Can I swap ECUs to get it to start?

[alchemist]

Ok, I'm thinking about buying a theft recovered 1998 X-Sport. Well there are no keys and I'd like to get one made to fit.....but of course it has PATS on it.

My underderstanding is PATS is a part of the computer's ECU am I right?

Would I be able to put a 96/97 ECU in place of the 98's to get it to run...assuming it has the same engine/tranny combo?

Would this allow a regular key to start the car (albiet with an older fuel map etc) bypassing PATS (if PATS is a part of the 98+ ECU)?

I just dont want to spend too much money to have a ford guy come down pay 200 bucks for them to make a key for a car I might not buy.

If anyone knows better how PATS works it would be greatly appreciated

 

[bluevolume]

Whoever is selling the car should provide you with a key to start it -- sounds like a pretty hard sell without it. I really doubt that you could swap out the computers, but I don't know for sure. Where are you planning on getting the other computer from? If it is coming from a vehicle that is still being used, I think your risk is going to be higher than just paying Ford for the right key.

 

[alchemist]

Thats where the problem is......I'm looking at buying it from a wholesaler who has 500 repairable cars. They don't have a key for it, and aren't really willing to pay to get one done since it does need some work (window/bumper) and has a salvage title from the theft.

I'd get the ECU from ebay or car-part.com for like 50-70 bucks.....that way I could try it on all three of the explorers they have there without keys...BTW this place is on the up and up...been in the business for many years.

 

[Billy177]

call up the dealer with the vin number

 

[bluevolume]

You might be able to talk to a Ford dealer and find out if there are any tricks to getting them started. If you can find a good service guy who is willing to talk to you, they might have some interresting solutions.

Bait them by saying you want to have them look over the truck if you buy it. Might not be a bad idea to have them do that anyway.

 

[Billy177]

well you can get the pats bypass for a remote start system buy you will still need a key for the ignition

 

[alchemist]

I believe the PATS bypass requires an already programmed key to make it work...it simply has a programmed key in a box connected to an antenna on the column.

I'll talk to a ford dealer tomorrow

 

[Doug]

All people do to bypass the PATS system with a remote starter is actually stick a key in the steering column so the PATS signal is always present. An older ECU may work, if you can get a used ECU for pretty cheap it's probably worth a shot. I'm pretty sure all the features/options between 97 and 98 are very similiar so it should in theory work.

 

[Billy177]

most people do that but there are kits like this http://www.autotoys.com/x/catalog/FORD_PATS_IMMOBILIZER_BYPASS_KIT_NO_RING_p_1080.html

 

[Doug]

Thats pretty cool, I'd buy one of those before I'd start messing with different computers.