Changed the battery, PATS disabled the ignition

[RImike]

With the cold weather, the battery on my 04 Explorer was on it's last leg. I took the batter out at lunch time, went to the parts store and installed the new one after dinner. About 6 hours went by, but in that time, it won't start. I thought possibly the starter was toast, nope (jumped the leads). Then i saw the security LED flashing faster than I have ever seen it. Upon Googling the flashing sequence, I have discovered that code 15 is flashing; Key not programmed into PATS. Program key as above using master. OK, so I tried another key and same thing. How is it possible that the PATS lost the memory for the key code? FML, I was going to push it down the road and have AAA tow it to the stealership, however I am going to take my chances as outlined in the Sticky.

Has anyone ever heard of this before?

 

[Bottom Line]

Mike: Basically the same thing happened with my '04. I called a local locksmith shop. Fellow came out, hooked up his computer and in about 20 minutes reprogrammed the truck so my original two keys worked again. Cost was about $100, much less than the dealership.
Mike

 

[ScaryWoody]

I found this idea. I have not tried it personally.

1. Remove the ground cable from the battery post. Touch the ground cable to the positive battery post for 15 seconds and then leave the ground cable off the battery for a period of 15 minutes to allow the vehicle DTC codes and Theft codes to clear.

2. Re-attach the ground cable to the battery and start the vehicle as you normally would.

Let us know what worked when you get it going.

 

[RImike]

I found this idea. I have not tried it personally.

1. Remove the ground cable from the battery post. Touch the ground cable to the positive battery post for 15 seconds and then leave the ground cable off the battery for a period of 15 minutes to allow the vehicle DTC codes and Theft codes to clear.

2. Re-attach the ground cable to the battery and start the vehicle as you normally would.

Let us know what worked when you get it going.

I tried that, no change. I have a cable on order and should be here soon. I don't know how or why, but it "forgot" the security code for the keys.

 

[ScaryWoody]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJBMgrW7MQU

This video might be helpful. My son had the same on his Cadillac CTS and I couldn't find the answer. We tried reprogramming for hours. He towed it to our mechanic and they started it up in a couple of minutes. They didn't say how, just referenced wires around the ignition. I would love to know how to over come this issue for future problems.

 

[RImike]

Thanks for the suggestion, Yes have checked the ground wires and everything. At first I thought I got a DOA battery. My multi-meter told me otherwise, speaking of voltage, I even cleaned the terminals.

 

[TechGuru]

Makes no sense to me that this would happen unless the keys are stored in some volatile memory and there is a button battery in the ECU like a computer has for it's BIOS and it's dead.

 

[ScaryWoody]

Do you have an OBD2 and forscan software. That has the ability to look at the PCM and clear. It doesn't reset the PATS but may shed some light. If unfamiliar forscan.org, it's free.

 

[RImike]

Makes no sense to me that this would happen unless the keys are stored in some volatile memory and there is a button battery in the ECU like a computer has for it's BIOS and it's dead.

I think this makes the most sense, is there a battery in the PCM that remembers the key code? If there is it most likely is dead.

 

[RImike]

Do you have an OBD2 and forscan software. That has the ability to look at the PCM and clear. It doesn't reset the PATS but may shed some light. If unfamiliar forscan.org, it's free.

I've downloaded forscan as well as already have the extended key as outlined in the sticky to reload the key code. Just waiting on the cable to come from amazon.

 

[RImike]

It's alive

I followed the instructions as outlined in the sticky, and it starts right up now.

Thank's everyone and FORSan for saving me coin at the dealership!

 

[fordbluefamily]

Forscan has saved several peoples bacon here and has become my go to for Ford troubleshooting. Glad you got it going.