97 Expedition stalling, then theft light blinking

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PO'dexpd'nowner

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Let it sit overnight to reset the Theft light. Turned key over, no light. Before doing anything else, I tested the #19 fuse to the fuel pump again. Still no voltage so I figured that was a problem and it wouldn't start. Wrong. It started right up and ran for about 20 seconds before stalling. First attempt to restart and immediate theft light. After swimming, I plan on swapping out batteries. Looked up alt diodes this morning and never really found out what or where they are.

I dunno. Can I rule out fuel related issues or is still a possibility?
 
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Captain Morgan

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I wouldnt rule it out. Hook up the volt meter to the fuel pump and turn the key to ON, check for voltage. If you SEE voltage there, then watch it while the engine runs. AFAIK that voltage should never go away. When you turn the key to ON, the fuel pump should start to pressurize so that the fuel injectors have pressure to start.

If that voltage goes away, that would be a big GD problem!

The next step would be to test the fuel pump independently and make sure that the anti-theft doesnt cut pwr to it. This infers hooking a cable directly from the battery and seeing that it will run continuously and not get hot and stop due to being faulty.

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PO'dexpd'nowner

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just got home from taking the kids swimming. I stopped by a little shop on my road and asked him about this. He didn't know what else to do either. However, he did tell me of a shop that would send the pcm off the $50 to have it tested. I'm pretty sure the pcm isn't the issue but it may give me $50 worth of peace of mind.

While swimming I thinking about this. Code 1147 means no communication between PATS and PCM. If I rule out PCM, that leaves only the PATS module. However supposedly PATS cannot shut down the truck after it's running. Forgive me...just brainstorming out loud here. Am I wrong to conclude it's one or the other or could it be a bunch of other things cause it?
 

Captain Morgan

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You wouldnt be wrong to assume that for $3.50 a gallon of gasoline could solve it.

"Code 1147 means no communication between PATS and PCM"

That looks like it would be problematic.


Keep with the basics so you can eliminate maybe's before doing more intensive things. Measure the voltages for the fuel pump and COPs and see if they get voltage when the things sputters and dies as described above.
 
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PO'dexpd'nowner

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I wouldnt rule it out. Hook up the volt meter to the fuel pump and turn the key to ON, check for voltage. If you SEE voltage there, then watch it while the engine runs. AFAIK that voltage should never go away. When you turn the key to ON, the fuel pump should start to pressurize so that the fuel injectors have pressure to start.

If that voltage goes away, that would be a big GD problem!

The next step would be to test the fuel pump independently and make sure that the anti-theft doesnt cut pwr to it. This infers hooking a cable directly from the battery and seeing that it will run continuously and not get hot and stop due to being faulty.

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Forgive my ignorance. The fuel pump is in the tank. How am I suppoed to to hook a voltmeter to it? Or are you inferring check for voltage on the wires going to it? Still those wires would be pretty difficult to get to wouldn't they?

That TSB you posted was what the "electrical specialist" gave me...and then told me to take it to the dealer. Can't believe he backed off it. Anyway, the key thing on that TSB is on page 20 where it states that if it is a PATS issue, code 1260 would stored as a DTC. If not there is a power up issue with PCM or ground circuits. Can anyone, off the top of their head, tell me where all the grounds are please? I checked 2 by the battery and megafuses. Checked frame rails but haven't climbed under it yet...well not sense I put the new O2 sensors in a few weeks ago. It was already doing this before the sensors were put in so no to that idea.
 
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Captain Morgan

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If you lay under the X on the drivers side and find the fuel tank, you should see the fuel lines, fuel filter and (allegedly) the harness\connector for the fuel pump. You would def be able to hear the feul pump whine if the key is ON.


As for the grounds, you know the mother of all grounds comes off the battery. This is the return rail for all voltage and current in the system. That black cable runs to the vehicle chassis and the connections\lugs must be clean. All power distrubution boxes under the hood and in the cabin are grounded via cables and\or lugs. ALL of them. How many individual grounds are there? I'm not sure even FORD knows.

A bad electrical connection on a distribution point and the PCM is gonna freak out from the eroneous data is receives from other systems.
 
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PO'dexpd'nowner

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I have a few more things to check today.....some wires going down by an A/C pipe and some wires going by power steering pump. I have several TSB's that I'm wanting to look up but can't fnd a website that will let me see the entire tsb...just a summary. I already have the 0162. I'd like to see the 983566, 98110, 962511, 99222, 98241. Anyone know where I can actually view the entire TSB? One site is wanting me to pay but I think it's free if you know where to look.

BTW" took steeing column cover off...no loose wires there.

edit: nevermind..same website is letting me see them
 
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PO'dexpd'nowner

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somehow or another I got the theft light to turn off 3 times by moving wires around over by the a/c dryer. Don't know which one b/c then I'd have to walk around and see if it was still flashing. It could have went off on its own afte 2-3 mins of flashing but I never noticed it go off on its own before. However, it was still tripped b/c it wouldn't start and when I cycled the key it would be right back on. May have to get one of my kids to sit in it to tell me exactly when it goes off.
 
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PO'dexpd'nowner

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yes....every morning when I start it, I try the other key...keep changing them every day. Yesterday I kept it revved up to about 2200 rpm's and it lasted for 44 seconds and then instead of stalling it stumbled, came back for a escond, then stalled.

Talked to another shop and was told this: "Ok..hmmm. So I can spend hours looking over it and either waste my time or your money. I'm not wasteing my time when I got these other vehicles lined up."

Still couldn't find the TSB's to look at. Any ideas for those?
 
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