03 Explorer Valet Switch?

[Muddyfeet]

Hello! Please bear with me as it's my first time in the forums. I'm at a loss with my 2003 Ford Explorer XLT. The windows have always given us problems and my husband decided to try to tackle them the other day as one would not go up. After tinkering around a bit with no luck we abandoned the project. Now our car won't even start. It's flashing a theft light on the dash so I guess we somehow activated an anti-theft device. From what I understand the main key being put in the ignition should do the trick but my husband lost it almost 6 months ago while I was in labor with our daughter so we've been using the spares. I've read that some are equipped with a valet switch that I can reset the alarm with but I haven't been able to identify if the valet switch is on all explorers or only those that have an aftermarket alarm system installed. If my factory explorer does in fact have a factory valet switch and someone could point us in a direction of its location, I would greatly appreciate it. We live so far from a garage that to have it towed would be super expensive. Also, it's the only vehicle we own that I can drive and all the kids fit in. I've already had to break the news that our family day to the theme park for tomorrow more than likely will be cancelled.

 

[1Aauto]

Welcome to the site.

 

[Muddyfeet]

Thank you Tony!

 

[College Student]

u can reset a few things on the car such as the radio by disconnecting the battery for 15 minutes, there might be a chance that this will reset whatever is denying ignition. Try that then get back to us with an update

 

[jad2411]

Hi muddy there was no stock alarm system only the keyless entry system that flashes lights and honks horn under certain circumstances so no valet switch will be present.
A spare key should work the same since it is still a pats key programmed to the module.
The window issue might be a broken wire in the driver side door big rondo has a , copy paste reply with more details you can look him up or wait for him to reply

 

[Muddyfeet]

Thank you all for your responses! We tried disconnecting the battery and reconnecting to reset it last night and it didn't work. My husband went back to work today and my father (a former mechanic for several decades) came over. My window problem was the switches. He jumpered them to get them up and I asked him to leave them unhooked until I pick up new switches so this doesn't happen again. We still couldn't get the car to start so we hooked up a diagnostic computer (sorry I don't exactly know what it's called) to see if it spit out codes. It wasn't spitting out codes. It couldn't even make a connection to my explorer's computer. So my dad looked at the fuses under the dash and matched them up to the diagrams in my manual and we realized the 50 amp one was off. My husband must have pulled it out when checking fuses and put it back in the wrong spot! Doh!!!! Put in the key and it was no longer flashing the theft light and it rolled over beautifully. Although we spent more time on it than I would have liked it was a great excuse to get under a hood and grab a couple of beers with dad!

 

[College Student]

happy you solved your problem, for future reference you may receive quicker and better ideas if you post in the Under the Hood section if the x doesn't start. And if the '03 is acting up the stock section of the 2002-2005 explorers will help a lot.

Oh and Welcome Aboard the EF family

 

[jad2411]

Sharing the beer with fellow members helps too

 

[Muddyfeet]

Thanks guys! Yes, I would gladly share the beer!