Lost Keys...

[DoraThe_Explorer]

Hello everyone!

I have been working on a field find '98 sport for a little while now, and had to get it towed to my new place. Somehow the keys got lost during the tow (I have been looking for six weeks without any luck). I gave in and called a lock smith to make me a key expecting to pay somewhere in the mid $200 range for a new key.

She made a key within about a half hour, but couldn't get the new key to take. Her machine said that it got added to the computer successfully, but the theft light would blink when I would try to start it. She tried to reprogram the computer about ten times and then gave up.

I have a few questions. The first is the computer out of my parts rig doesn't have the same part number on it compared to the one out of this Sport. They both are manual transmissions, but I don't believe I can use it. I still want to run it by everyone before making a trip to the salvage yard for a new computer, lock cylinder, and set of keys. Here is a picture of the computers:

From Parts Rig: Which is a 2000 XLS

From 1998 Sport:

My second question is I noticed this plastic blue piece on the outside of the steering column was damaged. I may have done this by accident when pulling out the lock cylinder (don't know how... but who knows). Can someone clarify what this part is, and could it be preventing the lock smith from programming the computer?

Thank you in advance for any help!

-- Matt

 

[boominXplorer]

The little blue piece is for the key dinger. Pats module is behind Glove box but it also needs to see pcm to clear antitheft. All engine bay connections good?

 

[DoraThe_Explorer]

The little blue piece is for the key dinger. Pats module is behind Glove box but it also needs to see pcm to clear antitheft. All engine bay connections good?

Thanks for the quick reply! That makes sense that the blue piece would the the key dinger so I don't have to worry about it.

I did double check the connections under the hood to make sure everything looked good. If I go to the junkyard do I need to buy a new computer, lock cylinder, and pats module to get it to fire up? Or do I only need a computer and lock cylinder?

Thanks again!

-- Matt

 

[Dono]

The little blue piece is for the key dinger. Pats module is behind Glove box but it also needs to see pcm to clear antitheft. All engine bay connections good?

Didn't you say the pcm needs to see the key dinger to pass pats?
I know there is a ring that is the exciter/receiver there also. That definitely needs to be connected.

If your doing the junk yard thing, I believe you need keys, pcm, pats box, and lock cylinder(s). If you have something else like the receiver (or possibly key dinger?) not working you will still have a problem.

Did the lock smith say if a new key code was being stored when she would marry the new key to your truck? Maybe you just need to get that key dinger working, or maybe the receiver/exciter ring is the issue.

 

[DoraThe_Explorer]

Didn't you say the pcm needs to see the key dinger to pass pats?
I know there is a ring that is the exciter/receiver there also. That definitely needs to be connected.

If your doing the junk yard thing, I believe you need keys, pcm, pats box, and lock cylinder(s). If you have something else like the receiver (or possibly key dinger?) not working you will still have a problem.

Did the lock smith say if a new key code was being stored when she would marry the new key to your truck? Maybe you just need to get that key dinger working, or maybe the receiver/exciter ring is the issue.

Thank you for the reply, Dono. She said that the key "was not taking" and blamed the computer. That is why I am thinking of just replacing the computer to be safe. There is no way my other computer could work, right? Different part numbers means I will probably end up frying a sensor or two if I try to use it...

I am calling around different salvage yards to find one with the same part number. I'll keep you guys posted.

Thanks for the info !

-- Matt

 

[DoraThe_Explorer]

Oh also, the part number for the key dinger matches my parts rig and this Sport. I will switch that out soon just to be safe. One less thing to worry about causing starting trouble in the future...

 

[koda2000]

I don't believe the "dinger" has anything to do with PATS. I've also read (here) that the box behind the glove box is just a dumb buss that just passes the key code to the PCM.

 

[Dono]

Can you verify that the ring on the steering column(or is it around the key cylinder?) is/is not connected properly? its been a few years since I've had mine apart to look at it.
That ring might be disconnected and no key will read. This will need to be fixed as if no key signal is read, its signature can not be programmed to the pcm. The statement that the key won't take, makes me think this might be the issue.

