99 Montero Sport behaves like the electronic immobilizer is engaged
 

It starts right up on the first turn of the key (which it never has done, I always have to pump the gas a few times and it cranks a frw times before it starts) but now it starts up immediately with the first turn of the key and giving it no gas but immediately shuts down after 1 second! It acts as if the fuel supply is being cut off. It behaves as if there is an electronic immobilizer engaging but I don’t have a chip in the key so that can’t be it. I just have a plain metal key and it’s the same key I have had since I bought the vehicle 10 years ago, so what could it be? Why is it starting up on the first try when it has never started right up before and then the fuel supply being killed after one second? And it does this every single day. Except it only does it once, after that, when i try to start it it will just crank and crank and crank but never starts. If i let it sit a while then try it again, it goes back to starting right up on the first turn of the key but then shutting off one second later. If i try to start it again, it does the same thing, just cranks and cranks and cranks but never starts. I try again the next day, same thing, starts up immediately on the first try but then shuts off one second later. Any ideas what it could be? There is no key fob or chip in the key. Its just a plain metal key.

thanks for your help in advance! I appreciate it!

Little late of a reply but when I had this issue, it came out being the cam position sensor I believe? It was a couple of years ago..