Theft Light / Key Issues

[BlindFaith429]

Hello everybody. Was hoping someone here could help me out.

I have a 1999 Explorer Sport, with 180K on it. It's just a beater that gets me to and from work. It is a 5-speed stick.

Recently, I started having issues from time to time with starting it. I will put in the key, turn it to the "start" position, and it will only crank. I turn the key off, and the "theft" light blinks at me. I try to start it again, and it starts right up.

I am using the ford key that I got with it, not a knock-off copy, or a regular key. Only using the one with the chip in it.

I have read online that sometimes the reader in the column goes bad, and that can cause the issues I'm having. Not sure how much truth there is to that.

If this is true, can I replace the reader myself?

Does anybody have any experience with this?

Thanks!

 

[Tyler Robinson]

I have the same problem on my 01 Sport, sometimes if I put the key in and turn it over too fast it won't start & the theft light will blink, so I just have to keep trying usually starts after a few try's. Most days it will be fine,just happens randomly. I have no clue what the problem could be

 

[J_C]

Yes you can replace that reader module. I don't know the part # and would get one from a junk yard, from a '98 through '01 (?). You can also pull the OBDII codes with some scan tools and get the PATS diagnostic code which can reduce the possibilities for what is wrong.

 

[Tyler Robinson]

Yes you can replace that reader module. I don't know the part # and would get one from a junk yard, from a '98 through '01 (?). You can also pull the OBDII codes with some scan tools and get the PATS diagnostic code which can reduce the possibilities for what is wrong.

No codes show up it's strange

 

[BlindFaith429]

Yes you can replace that reader module. I don't know the part # and would get one from a junk yard, from a '98 through '01 (?). You can also pull the OBDII codes with some scan tools and get the PATS diagnostic code which can reduce the possibilities for what is wrong.

Is it part number F8SB-15607-AC? Like the one in the picture below?

I took my steering column covers off, and noticed the little green plug at the top of the black housing was a little messed up. I'm wondering if that is causing issues with the signals.

 

[J_C]

I don't know the part # but yes that's a PATS transceiver and if the connector has a problem... well it's supposed to do something, I don't have a pinout for it to tell you what each wire does but I'd definitely look into what can be done about the connector.

 

[ducrnd]

Hello everybody. Was hoping someone here could help me out.

I have a 1999 Explorer Sport, with 180K on it. It's just a beater that gets me to and from work. It is a 5-speed stick.

Recently, I started having issues from time to time with starting it. I will put in the key, turn it to the "start" position, and it will only crank. I turn the key off, and the "theft" light blinks at me. I try to start it again, and it starts right up.

I am using the ford key that I got with it, not a knock-off copy, or a regular key. Only using the one with the chip in it.

I have read online that sometimes the reader in the column goes bad, and that can cause the issues I'm having. Not sure how much truth there is to that.

If this is true, can I replace the reader myself?

Does anybody have any experience with this?

Thanks!

yes you can replace the reader yourself, Its just a ring that goes around the lock system for the key.it is hard to believe this is bad because it does nothing
it just an attenna that that picks up a code response from the key. Better chances are the anti theft control module behind the passenger side glove box.
the system is not a good solder job. it is flat soldered not through soldered. do it do it more when its cold or warm ?

 

[J_C]

yes you can replace the reader yourself, Its just a ring that goes around the lock system for the key.it is hard to believe this is bad because it does nothing
it just an attenna that that picks up a code response from the key.

Depends on how you define doing something. Yes it's an antenna of sorts but it sure looks like that box has a circuit board in it, probably a minimum of an amplifier circuit on it. Previously it was mentioned that there was something going on with the connector too, which could mean it's not making contact with the mating plug, and/or that the pin on it is broken off the circuit board.

A pin broken off the circuit board "might" be fixable if it can be disassembled and there is creative use of solder, maybe wire to replace a broken PCB trace or pad, and possibly epoxy to fortify the area.