 

[koda2000]

I had bought a Ford transponder key, off eBay, that I think was for a later or different model Ford. My '01 ST (very late 2001 production) has a key with a rounded head where my '01 EB has a transponder key that is more square. The key I'd bought off eBay, although it said it worked for an '01 Explorer, had the rounded head and my Ford dealer tried to program it but could not. I returned the key and got one that looked like my original key (square head) and it programmed & worked w/out a problem. So the keys are not interchangeable. What does your new key look like? '98 was the first year for PATS, so it should have come with the chipped square headed key.

BTW, The transceiver ring goes around the lock cylinder and is a dumb device. It just reads the key and passes the code it sees to the PATS device, which then passes it to the PCM for verification.

 

[Dono]

Yea, think of that ring as an antenna. If its not connected, no signal from the key makes it to the pcm.

Koda is on to something that is probably most likely.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes that blue ring around the outside of the key cylinder is a critical part of the PATS. That blue part is the receiver of the key code.

I had a starting issue about 12 years ago that turned out to be that piece damaged. The mounting tab of mine was broken, so it wasn't secured close enough to the cylinder. I learned about it and simply wrapped a piece of tape around it to hold it. I haven't had the flashing THEFT light since then.

BTW, to run that 1998 Sport and engine, you need a 1998 computer. Unless you are modifying things seriously, the 1999-2001 PCM's won't work for that truck(fuel pressure etc).

Also, the PATS reprogramming of a computer is a process which erases all old key codes. It's simple, but the special diagnostic tool has to do it. What it does is to erase all key codes, and it takes 10-20 minutes for each attempt. I watched it done on my 1999 truck when I only had one key. Once the process it finished, anyone can add any key to the vehicle, and up to eight keys. After the codes are erased, the owner can do it all. You simply put any one key in and program it alone(no other key required). Once one key code is saved, then that key is required to add another key code. Then you have to have two working good keys to add more.

 

[DoraThe_Explorer]

Yes that blue ring around the outside of the key cylinder is a critical part of the PATS. That blue part is the receiver of the key code.

I had a starting issue about 12 years ago that turned out to be that piece damaged. The mounting tab of mine was broken, so it wasn't secured close enough to the cylinder. I learned about it and simply wrapped a piece of tape around it to hold it. I haven't had the flashing THEFT light since then.

BTW, to run that 1998 Sport and engine, you need a 1998 computer. Unless you are modifying things seriously, the 1999-2001 PCM's won't work for that truck(fuel pressure etc).

Also, the PATS reprogramming of a computer is a process which erases all old key codes. It's simple, but the special diagnostic tool has to do it. What it does is to erase all key codes, and it takes 10-20 minutes for each attempt. I watched it done on my 1999 truck when I only had one key. Once the process it finished, anyone can add any key to the vehicle, and up to eight keys. After the codes are erased, the owner can do it all. You simply put any one key in and program it alone(no other key required). Once one key code is saved, then that key is required to add another key code. Then you have to have two working good keys to add more.

I must have mixed up my notifications and just saw all of your replies. Thank you everyone for the input! I have been searching all of the local salvage yards for the same year / model computer and haven't had any luck (thankfully).

Thanks to @CDW6212R I used some packing tape (temporarily) and wrapped it around the blue plastic piece. That did the trick! Once I had the sensor wrapped tight it fired right up without a hitch.

I am going to use some electrical tape until I can find the same sensor at a local salvage yard and replace just to be safe. The one out of my parts rig (the 2000) has one letter different in the part number so I won't try to use it.

Thanks again for the help!

-- Matt

 

[CDW6212R]

I'm glad that helped Matt.

I still have the same blue PATS receiver on mine. The tape was a test, and later I took it off and used a dab of black Ultra Black RTV at the connection point of the parts. The RTV is relatively strong and won't let go. If you do that also, don't use too much RTV, just enough to have maybe a 1/4" surface contacting both parts.

 

[DoraThe_Explorer]

I'm glad that helped Matt.

I still have the same blue PATS receiver on mine. The tape was a test, and later I took it off and used a dab of black Ultra Black RTV at the connection point of the parts. The RTV is relatively strong and won't let go. If you do that also, don't use too much RTV, just enough to have maybe a 1/4" surface contacting both parts.

Good to know. Thanks again for the help!