2001 mercury cougar remote starter

A customer had a Clifford Matrix RS installed in a 2001 mercury cugar about 18 months ago. The customer wanted us to order another remote, so one of my installers checked under the dash to see what the model the remote starter was. Now the remote start function does not work. I reset the brain and have all the correct voltages on the starter and ignition wires during the remote start sequence. I even tried to swap out the 555f module. The keyless entry still works, but when the remote start is activated the car does not start. The AC and lights come on, and the parking lights blink on and off as if the car is running. Can anyone tell me why the car is not starting? thank higgs

Are you getting 12 volts on the starter wire during the initial start routine? Did the remote start portion ever work? Is there a starter kill relay and could the 12 volt feed be wired to the key side rather than the motor side of the starter wire relay? If you start with the key then engage the remote starter does the engine remain running when you turn the key off? If so then it sounds like the starter output is getting where it needs to to engage the starter motor.Steve G

555s for the cougar, that's probably your new problemShaughn Murley

Install Manager, Dealer Services

Visions Electronics

Red Deer, Alberta

have you tried the "shutdown diagnostitcs" to see what that says. pu the key in the igntion then try to RS.

I don't think the system thinks that it shutdown. If the lights are flashing it thinks that it successfully remote started.Steve G

Observe the security light in/on the dash. When you start the car with a good key, the light comes on for a moment, then goes out. If the car does not see a good key, the light will flash rapidly----and that means you have a problem with your bypass.

As far as I can tell, the brain thinks the car is running.  I have every electrical indication that the system is doing everything it's supposed to, but I have no mechanical functions, no ignition, no starter.   Possible that the brain is fried?  If so, does anyone know what Viper brain I can swap it with?

Does it have the relay pack or satelitte relays? Or are the high current connections internal in the brain?Steve G

it has the relay pack for the high current connections, then smaller guage ribbon to the brain

if you have power to the igntion wires and STARTER wire form the relay pack, when you remote start, then it wont be the alarm. im just confirming this....you do have power on ALL ign. and acc wires also have power to the STARTER wire.