No it does not have the autostart feature, and I believe the build date was Oct 2001. I have made some progress. Some post on some forum suggested removing the neg battery cable to "reset" the system. I figured that since removing the battery started this problem, maybe this would help. With that done, I was able to get one key fob to work.
Interestingly enough, I could only get 1 response per 1 remove of the battery cable. I put another battery in the nonworking key fob, and tried to reprogram the two at the same time - no response again to EITHER key fob after it went successfully into reprogram mode. Then I removed the neg battery cable again, went into the program mode, and the 1 key fob will work again. I suspect a dead battery in the one key fob, but since I was switching those around so much, I don't remember which was in the originally working key fob. I'm going to go get a brand new battery for the 2nd key fob, pull the neg battery cable to reset the system, and see if I can get both key fobs to work tonight. I'll report back after.
However, still not working is the keypad. I'm wondering if the code I was given was the "Personal Code" and not the factory code, and with that personal code lost, I need the factory code. I'll be re-reading all those posts on how to find the factoy code on my year/model.