P.A.T.S Does ANYONE understand it?

[wchillhowell]

I was able to lower column, install and fix my broken shifter and tube. Now the problem is the car will not crank over-all the necessary lights for engine start up will come on but the car will not crank over. It appears to be the anti-theft (P.A.T.S) system (flashing rapidly). Is there ANYWAY to overide, disable bypass, or uninstall the system so as to get my car started? It has gone for over a month now since I've installed shifter and I've tried everything including calling Ford to bypass or disable system and either they do not know or refuse to enlighen me. I've GOOGLES IT, POSTED HERE. I just want to get the car started-it does not matter if I have to take the entire PATS system off and run a wire straight to starter. If I put in a new ignition will it start it? You mean there is NO WAY to bypass or disable PATS system? It APPEARS THAT NO ONE IN THIS WHOLE FORUM really knows how to byass or disable this system-not EVEN Ford Techs. IS THERE A WAY TO BYPASS, DISABLE or UNINSTALL IT? I just want to get my car started!!!PLEASE HELP!!!

 

[2000StreetRod]

PATS issue?

. . . Now the problem is the car will not crank over-all the necessary lights for engine start up will come on but the car will not crank over. It appears to be the anti-theft (P.A.T.S) system (flashing rapidly).

I know from personal experience that on a 2000 Explorer PATS does not prevent the starter motor from cranking. Instead, the PCM disables the fuel injectors. The engine should start and run for a few seconds on starting fluid.

Is there ANYWAY to overide, disable bypass, or uninstall the system so as to get my car started?

PATS may be disabled with a custom tune. If it was easy to defeat PATS it would not prevent vehicle theft. A thief could break a window to gain entry, open the hood and install some jumper wires and start the engine.

It has gone for over a month now since I've installed shifter and I've tried everything including calling Ford to bypass or disable system and either they do not know or refuse to enlighen me. I've GOOGLES IT, POSTED HERE. I just want to get the car started-it does not matter if I have to take the entire PATS system off and run a wire straight to starter. If I put in a new ignition will it start it? You mean there is NO WAY to bypass or disable PATS system? It APPEARS THAT NO ONE IN THIS WHOLE FORUM really knows how to byass or disable this system-not EVEN Ford Techs. IS THERE A WAY TO BYPASS, DISABLE or UNINSTALL IT? I just want to get my car started!!!PLEASE HELP!!!

Most dealers refuse to disable PATS or tell someone else how to do it. Replacing the ignition will have no effect on the disabling of the fuel injectors. Your best approach is to fix the PATS. If you have a PATS key that the PCM recognizes (engine ran before you replaced shifter), and functional PATS components the engine will run. You may have broken the flimsy wire from the ignition switch. The dealer will be happy to fix your PATS. If you want to save money and fix it yourself this thread may be helpful: Everything you wanted to know about PATS.

 

[wchillhowell]

Thank you all. I guess I will have to see if I pulled out, or broke a wire or something. Although the halo around the ignition looks ok perhaps I somehow may have broke it-I heard it can be very fragile. Also I was not quite sure how the thin wire with the blue plastic on it exactly goes around and into the ignition. Yet, the theft light does flash very fast so I'm assuming it has something to do with PATS. The engine does not start at all nor even make a sound but it runs through all the other start-up procedures. As I said, the car did start easily before I chnaged the shifter and originally I though perhaps the indicator shift was not exactly in "Park". Thank you, hope I can get this thing started by Monday!

 

[2000StreetRod]

does starter crank?

. . . The engine does not start at all nor even make a sound but it runs through all the other start-up procedures. As I said, the car did start easily before I chnaged the shifter and originally I though perhaps the indicator shift was not exactly in "Park". Thank you, hope I can get this thing started by Monday!

Does the starter motor rotate the crankshaft when the ignition key is moved to the Start position? If not, then you have another problem - possibly in addition to PATS. Try moving the shift lever to the neutral position to see if the starter motor cranks the engine. If not, try it slightly toward Drive and then towards Reverse.

 

[2000StreetRod]

good PATS explanation

Post #3 of this thread contains a good explanation of PATS components: Can an Explorer be started WITHOUT owners key ?

 

[2000StreetRod]

PATS B vs E

I found the PATS programming procedure which includes a table identifying PATS type by Ford make and model year:2534 Global Programmer. According to the table the Ford Explorer 4 door had PATS B for 1998 thru 2001 and PATS E for 2002 thru at least 2004. The Ford Explorer 2 door (Sport) had PATS B for 1998 thru 2001 (before 7/24/00) and PATS E for 2002 (7/24/00 and later) thru 2003. Explorer Sport Trac has PATS B before 7/24/00 and PATS E for 7/24/00 and thru at least 2004. PATS E has starter interrupt capabilty but PATS B doesn't. There is a built in 10 minute programming delay. I assume this is to deter someone with the programmer from stealing vehicles.