EWS antenna ring or key?? No ding when door open??

[ecproductions143]

After 2 weeks of trouble shooting and research I have decided to start a thread.

Car was running fine, battery light would comes on every now and then but I think it's just alternator voltage regulator. Have checked with meter and voltage is good. May also be dead cell in battery, battery 3 1/2 years old.

Couple weeks ago get in car and go to start car and position one, two on the ignition work fine but position 3 to start go does nothing. No crank and hasn't cranked since.

Ignition switch seems good has 12 volts and position 3 sends 12 volts to a green wire which I assume is suppose to go to the starter???. I had someone put key in and attempt to start but just cranks and cranks. I am assuming this is a EWS issue. If it was ignition switch I would assume it would have started when I jumped starter. Also when key is in ignition it doesn't ding like it normally does.

Can anyone confirm that when the key is in position 0 and the door is open it should???? I am leaning towards a transponder in the key or a EWS antenna ring. Anyone know how to test antenna ring or bypass it.

I also want to mention that I think that couple weeks prior to this I had to turn key back to 0 position and then it cranked. This maybe happens 2 times when it happens I just thought I didn't turn all the way to position 3.

Last but not least, I had my key in my pocket all day with My iPod touch. Maybe the wifi or battery from the touch finished the transponder in they key or maybe antenna ring was on it's way out and just stopped working.

Ps if all you have to say is take to it to the dealer then save your post for another board. When I first joined this board in 2007. I loved coming here to find useful and knowledgeable info. But seems as if the forum has grown in the wrong direction.

Last but not least the car is a 2003 3.0 with 98k

[ecproductions143]

NO ONE has any input????????????

[Zulu95]

May seem obvious but.... Did you try another key?

[munchkin29483]

On my 2006 at 52K my battery charge light would blink on and off during normal operation. My cruise control would also drop out at random times. I was about to check voltages but before I could get to it the car died. I was coming up to a traffic light, failsafe mode came on and car died. It would crank but would not start.
Had a CPO and problem turned out to be a shorted ignition switch P/N 61-32-6-901-961. This happen Dec. 2009 and machine has been running great since the failure.

[ecproductions143]

I don't have another key. I guess i will be making a trip to the dealer to get another key. Any thoughts on the antenna ring.? When you place the key in the ignition it doesn't ding. Can someone please vouch that our x's do ding in the 0 position?

[ecproductions143]

I ordered a service key today for $43 not to bad. If the key doesn't work. Service tech said 90% time its the key. Guess will see.