponder. It's hard to tell if this is the issue though-- I'm not sure if the car would even start if there was nothing in place.

You could always wrap the black part of the key in 2 or 3 wraps of alum. foil and if it starts, no chip.  If it turns over and dies right away you most likely have a transponder.

I have never heard of the tin foil wrapped around the key trick. Might have to try that out. I haven't physically seen the vehicle or the keys. Just going by the what the customer said over the phone. I will have him check his other keys to make sure they are both black keys. Even though they could have gotten 2 of the aftermarket ones, still worth a shot. Thanks for the tips guys. Shawn

Those grey keys tend to look black after awhile... it is probably chipped...or it's tach...Also they have the single key programming bypasses out now... Also like when programming a bypass/key...You'll notice a light(usually red) that comes on for 3-5 seconds on the dash...M.E.C.P & First-Class

Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!

tommy... wrote: You'll notice a light(usually red) that comes on for 3-5 seconds on the dash...

Small red light, about the size of a pencil head eraser. I have done several 04s that did not have a transponder so it is possible the 'shop' simply has a problem with their installation. I have even done some newer than 04 Dakotas with the key built into the remote that did not have transponders in them. As others have mentioned, a very easy way to test the RS installation prior to hooking up a bypass is to put the key into the ignition in the off position and remote start the vehicle. If it starts and runs with the key in the ignition but does not continue running with the key out it has a transponder.Installer, IT support, and FFL. I need less hobbies.