As soon as I open the hood beyond the safety latch, the 3.3L engine stalls. As long as the hood is open, all the instrument lights stay on, including circles around all the PRNDL letters, and a relay or something on top of the engine keeps running - even with the KEY removed! Also, the starter will not engage.
If I close the hood, I hear a relay near the fuse box click, the instrument lights go out and it will restart. Open the hood, and it stalls again. I cannot find any electrical connections on the hood, such as a hood light. I tried running a jumper wire to ground the hood to the latch, but it didn't help. I keep thinking a grounding problem, but can't find one. I would greatly appreciate it if anyone has any ideas. Thanks Bob R.

 

Is this an American car? because US cars dont have any safety switch on factory vans.

 

Thank you for responding. Yes, it is an American Model.

 

More details: Generic scan tool shows no codes, but I had the battery out since October, as I do not use it in Vermont winters. Info Code on the odometer is P1684 since the battery had been out. This is a flex fuel model.

 

ok Is there an aftermarket alarm on the van ? Because as I said there is no switch on the hood that is factory

 

I would probably aim more towards a "Remote start " issue, Either factory or aftermarket. Either a loss of ignition voltage to the module, or a defective module itself will cause exactly your symptom.

 

Thanks again for both responses. The T&C is 100% factory original 3.3L LX, no remote start or any aftermarket products. I purchased it used as a 2nd owner from the original dealer in 2005.
The keys have lock/unlock/panic buttons, and will remotely operate the right sliding door. Everything works except the ABS because the reluctor grooves on the front axles are rusted off.
It's only got 93K miles, a little body rust is starting, there's some corrosion on the underside and under the hood from living in Vermont, but I have not driven it in winters since I bought it, and only put on a few hundred miles each summer hauling building materials. I replaced the alternator a couple years ago after a bearing on it locked up during the winter, and an EGR valve about five years ago. I still keep thinking corrosion or a bad ground, but as you said, and as I can observe, there are no electrical items, switches, hood light buttons, or wires on the hood or near the latch, or anywhere around the hinges that I can see. I've pulled and reseated all the relays in the fuse box. As you may expect, this is the strangest issue I've ever seen. Thanks again!