2000 Explorer XLT, problem with P.A.T.S.!! HELP!!!

[Bigredexplorer20]

Theft light blinks rapidly when key on, engine off; will not crank. SOMETIMES!!! Other times, key on, engine off; Theft light goes off as all indicator lights do, and it cranks right up and runs fine! In the process of tracking this problem down, I have replaced plugs, wires, cap, button, coil pack, fuel pump, filter, new battery and terminals! I am absolutely going crazy! Can anybody recommend something else to try??? Please help! Time is of the essence here! I swear I'll meet you one day after this and buy you a round of drinks! I'll sell my soul at this point! And the only reason I say it's PATS, is due to other posts I've read about it...it all point to it. But, how do I diagnose it properly, how is it fixed? I have 2 keys, tried both intermittently, and no change. Sometimes it works, sometimes it won't!

 

[1998Exp]

First, you seem to be using non-standard terminology. "Cranks" means that the starter is turning (think of old cars that had a crank and no electric starter).
As for your problem:
1) An intermittent PATS problem should set a "pending" code in the computer. Have it scanned with a decent scanner that can read Ford-specific codes, not just generic emissions stuff. The code may provide some more detailed information about the problem.
2) I had a similar issue. I tend to scan once in a while as a form of preventive maintenance, and for a long time was picking a pending code for 'theft' with no ill effects otherwise. One day the truck wouldn't even crank (and I mean crank -- no sound at all from the starter), with THEFT flashing. Turned out be simply a loose PATS module fuse that I pulled out a while earlier and did not fully insert. Yours appears to be the same model year, so it should be the same fuse: #25 . Give it a shot.

Good Luck!

Theft light blinks rapidly when key on, engine off; will not crank. SOMETIMES!!! Other times, key on, engine off; Theft light goes off as all indicator lights do, and it cranks right up and runs fine! In the process of tracking this problem down, I have replaced plugs, wires, cap, button, coil pack, fuel pump, filter, new battery and terminals! I am absolutely going crazy! Can anybody recommend something else to try??? Please help! Time is of the essence here! I swear I'll meet you one day after this and buy you a round of drinks! I'll sell my soul at this point! And the only reason I say it's PATS, is due to other posts I've read about it...it all point to it. But, how do I diagnose it properly, how is it fixed? I have 2 keys, tried both intermittently, and no change. Sometimes it works, sometimes it won't!

 

[Bigredexplorer20]

Fixed the PATS PROBLEM!!!!

James Henson @ Hensonperformance.com out of Hueytown, AL was able to help me! This guy knows what he's doing when it comes to this gremlin. With just a few mins on the phone, he was able to tell me, yes, I more than likely had a PATS problem, and that he could erase and reprogram to bypass PATS altogether! Went to go see him, and about 10 mins later, problem was completely fixed!!!!! I highly recommend this guy. Even for performance tuning or turbos/superchargers....this guy does it all!! Thanks so much for everyone's help! I've learned a great deal on here, and it'll definitely be my first stop if there's ever trouble ahead!