theft deterant system - sporadic non starting situation

[sideswipe]

I have the same problem. Just got it back from the dealer and they "claim" that my aftermarket alarm is interferring with the factory theft deterrent system. I dont believe them. I think its an inherent problem with the factory alarm system.

 

[tbomb]

suppossedly the theft deterant system has something to do with 98 and newer X's not starting sporadically. mine did this the other day and hasnt done it since, but im going to take it into ford because its still under warranty anyway, so i figure, why not?

basically, my theft light is acting shady: it goes on and stays on dimly, then it blinks brighter. and the other day i drove my truck to the auto parts place and when i came out 10 minutes later, my truck was turning over, but it wouldnt start - i got a jump and its been fine since then (im assuming the jump didnt really do anything and it was a fluke that my truck started because of it.)

if anyone knows anything about this or has any experience with this problem, please fill me in. for those of us who dont know what the he!! is going on, ill reply after i get my truck back from ford, probably mid week next week.

 

[01EB5.0]

sideswipe,
try using a different key. there may be something interfeering witht he computer chip in your key. if it does it with more then 1 key then I would say it is a truck problem.

 

[sideswipe]

ill try that, thanks 95xlt!

 

[tbomb]

guys, my truck is going in tomorrow for this problem as well as the cam chain guide recall. i should have it back by wednesday evening or thursday at the latest. ill keep everyone posted.

 

[J. Kennedy]

Yeah, a lot of people with the chip in the key have that problem. Cured by using a different key.

With mine, it was an intermittently bad hood switch. It was only bad SOMETIMES!!! I tested it, it seemed fine. But the service rep said every time he has seen the random starting problem it has been the hood switch. He pulled the 2 wires off, twisted them together, and I haven't had a problem since.

 

[tbomb]

j kennedy,

what is this "hood switch" you speak of? i would love to mention it to the mechanics at the dealership (its no secret i despise having my truck worked on at a dealership, but its warranty stuff, so i keep my mouth shut and hold in my anger, heh.) though, i dont know if eliminating the hood switch, whatever it is, is such a good idea, it seems as though they should fix it or replace it or something.

i would love to try my other key, but its at home and im at school (200 miles away) i still plan on mentioning it though.

 

[J. Kennedy]

On my X, and tons of others accoding to the service rep, the factory theft deterrent system includes a pin switch. It can be along any fender edge, along the firewall, or on the radiator support. It is a little pin that sticks up. When the hood comes down, it pushes the pin in. When the hood slams down, the POS switch wears out prematurely. Just pull the 2 wires out of it and twist together and the system thinks the hood is always closed.

Assuming thats your problem. Good luck, JK

 

[tbomb]

ahh, ok, thanks. when the service rep. calls me tomorrow ill mention it to him if he says he didnt find anything. for some reason i have this gut feeling that its my key. maybe the chip in my key is loose or something, but ill wait for official verdict tomorrow afternoon.

 

[tbomb]

well, i just got my truck back from the dealership. they told me that it started everytime for them (which i expected.) and they also told me that they way light is blinking (i.e.: comes on dimly then blinks brightly) is normal for a 98! do they think that im that stupid. ill just add this to my list of reasons of why i hate having a dealership do repairs. god forbid that something happens with a vehicle that ford didnt put in the "how to fix..." manual.

btw, j kennedy, i mentioned the hood switch to the guy and his response was, "when that switch goes bad, it sets off the alarm." <-- at that point i was sick of their BS and just said "OK."