Anti-Theft Repair

[Razings]

I have a close to bone stock 96 5.0 Explorer and I am struggling to figure out why my Anti-Theft system stopped working. For reference my remote doesn't unlock the car, the keypad doesn't respond anymore, and the Theft light doesn't come on when I exit lock and close the doors. Nothing out of the ordinary occured immediately before this started happening, but I did have the alternator fail and get replaced several months earlier.

I confirmed the batteries in my remote are at the correct voltage and also confirmed it's sending out signals with a Flipper Zero, so it doesn't appear to have anything to do with the remote. I somehow managed to lose my second remote a week before I started encountering these issues so I can't check if that will unlock it.

I went through the fuses thinking one might have blown for the Anti-Theft system but I couldn't find any blown and according to the manual should be on circuits with other functions, but nothing else seems to be wrong. Using ForScan Lite I checked all the GEM functions as I have had issues in the past and had to replace it before and nothing threw an error. I also verified if it thought a door was stuck open, but ForScan showed all the door sensors reading properly.

I'm now a bit stumped on what next to do since there isn't any explicit module showing in ForScan Lite to check for Anti-Theft related faults. So I wouldn't know what to replace/check next. I've spent a bit of time trying to scan forums and almost everything is about how to bypass instead of replace. Any ideas?

 

[toypaseo]

Your RAP module might be failing or dead.

I had a dead battery, got a new one. Keyless started to work on-and-off. Keypad also started to work on-and-off. Finally, nothing. I can’t remember if alarm or anti-theft light were affected.

I plucked a RAP module from a junkyard with the same part number. Had some issues when I swapped them, like the alarm going off, and anti-theft light blinking. Eventually, got it working as it should.

 

[J_C]

Yeah I'm thinking RAP module too. It's behind the trim in the driver's side rear quarter panel. It's not the PATS anti-theft if your keys can still start the vehicle. Edit: As 410Fortune pointed out, '96 doesn't have PATS.

 

[410Fortune]

96 does not have a chip key no pats
It’s just keyless entry in 96

Do all the door locks work manually? From the buttons? Does the key still lock and unlock the drivers door?

 

[Razings]

96 does not have a chip key no pats
It’s just keyless entry in 96

Do all the door locks work manually? From the buttons? Does the key still lock and unlock the drivers door?

I can manually actuate the black lock indicator post in all the doors of that's what you mean by manually. The locks are also still able to be operated by the power operated lock switches located on the interior door arm rest. The key still fits in the lock tumblers and can unlock the driver door. No the fob is unable to unlock the door. Or lock it, or trigger panic. I have tried switching out batteries just in case, but no dice. It can confirm it is producing rf signals at 315Mhz. Just seems the explorer isn't responding to any of the signals.

Yeah, there's no immobilizer in the key. Key and fob are separate and I can still start and drive fine.