PATS has disabled my 2001 Ranger 4x4 3.0

[RonaldBlake]

I bought a 2001 Ford Ranger from a friend and before I even put 30 miles on it the security system locked it out.

It is titled, registered and Insured in my name.

Starter does work/crank but PATS still has fuel pump or injectors disabled or something.

I only have one key and the key fob is broke so I went ahead and broke the pin preventing me from being able to turn the ignition switch and then tried several procedures I found online t turn off the theft mode but all of them were unsuccessfull.

I went ahead and bought a used immobilizer-transceiver-antenna or whatever you may prefer to call it off ebay that detects the transponder in the key and installed it but there was no change.

Do any of you know what to try next to disable the PATS Antitheft Mode?

Is there a relay in the engine compartment that could be bad and needs replacing?
Is there anything else that may need replacing?

I do have a second key but misplaced it after trying it as well prior to recently buying the used transceiver so have to find it but am currently down to one key and no working key fob to try some of the disable methods. The drivers door lock was swapped by a previous owner that the ignition key does not unlock so I can only unlock the passenger door with the ley as so can not try the using the key in the door method either as is required in one of the supposed ways to disable the theft mode.

I was completely disgusted and have just let it set up for half a year but now my van died and I have no transportation so need to figure this out.

Thanks in advance for any guidance/help you can provide.

Sincerely,
Ronald L. Blake
SFC USARR / Disabled

 

[Dirtman]

PATS would also disable the starter so something else is wrong. Insert the key and turn it to the run position, does the antitheft light flash rapidly? If so after a minute it will start flashing a code. The code will tell you whats wrong.

If it's not flashing, what makes you assume it's a PATS problem? As I said, PATS disables the starter so if it cranks it's likely not the problem. Can you pull any regular fault codes? Have you tried starting it with starting fluid to see if its a spark or fuel issue? Can you hear the fuel pump run for 2 seconds when you put the key to the run position? Have you simply checked the fuses? Have you checked the fuel pump safety cutoff switch?

There is no simple way to disable PATs. If there was it would be a pretty pointless security system lol. A mobile locksmith might be able to program 2 new keys to the system but you've yet to determine the actual problem so that would be jumping the gun. You can also program keys if you have a windows laptop by using Forscan but again, jumping the gun.

 

[RonaldBlake]

The theft light is still blinking.

No, I have not tried the other things you mentioned but will test for spark with a spark tester and try to figure out where and how to listen for the fuel pump if I can do that by myself.

Thank you for these suggestions to check!

 

[RonaldBlake]

PATS would also disable the starter so something else is wrong. Insert the key and turn it to the run position, does the antitheft light flash rapidly? If so after a minute it will start flashing a code. The code will tell you whats wrong.

If it's not flashing, what makes you assume it's a PATS problem? As I said, PATS disables the starter so if it cranks it's likely not the problem. Can you pull any regular fault codes? Have you tried starting it with starting fluid to see if its a spark or fuel issue? Can you hear the fuel pump run for 2 seconds when you put the key to the run position? Have you simply checked the fuses? Have you checked the fuel pump safety cutoff switch?

There is no simple way to disable PATs. If there was it would be pretty pointless lol. A mobile locksmith might be able to program 2 new keys to the system but you've yet to determine the actual problem so that would be jumping the gun.

Yes I have visually inspected all of the fuses but did not test them with a ohm meter though.

This truck has a rebuilt title so I am not positive that the starter is supposed to be disabled due to the possibility of mis matched parts used when some previously revuilt the truck but the theft system is actively flashing and the starter does crank.

from what I gather on some earlier 98 99 models that Ford did not have the grounding method installed to disable the starter so I am guessing that this vehicle being a rebuilt vehicle may not have those components to disable the starter as well!

 

[Dirtman]

When the light is flashing wait a minute and it will start blinking in a sequence. That sequence is a code, get that code. Aka 6 blinks, pause, 4 blinks, long pause. Would be code 64...

 

[RonaldBlake]

When the light is flashing wait a minute and it will start blinking in a sequence. That sequence is a code, get that code. Aka 6 blinks, pause, 4 blinks, long pause. Would be code 64...

Okay, will try to get that figured out sometime tomorrow and post back with it.

So turn the key to the run position and wait for it to start flashing in sequences then?

 

[Dirtman]

Okay, will try to get that figured out sometime tomorrow and post back with it.

So turn the key to the run position and wait for it to start flashing in sequences then?

Yup. Takes a minute to start doing its "morse code" thing so just wait and then count the blinks.

 

[RonaldBlake]

Yup. Takes a minute to start doing its "morse code" thing so just wait and then count the blinks.

Thank you so much and I will get a charger on it tomorrow and check for and note the sequence.

 

[RonaldBlake]

Yup. Takes a minute to start doing its "morse code" thing so just wait and then count the blinks.

Hi Dirtman.

Charged my battery and performed the procedure you suggested.

When turn the ignition to the on/run position where the dash lights light up, it never flashed the theft light while in that position.

I waited about 5 minutes but it did not start flashing at all.

Upon turning the switch back off the theft light then blinks in a steady pattern of one blink every second.

While under the hood I noticed that when the battery is connected that I am hearing a fan noise of some sort coming from where the hydraulic brake lines are controlled which I assume to be the anti-lock brake system controller but using a piece of water hose and listening for it I could not say for sure it was that or if there is some other component under or attached to it that was making the noise. Now I know why my battery kept dying while it was sitting up after the theft system disabled it.

Could that somehow be some indication of how/why the anti-theft PATS System is disabling it and causing the theft light to flash?

I have not checked anything else yet though as I have a circulation issue in my left leg and had to get back off of it to elevate it!

 

[RonaldBlake]

Yup. Takes a minute to start doing its "morse code" thing so just wait and then count the blinks.

Sorry for the delay since my my two replies following this reply by you.

My health took a down turn.
I am on the mend and hopefully test for spark and fuel before too long being I am on the mend!

Thanks again for your words of advice!

 

[JodyTanner93]

Hi Dirtman.

Charged my battery and performed the procedure you suggested.

When turn the ignition to the on/run position where the dash lights light up, it never flashed the theft light while in that position.

I waited about 5 minutes but it did not start flashing at all.

Upon turning the switch back off the theft light then blinks in a steady pattern of one blink every second.

While under the hood I noticed that when the battery is connected that I am hearing a fan noise of some sort coming from where the hydraulic brake lines are controlled which I assume to be the anti-lock brake system controller but using a piece of water hose and listening for it I could not say for sure it was that or if there is some other component under or attached to it that was making the noise. Now I know why my battery kept dying while it was sitting up after the theft system disabled it.

Could that somehow be some indication of how/why the anti-theft PATS System is disabling it and causing the theft light to flash?

I have not checked anything else yet though as I have a circulation issue in my left leg and had to get back off of it to elevate it!

The theft light always blinks steadily while the truck is off. That just indicates the system is functioning. I think that’s in the manual if you look for it.