I should rephrase. No lights as in no check engine lights. The dash lights up and everything works and looks as it should until key turns from run to start. Even remote start will put on the exterior lights, I can hear the fuel pump cycle, then no crank.... sometimes... more often then not so far it will start and run.
99% of the time a cel is smog equipment related and would not prevent the vehicle from starting or running (with the key).
very rare cases there could be something, but not much
what a cel "may" do is prevent a "auto start", or prevent "cruise" from working, that's sort a fail safe because it doesn't know if you are aware of whatever issue may be happening, or if the cel light is burnt out, etc
for instance if it was overheating..... and it caused a error on the dic such as low power, pull over and shut off engine then it would not auto start
or if there was a low oil level warning, cat inefficiency, etc things like that.... it just defaults to no auto start.
there could still a ignition issue though until it is ruled out, a tech2 would tell you what (it see's) as the key position in the case of no start.
for instance of you are turning it to start and the tech2 shows it is not changing (only showing run position) then you know
