interesting problem...

[alaskanate]

Okay I have not driven my ex in a few months. I started it today, and it died, when I went to put a new battery in it, I go to start the truck and the theft light pops up as if I didn't have a chipped key, but it turns over still. The thing is, the chip in my key fell out months before I stopped driving it, and always worked for me. #30 fuse is still good, its a 97 so I'm not sure its the new pats system or not. Another thing, it won't unlock. Not with an aftermarket key fob or on the door panel. My autostart won't engage either, as I never hit the button, and its a compustar fyi. It will lock all day though. Please help, this thing is stuck where it is until I can fix this! It sounds like a theft thing, but the unlocking thing? And never used a chip before why would it need one now...? Any ideas are appreciated!!!

 

[bedrck46]

sounds like when you removed the old battery and installed the new one that the computers reset and being you don't have a chip in the key it won't let you restart but will let you crank the engine. Check and see if you can find a locksmith to come out and reprogram the pats system take your key to him so he can cut you a new pats key also recommend that you get a spare made

 

[alaskanate]

i was thinkin that, but if ive never used a chip before, why now? ive unplugged my battery before, and since my compustar wont unlock or start it anymore i was thinking that if it was shop installed ( before i got it) could the chip bypass from the autostart been shorted out or something? because it locks just fine. just wont start or unlock.

 

[bedrck46]

Can't really give you a good answer Just that I would talk to a locksmith and see what he would advise Unless someone on here has a better suggestion

 

[FordandPolaris]

Also could try and call the company that makes the remote starter. They would know how their product bypasses the PATS and may have troubleshooting advice.

 

[bedrck46]

you mentioned that the #30 fuse is ok Did you check it with a meter?
Also is that fuse for the pats?? or for the autostart?
Or is it possible there is a separate fuse for the autostart.

 

[alaskanate]

Okay so I did everything I could...i called the place that put it in and went through all their processes, called ford dealership and they told me some 97s are chipped some are not, and told me to call whoever put the auto start in. Well nothing else works, so I guess I'm going to have to get a new key programmed which I was avoiding....and if that doesn't work if my truck isn't chipped like I thought, guess its down to tearing stuff apart. I'll let you know as soon as I get a new one, thankyou for the ideas, love this forum more than the explorer forum....much more helpful here. If anyone has any other ideas feel free to chime in! And I will test to see if #30 is hot or not, its linked to coils, passive theft system, and door locks....which sounds like a perfect fix...we'll see!

 

[bedrck46]

I have seen fuses that look good but test bad it all depends where along the fuse link that it blows Learned that lesson the hard way. Plus my eyes are not as good as they use to be Keep us posted will be nice to know what the fix was