Anti-theft system problem.

[rlgdguy]

Hello all. I am having two problems (possibly related). My factory "anti-theft alarm system" has decided to start going off all by itself, lately in the middle of the night. Needless to say, my neighbors are not loving me very much right now. It's only when I have the doors locked and whether I use the remote to lock it or manually hit the lock switch on both the driver and passenger side doors myself. If I leave the vehicle unlocked, it doesn't happen. Of course in this day and age, I can't do that in very many places or for too long unattended.

I also get the "flashing door ajar" message and my interior lights will flicker a few times. The "door ajar" light remaining lit, interior lights flickering and then all turns off after about 10 seconds, seems to only happen after someone gets in/out of my front passenger door. The alarm sounding has happened with or without someone entering/exiting the vehicle, but may be related? I'm going to try the wd-40 fix for starters.

Has anyone experienced the alarm sounding issue too? I searched the forums, but have not been able to find anything similar with "anti-theft" device peoblems. Thanks for any advice in advance.

 

[rlgdguy]

OK, just got back from the 24 hour store, after buying some wd-40. I sprayed as described in many posts and the door ajar light seems to have stopped doing what it was doing. Now, when I locked my doors by manually pressing the power lock button, it was fine. When I unlocked and then locked the door again using the key fob, the alarm instantly started to go off. I silenced the alarm, unlocked the vehicle doors and locked them again, pressing power lock buttons manually once more. 20 minutes later and counting, no alarm sounding (keeping fingers crossed).

I did leave out possibly an important fact in my initial post? My son opened the passenger door very fast, slamming it against a parking meter the other day and that's when the alarm started sounding, as well as the door ajar light flickering on and off. Maybe it was a coincidence or maybe related?

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've moved your thread into the stock 2002-2005 section.

 

[swave187]

I'm having the same problem and my alarm is going off on my truck like crazy. I have to manually lock my doors to avoid this problem. Where are you putting the wd-40?

 

[rlgdguy]

As most other posts state, I sprayed all in and around the latches and anywhere there is access to the locks, plus I pulled out the handles and sprayed anywhere that was exposed. I have not had the problem since and keeping fingers crossed.

 

[exp46]

I have had my truck recently programmed w/ 4 keyfobs, & 4 keys. This is a 2002 EB & I've had it pretty much since day 1 or (a few years in..lol).

When I programmed the keys=cakewalk. The two used keyfobs I set up (have to set them all at the same time), were good to go after a few tries.

Now, my best remote (always been the "spare") that works from an incredible distance, was completley unresponsive after that very remote triggered the alarm. Everything on every remote was then tried, and when I reached the truck...I had to type the door code and turn the ignition on for several seconds of idle before alarm stopping.

Never has it done that...Ever.

I've replicated this scenario w/ the other remotes & it will only stop, or send the signal to the PCM once you have a key in and it's running.

All the lights also blink when locking now as well....I do love a challenge & with some time I will have this whole PATS -Ford system down...just to figure it out.

 

[campagna85]

Ford Explorer Anti Theft/Door Ajar

As most other posts state, I sprayed all in and around the latches and anywhere there is access to the locks, plus I pulled out the handles and sprayed anywhere that was exposed. I have not had the problem since and keeping fingers crossed.

I have had the EXACT same problem with my explorer. The door ajar thing has been happening for about two years (starting when I slammed the seatbelt into the door). Recently, since the door ajar light came back on this past week, my alarm has been going off like crazy! all night, every few hours, and it only happens if I have the doors locked.

You're saying all you did to fix this problem was spray WD40 inside the doors??

 

[Scratch77]

I do love a challenge & with some time I will have this whole PATS -Ford system down...just to figure it out.

PATS and the alarm are two separate things.
PATS is the Passive Anti Theft System - the transponder located within your key and the module around your ignition that reads the key

The alarm is an active system that gets armed and disarmed when you lock and unlock your doors.