We bought it and the dude that owned it cut the radio wires and messed with the wiring everywhere because he thought he had a short. I've hooked up the radio and everything and it does the same thing. How do I bypass to make it stay running. The fors dealer told me it would be over $100 dollars and towing fee. So please help

 

does the key look like it is a copy from a store or does it look like it is from the dealer with a fat head? Not the dealer, the key. Maybe the dealer.
Seriously, You may not have the PATS key which is a security key that contains a chip to tell the car to start. Which is why I has a fat head.

 

I looked at the key and its not erignal key. They dealer said it would cost $100 or more for them to fix it and can't afford that

 

My '98 had the chip in the key. It would turn over but not start without the chip.

Spend the $100. If you can't afford $100, you will soon be walking anyway as that's going to be your first couple tanks of gas.

Sorry to be so blunt, but it you want something semi-reliable, it needs to be fixed right. Otherwise why own the vehicle?

 

Thanx but this key does have the chip. But I know theirs ways around it tho

 

A well equipped locksmith should have the capability to program the key if that is the issue, and they rate is likely less than the dealership.

These PATS systems on modern Fords are impressively well integrated and difficult to defeat. Even remote start systems don't defeat the system, they just act like another programmed key and require either two programmed keys, they learn an existing programmed key, or they require a professional-grade scan tool to program the remote start box to the PATS system. This system isn't like the old GM VATS system that could be bypassed with a resistor.

-Rod

 

The only thing an ill-equipped DIYer can do is to replace the tranceiver module. That's the antenna ring that goes around the ignition key cylinder.

This era of the Explorer (98-01) has a stand-alone PATS module up under the dash, up in the vicinity above the gas pedal. Check and see if the PO's hack job harmed this module's wiring harness. Start there.

If the THEFT light is fast-flashing, the engine will crank but not fire on its own as the injectors have been disabled in the software. There is NO effective way to bypass this by an owner, you have to fix the problem so the system works.

Forscan with an extended license on a laptop will reprogram PATS. :thumb: Now within the easy reach of the DIYer.

 

If it was so easy to bypass or disable, it wouldn't be a very effective anti-theft feature, would it? It would defeat the purpose of it. I recently had a similar problem and I looked for ways to bypass the system to get it up and running cheaply. There's no way to do it. I had to tow it to the dealer and had them reprogram it. $246 out the door to reprogram, including $35 for an additional key (you need at least 2 keys to reprogram and I had only 1). That's not including the cost to tow (I towed it in myself).

 

Simply reprogramming existing keys does not cure any known issues, according to Ford's own service documentation.

See attachment for 96-06 Fords.

 

In my case, my problem was a failed ECM. I installed a junkyard ECM and had to get the ECM programmed to accept my existing key.

 

Yeah, that's the "rest of the story" which does make sense.